wasabi

American  

[wah-sah-bee] / wɑˈsɑ bi /

noun

1. an Asian plant, Eutrema wasabi, of the mustard family.

2. the pungent, greenish root of this plant, which can be grated and used as a condiment.

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wasabi British  

/ wəˈsɑːbɪ /

noun

1. a Japanese cruciferous plant, Eutrema Wasabi , cultivated for its thick green pungent root

2. the root of this plant, esp in paste or powder form, used as a condiment in Japanese cookery

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Etymology

Origin of wasabi

(< New Latin ) < Japanese

Explanation

The spicy, edible root called wasabi can be ground into an even spicier green paste that's served with many Japanese foods — and is also called wasabi. Watch out for the wasabi sitting innocently on the plate beside your sushi! It may look like a blob of avocado, but it tastes pungent and deeply spicy. The flavor and spice of wasabi is often compared to horseradish or spicy mustard; you don't feel the heat on your tongue so much as in the back of your nose. Sometimes the Japanese plant is unavailable and horseradish root is used instead — sushi chefs call this "Western Wasabi."

Example Sentences

The nigiri is where Ikigai really shines, but start with the freshly grated wasabi, especially if you’ve never tried it before.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2026

At $45, the wasabi and caviar tots are considerably cheaper than the $100 caviar nuggets served at Camphor.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2025

Producers of wasabi and wine have described the challenges of growing their crops in increasingly wet and unpredictable weather.

From BBC • Sep. 17, 2024

The I.S.S. galley is often stocked with wasabi and hot sauce.

From New York Times • Nov. 12, 2023

“I bring two foods to share. One is hone-senbei, my grandfather favorite. Other is wasabi peas. They are maybe spicy. Food in America tastes...”

From "Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt