天然わさび wild wasabi

We found some wild "wasabi" being sold at the morning market!!

The shop owner told us that they usually get wild wasabi
during summer or autumn.
He said the root (wasabi is grated root of the wasabi plant)
grows larger at the end of summer when the leaves grow larger.

He insisited how rare it is that we can get wild wasabi this early!!

Wasabi of course is eaten with sushi,
with soba (buckwheat noodle) and other noodles as well.
It is also delicious to simply grate them,
put them on a bowl of rice with dried bonito flakes and soy sauce!!

Wasabi seems to play only a "secondary role" in a meal
BUT whenever you get a fresh wasabi,
it is nice to think of menus that best matches "wasabi."
In such way, wasabi is probably playing the main role, don't you think?

朝市で「天然わさび」をみつけました。

お店の方が言うには、
この時期の天然わさびはめずらしい！！
夏の終わりか秋にならないと出てこないよ！！
とのことでした。

わさびと言えば、もちろん
寿司、そば、そうめんなどなどを思い浮かべますが、
白飯の上に、おろした新鮮わさびと鰹節をのせ、
醤油をかけていただくだけでご馳走になります。

普段、わさびは「脇役」
でも、新鮮なわさびが手に入ったなら、
わさびに合うメニューを考えるわけなので
ある意味ですでに「主役」なのかもしれないですね。