Come elevate your appetizer game with my Wasabi Avocado Salad! Crafted with creamy avocado and a handcrafted savory umami-filled wasabi dressing, this dish brings Japanese-inspired flavors to your table. Perfect for a unique and flavorful appetizer, it will pair beautifully with your next Asian-style meal!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
What draws me to my Wasabi Avocado Salad recipe is its simplicity and bold flavors, ready in mere minutes! Freshly sliced avocado topped with onions, drizzled with my handcrafted wasabi sauceāit’s an irresistible fusion of creamy avocado and savory umami, with a hint of sweetness and heat from the wasabi!
Inspired by the flavors of my Japanese Roasted Eggplant Yakinasu and Japanese Shishito Pepper Stir Fry, this original creation traces back to a sushi restaurant where I first saw it on the menu and knew I had to try my hands at a dish like it! Perfect as an appetizer or side dish, it’s for anyone craving a fuss-free, original recipe bursting with Japanese flairātrust me, you won’t want to miss out on this simple original recipe!
Ingredients
Ingredients
- AvocadoĀ – freshly peeled and de-pitted ripe avocados.
- OnionsĀ –Ā fresh sliced yellow or brown onions.
- Bonito Flakes ā made from shaved Dried Bonito fish. Commonly used to make broth and responsible for giving Japanese cuisine that signature umami flavor. Can replace with Hondashi.
- WasabiĀ – Wasabi Powder or premade paste. For best results, use wasabi powder.
- Soy Sauce ā low-sodium Soy Sauce preferred. Can also use tamari for gluten-free.
- Japanese Sake – typically will come in a large bottle labeled junmai sake. Can also substitute with dry sherry wine or Chinese cooking wine, found at local grocery stores or Asian markets.Ā
- Sweetener –Ā use your preferred sweetener.
Directions
Step 1 Combine soy sauce, water, bonito flakes or hondashi, Japanese sake, and sweetener, and bring the mixture to a slight boil. Strain the sauce, let it cool and then mix in the wasabi paste.
ā” Sauce Shortcut Pro Tip
For a shortcut when preparing your sauce, opt for 1/8 tsp Hondashi instead of bonito flakes. This substitution eliminates the need to strain the sauce making for easier preparation.
š„¢ Wasabi Pro Tip
If using Wasabi Powder to make the wasabi paste, the More you Mix it, the Spicier it becomes.
Step 2 Next, slice the avocado and plate it, topping each slice with a slice of onion.
Step 3 Finally, drizzle the prepared wasabi dressing on top, and enjoy the refreshing salad chilled.
š” Serving Pro Tip
For optimal results, it’s best to store the prepared avocado in the fridge and Keep it Chilled until you’re ready to serve. This ensures that the flavors remain fresh and vibrant.
Pairing Recommendations
Pair with Japanese inspired style stir fries like my simple Japanese Pork Stir Fry or Bean Sprouts and Pork Stir Fry dish, paired with a comforting bowl of Tofu Miso Soup and your preferred bowl of rice for a Japanese inspired meal!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I prepare the wasabi dressing in advance?
Yes, absolutely! You can prepare the wasabi dressing in advance to save time. Simply make the dressing according to the recipe instructions, then store it in the fridge in an airtight container. It will keep well for 3-5 days.
How spicy is the wasabi dressing?
I would say the spice level is moderate, approximately a 4-5 on a scale of 1 to 10. However, if you prefer a milder flavor, it's easy to adjust by using less wasabi in the dressing.
What type of avocado works best for this salad?
For this salad, your best choice would be ripe Hass avocados, the standard variety found in most grocery stores. Their creamy texture and rich flavor complement the dish perfectly.
Storage Tips
To preserve the freshness of any leftovers, simply transfer them into an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. With this method, your avocado salad will maintain its quality for 3 to 5 days.
Other Recipes You Might Like
- Japanese Style Avocado
- Japanese Spinach Salad
- Japanese Cucumber Salad Sunomono
- Japanese Bacon Spinach Salad
Watch How To Make It
Wasabi Avocado Salad
Ingredients
Avocado Salad
- 1 Whole Avocado
- 10 Slices Onion
- 1 tbsp Bonito Flakes topping
Wasabi Paste
- 1 tsp Wasabi Powder you can sub with packaged/tubed wasabi, but it won't be nearly as flavorful.
- 1 tsp Water
Dressing
- 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Water
- 1 tbsp Bonito Flakes can sub with 1/8 tsp of hondashi
- 1 tbsp Japanese Sake can substitute with dry sherry
- 1 tsp Sweetener your preferred sweetener
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- In a small mixing bowl, add wasabi powder and 1 tsp water and mix well to form a paste (add another 1/2 tsp of water if paste is too thick). Once paste is formed, place the small mixing bowl upside down to bring the most out of the flavors. Note - the more you mix the wasabi powder, the spicier it will get.
- In a stove top pot, add soy sauce, 1 tbsp water, 1 tbsp bonito flakes or hondashi, Japanese sake and sweetener and bring to boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to simmer and simmer for 1 minute. After 1 minute has passed, strain bonito flakes with a strainer and use a spoon to push out any excess juices from the bonito flakes. Transfer sauce to a mixing bowl and set aside to cool down. Note - if using hondashi, there is no need to strain the sauce.
- Slice avocado and set onto a plate.
- Thinly slice onions and set on top of sliced avocados.
- Mix wasabi paste from step 2) into the sauce bowl from step 3). Once mixed, drizzle sauce on top of avocados to liking. Top with bonito flakes and enjoy at room temp or chilled!
Nutrition