How are wasabi nuts made?
Background
Trying to replicate wasabi almonds using Penzeys wasabi powder. Cannot retain the kick from the wasabi no matter what. Tried half a dozen things. Even with zero heat exposure wasabi loses its bite after drying.
Found this answer and got excited, but apparently it's wrong. Wasabi is not activated by oil, at least not the stuff I have. To clarify, I have explored all answers to that question, none of them solve my problem, and I am asking a different question in an attempt to understand how the process works.
Question
What do the commercial guys do to lock in the kick?
What I found so far
I can't find anything about the manufacturing process online. Closest I found was one stray comment on a wasabi pea recipe mentioning that the wasabi itself is not exposed to heat, but obviously that alone isn't enough.
Best Answer
I've used wasabi powder before and it always gets activated with water, not oil.
Searching about the industrial process, the closest I got was a comment in this cooking blog (emphasis mine):
In the commercial world they add rice flour into the mix to make it all stick together, but before that they cook the peas and dry roast them or just dehydrate them. Once that is done then they use a "coating" machine which looks a bit like a cement mixer and slowly rotate the machine which contains the rice flour/wasabi mix.
So I think the key is: roast the nuts, use oil or arabic gum to make the surface of the nut sticky, cool it down to below 32ºC then add the wasabi powder mix. As long as it stays dry the wasabi powder won't get activated, which will happen only when you put them in your mouth.
I suppose the rice flour is to thin out the mix a bit, since pure wasabi powder might be too strong, to help coat the nuts uniformly and to keep moisture away which would kill the wasabi flavor.
Pictures about "How are wasabi nuts made?"
What are wasabi peanuts?
About Wasabi Coated PeanutsIt derives from the cabbage family and the root is used to create a paste that is used as a condiment to compliment Japanese inspired foods. Wasabi coated peanuts are made to be enjoyed on their own as a nutritious but tasty snack.What is wasabi Almond?
Oven roasted Wasabi Almonds are one of the healthiest, unprocessed snacks you could snack on and they are ideal for low carb, Keto, LCHF or sugar free diets. Made from the simplest ingredients and ready in no time, these are easy to make and delicious to eat and will definitely become a favorite in your house.How do you make fresh wasabi?
Preparing wasabi to eat is a snap \u2013 and it's fun, too! Start by washing the rhizome and trimming any bumps. Then trim the root-end (holding the leafy end upright) for a fresh surface, and grate wasabi into a small pile. Let it rest one to two minutes for flavors to develop, and then serve!How to make Wasabi Peas Sundal
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