After 31 years, I have finally tried wasabi! Quite the accomplishment, I know! *haha* I’m not entirely sure how I’ve gone so long without trying it, but for some reason it never appealed to me. I do really enjoy Japanese cuisine (Vegetarian Gyoza and Vegetarian Yakisoba) , but am not too keen on sushi. *shock* I realize I am pretty much the only person on the planet who doesn’t care for sushi, but I’m okay with that. I have a tendency to be a bit unique (ie. weird). Since sushi is generally a vessel for wasabi, I’ve never really had the opportunity to try it. When I thought to make sesame-crusted asparagus fries, I decided to make a wasabi dipping sauce to serve them with, so I could finally try wasabi. Verdict – Wasabi is delicious! It’s spicy with just the right amount of heat.
Asparagus fries coated in a crispy panko/sesame crust with a wasabi mayo dipping sauce. Yep! They ARE as delicious as they sound! These asparagus fries are super tasty and perfectly crispy. The sesame/panko coating really adds a lot of flavour and texture. Preparation takes approximately 10 minutes and then only 15 minutes to bake. And they are vegan! However, you could easily use 2 egg whites in lieu of the flax eggs and regular mayo instead of the vegan mayo if you so choose. I recommend giving the vegan version a try, as it definitely does not lack any flavour! To make the asparagus fries gluten-free, you can use gluten-free flour and gluten-free bread crumbs. These asparagus fries make a great side-dish for two or appetizer for a dinner party.
Ingredients
- 1 bunch of asparagus (about 16 spears)
- 1/2 cup of flour (gluten-free is fine)
- 2 tablespoons of ground flax mixed with 6 tablespoons of water (flax eggs)
- 1/2 cup of sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup of panko bread crumbs (or gluten-free bread crumbs)
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 cup of vegan mayo
- 2 teaspoons of wasabi paste
- 1 teaspoon of sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon of fresh chopped chives
Method
- Preheat oven to 425'F.
- Mix together the panko crumbs, sesame seeds and salt. Note: I recommend using a mixture of black and white sesame seeds for contrast.
- Wash asparagus well and pat dry. Trim off the woody ends of the asparagus.
- Set out three plates - one with the flour, one with the flax eggs and one with the panko/sesame mixture. Dredge an asparagus spear in flour, followed by a quick dip in the flax egg mixture. Roll the asparagus spear in the panko/sesame mixture. Place asparagus spear on a wire rack on a baking sheet. Repeat until all of the asparagus spears are coated. Spray each spear with some cooking oil.
- Bake asparagus for 13 to 15 minutes, or until crispy and golden brown.
- While the asparagus fries are baking, mix together the mayonnaise, sesame oil, wasabi paste and chopped chives. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Serve asparagus fries warm with wasabi mayo.
Source: The Fig Tree – inspired by Canadian Living Appetizers (Sesame Shrimp with Wasabi Mayo)
Oh my gosh those look amazing! Of all vegetables, asparagus sounds like the perfect thing to turn into a “fry”. Loving the wasabi mayo on the side. :)
They are addictive! The asparagus softens up nicely when roasting, but the sesame coating is so nice and crispy. I may have to make some more of these tomorrow :)
Good looking fries..glad you were brave always knew you were…
Thanks gramma! Love you. xo
Wow! I’d have never guessed that you were new to wasabi based on this recipe – it sounds amazing. Can’t wait to give it a shot!
I wonder why it took me so long to try wasabi! It’s really quite yummy! Love the spicy bite. The wasabi pairs really nicely with the crispy asparagus fries. Yum!
These asparagus sticks sound just fantastic, especially with spicy wasabi! I was once in your shoes as regards sushi–it’s ok! I really didn’t like it at all until after age 30, at which point I decided that I really wanted to expand my palate and so started to gradually try more and more. And now I can’t imagine not wanting to stuff my face with fish :) But that’s just me. You like what you like!
I definitely think the more you try new things, the more your palate changes. I have become braver in trying new foods in the past few years and now I really think my taste buds have changed. There are few foods I dislike now! Parsnips are still my nemesis though. *haha*
Ooh these look delicious! I’m a huge fan of wasabi so adding it to a dipping sauce sounds perfect :)
Thanks! I’m a huge fan of wasabi now too! What took me so long to try it!? So yummy – especially with these crispy asparagus fries. Yum!
THIS will be on my table this week. Delicious! I’ve done the same with zucchini, but not asparagus yet. Thanks!
Hope you enjoy the asparagus fries! After roasting, they become super tender on the inside, but crispy on the outside. Addictive!