First Harvest of Wasabina: From Garden to Pizza and Meat Dishes

English | 日本語

 Good morning, everyone. I am pleased to share some very good news today.

On March 7, we harvested wasabina that had been sown at the seedbed (RL-A11). This is the first harvest of the year. Although the plants are slightly small, this marks the birth of organic vegetables grown without any fertilizer or pesticides.

In the garden prior to harvest, there were plants that closely resembled wasabina, so I carefully observed them while harvesting.

Condition of wasabina before harvest

Wasabina is a leafy vegetable belonging to the Brassicaceae family. Its jagged leaves are its distinctive feature. It can be eaten raw and has a sharp, wasabi-like spiciness with a refreshing aroma. When heated, the spiciness and aroma disappear.

Overall condition of wasabina after harvest

Because the seeds were extremely small, the root systems were also shallow and thin, making harvesting very easy. I washed off the soil thoroughly with clean water.

Wasabina on pizza

This is one of my favorite ways to eat it. Wasabina really sharpens the richness of fatty cheese and tomato sauce. I added it after baking. Sometimes you can notice a slight wasabi-like aroma. Finely chopping it seems to enhance the flavor even more.

Wasabina with mayonnaise

This method is simply raw wasabina with mayonnaise added. It was rather plain, with only the spiciness standing out.

Wasabina served with mustard sauce, meatballs, and rotisserie chicken

This is my favorite way to eat it. Wasabina served with meatballs and rotisserie chicken. It pairs very well with meat dishes. You can enjoy the later-coming spiciness and aroma. Compared to basil, it has a different kind of freshness. Since chicken can feel a bit light, I added my favorite mustard.

Harvesting is all about freshness. Being able to eat freshly picked produce is the best, and it naturally makes you appreciate even small ingredients. Long hours and careful management create attachment. It is truly a moment when all the hard work pays off at once.

That’s all for today!