What is horseradish

Horseradish, also known as horseradish or horseradish, is a perennial herbaceous plant ( Armoracia rusticana ) of the family of Crucifers .

Originally from southern Russia, in Italy it is found in a spontaneous state in damp places and near watercourses, both in the plains and in the mountains, especially along the Tosco-Romagnolo Apennines; it is also grown in greenhouses to be used for consumption as a food in many recipes.

Gastric stimulant - the essential oil, strongly aromatic, favors the production of gastric juices, helping digestion and stimulating the appetite - horseradish is also a good vitamin C supplement . Horseradish recipes? The horseradish sauce is the best known, with a strong and decisive flavor, used as an accompaniment to boiled or roasted meats.

What was wasabi

Wasabi, also known as Japanese radish ( Wasabi Japonica ) is a spicy green root widely used in the preparation of the homonymous sauce that accompanies typical oriental dishes, such as sushi, sashimi or other Japanese cuisine. It is not easy to cultivate the root of this plant, it is very ancient and expensive and grows very slowly.

Wasabi is rich in beneficial properties: it has discrete amounts of vitamin C and natural antioxidants, which counteract free radicals and make it an elixir of long life.

It offers a good diuretic effect, detoxifies the liver and intestines, prevents food poisoning and stimulates digestion; to finish, it has important antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties.

Differences and uses of horseradish and wasabi

The horseradish root is less spicy and intense than that of wasabi, but in fact its use in the kitchen is similar, both serving grated or squeezed juices, to flavor and give a special touch of taste to sauces accompanying those dishes with a neutral and delicate taste.

The root of the horseradish, grated and reduced in sauce, can also be used for external applications for therapeutic purposes as a natural remedy to combat rheumatic pain or bronchitis : a pack of horseradish root reduced to a pulp applied to the chest has an anti-catarrhal action.

Unexpectedly, even the wasabi has alternative uses: it is used for hair and skin care, especially to stimulate hair bulbs and hair regrowth, but also to make the lips soft and to naturally cure oily skin, counteracting pimples .