Japanese 7 Spice (also known as Shichimi togarashi) is a popular spice blend in Japanese cuisine. Japanese 7 Spice seasoning is spicy, savory, with hints of citrus, it's a complex seasoning perfect for grilling adding a kick of heat and flavor to any dish.
What Is Shichimi Togarashi
Also known simply as Japanese 7 Spice seasoning, togarashi is is made with a variety of ingredients, including flaked seaweed, chili peppers, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, ginger, and citrus peel. The blend has a complex flavor that is both spicy and refreshing.
Togarashi seasoning can be sprinkled on top of dishes as a finishing touch, or it can be mixed into dishes during cooking.
Differences Between Togarashi and Furikake
While Shichimi Togarashi is a spicy blend of seven specific different spices, including pepper, sesame seeds, and dried citrus peel, Furikake is a mixture of dried fish, seaweed, vegetables, and seasoning mixed in any combination. You'll even find vegan furikake.
Both are sprinkled liberally over ramen and soba noodles. It can also be used to add a kick to stir-fries, salads, and soups.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Shichimi togarashi is Japanese condiment that elevates the flavor of the foods it's added to. The crispy seeds and seaweed add flavor and crunch to grilled meats, rice bowls, or noodle bowls. Shichimi Togarashi means “seven spice”, as in Japanese Seven Spice blend.
- Versatile. Togarashi is a versatile spice that can be used year-round to add a refreshing kick your food.
- Cheaper to make. Store-bought Japanese 7 Spice (Togarashi) can be expensive, but making your own is much more affordable.
- Customizable. You can adjust the amount of heat, or reduce other ingredients to suit your preferences.
Just like making your own Furikake, or any spice blend, you can make this Japanese 7 Spice unique to you!
Jump to:
- What Is Shichimi Togarashi
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Japanese 7 Spice (Togarashi) Ingredients
- How to Make Japanese 7 Spice
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes
- Substitutions and Variations
- Equipment
- Storage and Reheating
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Food Safety
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- Connect with Smells Like Delish!
- 📖 Recipe
Japanese 7 Spice (Togarashi) Ingredients
Here's are the seven spice ingredients you will need to make this intriguing Japanese seasoning blend. All the ingredients are easily available in most any grocery store, even if they don't carry an extensive Asian foods line.
- Nori - Or any dried seaweed flakes or sheets. You will tear it up into flakes. You will often find sealed square envelopes of seaweed sheets near where the canned water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, and soy sauces are located.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes - Yes, the same kind you sprinkle all over your Pizza!
- Dried Lemon Peel Granules - You probably have this in your pantry already. You can even use Orange peel granules.
- Poppy Seeds - The same kind you would make our Lemon Poppy Seed Scones with.
- Ground Sansho Pepper - You can use regular black pepper for this.
- Sesame Seeds - White, black, or a combination of the two for visual interest. I like to lightly toast them in a dry skillet and cool them before using. The toasting brightens up the flavor.
- Ground Ginger - Regular ground ginger that you use during the holidays. You probably have in your cupboard.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Japanese 7 Spice
You can easily double or scale up this togarashi seasoning blend recipe to have enough on hand for your entire summer grilling season. Or, if you love it as much as I do, for your salads, ramen noodles, and everything else (except sweets, lol).
Measure Out The 7 Spices
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry, non stick skillet on medium heat to that the white sesame seeds just barely start to darken. Transfer to a plate and cool.
- Tear the nori sheets into small bits using scissors or a food processor. You can also buy nori flakes, which is even faster.
- If you prefer your red pepper flakes finer, add them to a mini food processor and pulse in bursts to get a finer red pepper flake.
Combine In A Bowl
- Add all seven spice ingredients to a mixing bowl. (You'll have eight ingredients if you are using both black and white sesame seeds).
- Combine all ingredients so to that they are uniformly mixed.
Transfer To A Storage Container
- After stirring the spices to blend, transfer to a air tight storage container. Keep in a cool, dry location so that you can use them freely while cooking.
Serving Suggestions
Japanese 7 Spice (Shichimi Togarashi) is amazing sprinkled on french fries (Togarashi Fries), any meats, ramen, soba noodles, salads, and even on sushi! Instead of using Furikake with our Korean Kimbap "Sushi" Rolls, try this Togarashi blend!
Enjoy sprinkling this Japanese seasoning on top of dishes as a finishing touch, or it can be mixed into dishes during cooking. It is a great way to add a kick of heat and flavor to any dish.
- Sprinkle it on top of ramen, udon, or soba noodles.
- Add it to stir-fries, soups, or salads.
- Use it as a dry rub for grilled meats or vegetables.
- Sprinkle it on popcorn, French fries, roasted nuts, or trail mix.
- Add it to your favorite cocktail or mocktail, on the rim or as a garnish.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Related Recipes
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few delicious variations using this Shichimi Togarashi seasoning recipe as a base:
- If you don't have Sansho pepper, you can substitute black pepper or Sichuan peppercorns.
- You can also add other ingredients to your togarashi, such as wasabi powder, turmeric, or dried garlic.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite, harder to find ingredients that I use when making this Japanese 7 Spice seasoning blend.
Storage and Reheating
Store Japanese 7 Spice (Shichimi Togarashi) in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 months. It's such a beautiful spice blend, that you can showcase it in a pretty spice jar on your counter.
Tips for Success
- Toast the sesame seeds before grinding them. This will give them a richer flavor.
- More or Less red pepper flakes. Adjust the amount of heat to your own taste. You can also grind the red pepper flakes to a finer sift.
- Experiment with different variations. There are many different variations of togarashi, so feel free to experiment with different ingredients to find your favorite flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Japanese 7 spice blend is a type of togarashi. Togarashi is a general term for Japanese spice blends, while the shichimi togarashi recipe is a specific blend that contains seven different ingredients.
This popular shichimi togarashi recipe has a complex flavor that is both spicy and refreshing. The chili peppers give it a heat, while the sesame seeds and citrus peel add a nutty and citrusy flavor.
Togarashi can be sprinkled on top of dishes as a finishing touch, or it can be mixed into dishes during cooking. It is a great way to add a kick of heat and flavor to any dish.
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
Connect with Smells Like Delish!
📖 Recipe
Japanese 7 Spice (Shichimi Togarashi)
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon white sesame seeds toasted
- 4 tablespoon black sesame seeds toasted (or use more white sesame seeds)
- 4 tablespoon nori About 1 sheet, torn into small pieces, or buy flaked
- 2 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoon lemon peel granules
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1½ tablespoon ground Sansho pepper or black pepper
- 2 teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry, non stick skillet on medium heat to that the white sesame seeds just barely start to darken. Transfer to a plate and cool.4 tablespoon white sesame seeds, 4 tablespoon black sesame seeds
- Tear the nori sheets into small bits using scissors or a food processor. You can also buy nori flakes, which is even faster.4 tablespoon nori
- If you prefer your red pepper flakes finer, add them to a mini food processor and pulse in bursts to get a finer red pepper flake.
- Add all seven spice ingredients to a mixing bowl. (You'll have eight ingredients if you are using both black and white sesame seeds).2 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes, 2 tablespoon lemon peel granules, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds, 1½ tablespoon ground Sansho pepper, 2 teaspoon ground ginger
- Combine all ingredients so to that they are uniformly mixed.
- After stirring the spices to blend, transfer to a air tight storage container. Keep in a cool, dry location so that you can use them freely while cooking.
Notes
- Toast the sesame seeds before grinding them. This will give them a richer flavor.
- Toasting the nori is extra, but it will also deepen the flavors.
- More or Less red pepper flakes. Adjust the amount of heat to your own taste. You can also grind the red pepper flakes to a finer sift.
- Experiment with different variations. There are many different variations of togarashi, so feel free to experiment with different ingredients to find your favorite flavor.
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