Shichimi Togarashi

Name: Shichimi Togarashi
Yield: Makes ⅓ cup
Ingredients: One 1" piece (57 g) ginger, peeled and sliced ⅛" thick; 2 tsp. mandarin zest (or lemon or orange zest); 12 dried red chiles (Thai, Korean, Italian, or Mexican), seeded; 1 tsp. sansho peppercorns (or Sichuan peppercorns for a spicier version); ½ sheet nori, torn into small pieces; 1 Tbsp. hemp seeds or white sesame seeds; 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds; 2 Tbsp. toasted black sesame seeds; 1 Tbsp. sea salt (optional)

By Sonoko Sakai

June 9, 2022

Red chiles mandarin zest sansho peppercorns white sesame seeds shredded nori and toasted black sesame seeds in a bowl.

Photo by Rick Poon

The classic shichimi togarashi combination is red chiles, sansho pepper, black sesame seeds, poppy seeds, hemp seeds, nori, and tangerine peel. This seasoning can be used in soups, noodles, grilled foods like yakitori, rice, and salads. Japanese vendors of shichimi togarashi set up shop at temples and shrines in Japan during the festivals. They will make you a custom-made powder and put it in a small gourd-shaped wooden container. In the old days, real dried gourds were used as containers to store spices, because gourds absorb moisture and keep the spices dry.

Recipe notes

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

19 Japanese Grilling and Yakitori Recipes
Yearning for yakitori, mitarashi dango, and salt-grilled sardines? Try out this selection of classic Japanese grilling recipes.

XO Sauce

Developed in the 1980s by a chef in Hong Kong, this sauce is all about umami.

Mapo Tofu Salad

The pan-fried tofu is crispy yet pillowy, served with a punchy dressing that is made with the same bold flavors as mapo seasoning.

Eggplant Roasted in Satay Sauce

Among the top tier of sauces is Indonesian satay sauce, because it is the embodiment of joy and life. In fact, this sauce is also trustworthy and highly respectful of whatever it comes into contact with—perhaps it is, in fact, the perfect friend?

Kimchi Gim Bugak (Fried Seaweed Chips)

Bugak is the ideal light beer snack: It’s crunchy, salty, and the fresher it’s made, the better. Thin sheets of kimchi add an extra spicy savory layer.

Fufu

Fufu is a dish that has been passed down through many generations and is seen as a symbol of Ghanaian identity and heritage. Making fufu traditionally is a very laborious task; this recipe mimics some of that hard work but with a few home-cook hacks that make for a far easier time.

Rotisserie Chicken Congee

Leftover rotisserie chicken finds new purpose in this endlessly comforting dish.

Hong Kong Egg Scramble

“Soft and pillowy, custardy and light—they were unlike any other scrambled eggs I had experienced before.”

Okonomiyaki Tater Tots

Crispy tots topped with savory-sweet sauce, mayonnaise, furikake, scallion, and katsuobushi.

Recipe notes

19 Japanese Grilling and Yakitori Recipes