In this post you’ll find all of my favorite recipes featuring Togarashi seasoning. From grilled vegetables to smoked salmon, we’ve got a bit of everything here! Buy the big bottle of this versatile spice mix, because you’ll be needing it!
What is Togarashi?
Togarashi, also widely known as “Shichimi Togarashi” or “Nanami Togarashi”, is a popular Japanese spice mix. The name “Shichimi Togarashi” translates to “seven-flavor chili pepper”, hinting at the mixture’s complexity and its ability to bring a burst of flavor to a wide range of dishes.
In this zesty concoction, you will usually find the following seven components:
- Coarse ground red chili pepper (the primary ingredient)
- Sichuan pepper or Japanese sansho pepper
- Roasted orange peel
- Black sesame seeds
- White sesame seeds
- Hemp seeds
- Ground ginger
- Nori or aonori (types of seaweed)
This spice blend is essential in Japanese cuisine, sprinkled over noodle dishes like ramen and udon, incorporated into rice meals, and used to season various meats and vegetables. Togarashi is prized for its vibrant, layered flavor that ranges from mildly spicy to considerably hot, depending on the specific blend. The roasted orange peel imparts citrusy undertones, while the sesame seeds add a touch of nutty savoriness, creating a well-rounded and rich flavor experience.
Where can you buy togarashi?
Togarashi is gaining popularity in the United States, so you might be able to find it in the Asian foods section of your local grocery store.
If not, or if you want a great source online, I highly recommend Spiceology! You can buy their Togarashi Blend here.
Is Togarashi spicy?
It can be, depending on the brand. I recommend trying a few different brands until you find one that suits you and your family’s tastes. The Spiceology blend I linked to above is more on the mild side, so if you are sensitive to spice you should still be able to give it a shot!
Recipes Using Togarashi
These recipes all feature the Japanese 7 Spice blend, Togarashi!
This simple Bluefin Tuna steak is rubbed in Togarashi before getting seared off on a blazing hot Blackstone griddle! This is a special treat for the tuna lover in your life!
This simple homemade spatchcock chicken recipe has a spicy dry rub and a finger-licking glaze that will have you wanting seconds!
Spice up your day with these hearty rice bowls featuring spicy grilled pork tenderloin, fresh stir-fried vegetables. Top with an over-easy egg to really
A simple grilled salmon filet seasoned with a spicy togarashi seasoning, and served on top of stir-fried vegetables and rice noodles.
Fresh salmon is brined and then smoked on a wood-pellet grill with fresh lemon pepper seasoning!
Delicious Togarashi Grilled Asparagus uses a super flavorful Japanese seasoning mix to make grilled asparagus even more amazing than it already was. Like whoa.
This togarashi zucchini is oil-blanched, lightly salted, and covered with spicy Japanese seasoning that I've fallen in love with. Any excuse to get this stuff into my mouth, I'll gladly take, but these spiralized zoodles ended up being pretty close to perfect.
Easy Traeger Togarashi Pork Tenderloin is grilled on your bbq grill or wood-pellet grill, covered in delicious Togarashi seasoning,
This salmon is SO easy, but is one of my favorite meals! Togarashi is my new "go-to" seasoning these days, so buckle up! it packs a little kick from the spice, but nothing that you can't handle.
These delicious grilled chicken leg quarters are coated in copious amounts of seasoning rub, and then grilled on my wood-pellet grill. Then they get a slathering of sweet chili sauce, and it is ON.
This simple rice noodle stir fry features marinated chicken tenderloins and copious amounts of vegetables. Make it as spicy (or not) as you want, and switch up your usual weeknight meal routine!
My potsticker sauce is soy and vinegar-based, spicy, garlicky, and the most wonderful combination of different Asian spices, seasonings, sauces, and flavors.
These simple fried wontons are made with ground chicken, ginger, garlic, soy, and togarashi. Quickly fried and served with a vinegar and soy sauce.
These Asian Miso Chicken wings are big and bold and grilled over a wood fire in your Traeger pellet grill. Delicious and spicy, any wing lover will be a fan of these.
These delicious grilled chicken leg quarters are coated in copious amounts of seasoning rub, and then grilled on my wood-pellet grill. Tender, juicy, and super flavorful; your whole family is going to LOVE this economical meal!
By the time you get to this point, you might be a little mad at me. I promise that's going to go away when you taste the end result of all of your labors. This Spicy Tonkotsu Miso Ramen is now the stuff of legends in this house.
Nicole Johnson
Nicole Johnson, a self-taught expert in grilling and outdoor cooking, launched Or Whatever You Do in 2010. Her blog, renowned for its comprehensive and creative outdoor cooking recipes, has garnered a vast audience of millions. Nicole's hands-on experience and passion for grilling shine through her work. Her husband, Jeremiah Johnson, also plays a pivotal role in recipe development, adding his culinary flair to the mix. Together, they form a dynamic duo, offering a rich and varied outdoor cooking experience to their followers.