Shichimi togarashi is a Japanese spice blend made up of nori (seaweed), and six additional spices. Everything from noodles to grilled meats tastes fantastic with its distinct and strong flavor.
This 17th-century spice blend is still well-liked in Japan today, despite its age. In many places in Japan, you’ll see shichimi togarashi on the menu.
As more people learn about its adaptability and flavor, it is also growing in popularity in the US. With that being said, shichimi togarashi is now readily available in supermarkets as a result of its popularity.
However, it can be costly, so if you’re on a tight budget, some excellent substitutes we will offer you will produce similar results. In this article, we have 4 simple substitutes that you can use in replace of shichimi togarashi.
Shichimi Togarashi: What Is It?
Shichimi Togarashi is a Japanese spice mixture that frequently contains ginger, seaweed, orange peel, chili peppers, and Sichuan pepper.
Shichimi Togarashi, which translates to “seven flavor chili pepper,” This describes the spice mixture, which has seven distinct flavors: umami, sour, sweet, salty, and spicy.
These seven flavors are said to be crucial to the blend, even if the precise components can vary based on the region or chef.
The pepper is frequently used as a closing spice, adding a flavorful zing to meals like soba noodles or ramen. Additionally, it can be utilized in meat or vegetable marinades and rubs.
4 Best Alternatives For Shichimi Togarashi
If you don’t have shichimi togarashi on hand or can’t afford it, a few decent substitutions will provide your dish a comparable flavor profile. These are the 4 best and simple substitutes you should choose from.
Mixture Of Chili Powder And Salt
Who would have guessed that combining chili powder and salt might be successful? No, definitely not us, but we are delighted we tried it. We threw this combo together for the first time on a whim and were truly amazed by the outcomes.
While the chili powder gives the dish a little spice, the salt aids in bringing out the taste of the chili powder. This is a simple and effective approach to enhance the flavor of any food.
You’re good to go if you season your food with salt and chili powder. It’s crucial to keep the salt to chili powder ratio in mind when swapping salt and chili powder with Shichimi Togarashi.
We suggest combining chili powder and salt in an almost equal ratio. By doing this, you can make sure the food is flavorful enough, but not overly hot or salty.
You may easily add extra chili powder to your dish if you want it to have a little bit more spiciness.
Furikake
Furikake is most likely present on the table for everyone who has ever eaten at a Japanese restaurant. Traditionally, sesame seeds, dried fish, and seaweed are combined to create this seasoning mix. Which is often used as a garnish for rice.
Additionally, furikake can be added to a variety of other foods, including stir-fries, soups, and salads. Furikake, despite appearing to be a straightforward seasoning, has a lengthy history that dates back to the Edo era.
The Shogunate enforced a salt monopoly at this time, causing salt to become an expensive item.
Japanese households started flavoring their rice with furikake to prolong their salt supply. Furikake remains a well-liked condiment in Japan today and comes in a wide range of flavors.
Furikake is a fantastic replacement for Shichimi Togarashi even though it might not be the first thing that comes to mind.
Shichimi Togarashi and furikake both have a salty, umami flavor profile. It has a similar texture as well, with the sesame seeds adding a hint of crunch.
Furikake and Shichimi Togarashi are primarily distinguished by the absence of chili peppers in furikake.
This implies that it won’t increase the temperature of your dish. Furikake can always be spiced up with a dash of chili pepper flakes if you want a little extra kick.
Combination Of Sesame Seeds, Chili Flakes And Salt
This salt, sesame seed, and chili flakes mixture is a well-liked condiment around the world. In addition to that, it is a straightforward yet flexible approach to flavor any dish.
The earthy flavor of the sesame seeds is perfectly complemented by the salt, while the chili flakes offer a hint of spice.
This savory mixture will improve any meal, whether you toss it on grilled veggies or employ it as a seasoning for poultry or fish. The best part is that it only takes a few simple ingredients to prepare it at home.
The flavor of this mixture is significantly milder than Shichimi Togarashi. Although sesame seeds offer a similar nutty flavor, they are far less complex due to the absence of other spices.
If you’re looking for something with a more straightforward flavor profile, this will be a wonderful option for you.
Ichimi Togarashi
This Japanese chili pepper powder, pronounced “ee-chee-mee toe-gah-rah-shee,” is made from seaweed, chili peppers, rice bran, sesame seeds, and orange peel.
It’s frequently used to add flavor to soba noodles or ramen, but it may also give grilled meats or vegetables a little kick.
You may even incorporate it into desserts if you’re feeling particularly daring. Ichimi togarashi has a flavor that is rich, sweet, spicy, and has a citrus undertone from the orange peel. It’s the ideal approach to give your food a little more zing.
Ichimi togarashi is hotter and has a stronger flavor than shichimi togarashi. Ichimi togarashi is a wonderful option if you’re seeking a replacement that will offer your food a comparable flavor profile.
Just take caution not to add too much because it can quickly overshadow other flavors.
Can You Make Your Own Shichimi Togarashi?
It is possible to make your own shichimi togarashi if you don’t have any on hand. Yet, with that being said, it could cost you more money to buy all 7 ingredients to be able to make it.
Numerous stores sell shichimi togarashi, it can be found in the spices section or in the Asian section of a store. With that being said, you can easily find it online as well.
To make your own shichimi togarashi at home, you will need the following:
- 1 teaspoon of poppy seeds,
- 1 teaspoon of small pieces of seaweed/dried nori,
- 1 teaspoon of black sesame seeds,
- 2 teaspoons of white sesame seeds,
- 3 teaspoons of chili powder,
- 3 teaspoons of sansho powder,
- 3 teaspoons of flakes of dried tangerine peel.
Method
- Step 1: In a small electric spice grinder like a suribachi or another one, coarsely ground the white sesame seeds and sansho.
- Step 2: Then the tangerine peel can now be added.
- Step 3: Re-grind the mixture again.
- Step 4: Add the remaining spices and thoroughly combine them.
The shichimi togarashi may be kept for three to four months in an airtight container. While it may be simple or create, it can be more difficult to find the singular spices required than looking for shichimi togarashi itself or an alternative.
Final Thoughts
You might occasionally find yourself short on shichimi togarashi, just like you might with any other ingredient. Fortunately, there are a handful of everyday pantry goods that work fantastically as alternatives.
Any of these alternatives can easily work well depending on what you’re making. You ought to be able to find a shichimi togarashi substitute that works well for you with a little trial and error.
We hope this article has been helpful in discovering a shichimi togarashi substitute when you suddenly run out.
4 Simple Substitutes For Shichimi Togarashi
What do you do when you don’t have any shichimi togarashi on hand? Keep reading to discover 4 simple substitutes you can use.
Ingredients
Mixture Of Chili Powder And Salt
Furikake
Combination Of Sesame Seeds, Chili Flakes And Salt
Ichimi Togarashi
Directions
- Decided on what substitute you need
- Pick a substitute from the list above
- Read what you need to substitute with
- Create the recipe and enjoy
Recipe Video
Cooking is great for your mental, physical, and emotional health. What’s the worst that could happen? Find a recipe that you like the sound of and cook it along with me. You might even unlock a new passion!
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