Grab For Eats There are various ways to add extra flavor to your dishes. Among them, sprinkling flavorful seasoning has always been one of the most preferred garnishing techniques of all time. The Shichimi Togarashi and Nanami Togarashi both are spice blends that is popularly used in Japan to add a yummy taste to your tongue.
Both the Shichimi and Nanami togarashi are similarly prepared but there is a slight difference in the ratio of orange peel. A perfect ratio of spices on top of your delicious meal can enhance the overall flavor and make it finger-licking good.
The Shichimi Togarashi spice not only makes your food tastier but also adds a delightful taste to every bite. Although this seasoning comes from Japanese culture, you can easily make it at home too. So, we have summed up a complete guideline for your easy preparation of this spice at home.
What is Togarashi?
The Togarashi spice is a grounded seasoning of seven spices altogether popularly known as Japanese 7 spices. Originating in Japan, this seasoning has a huge demand all over the globe for its yummy, spicy, and savory kick in the food. The basic flavor of this seasoning can be explained as a sweet toasty spice.
Although the Togarashi is not super spicy, it adds an umami flavor to your dish. Besides, the added floral taste of the orange zest with little sweet notes enhances the fragrance and taste of this spice greatly. Lastly, a bit of zingy tang from the ginger can give a burst of all flavors in your mouth.
What are The Required Ingredients?
A spicy and savory mixing of 7 ingredients is needed to prepare this seasoning at home. All these togarashi ingredients are easily available and can be brought from any store near you. So, preparing for it will not be difficult at all.
The required ingredients are mentioned below:
- 2 tbsp of red chili peppers (you can apply red chili according to your demand heat level)
- 1 tbsp of orange peel (in case of Nanami togarashi, use 1 tsp instead)
- 2 tsp of white sesame seeds
- 2 ½ tsp of black sesame seeds
- 1 tsp of ginger powder for the zing tang
- 1 ½ tsp of Sichuan peppercorns
- 1 sheet of toasted quality Nori (ground)
These are the main ingredients required for making the Togarashi seasoning at home. You can also add ½ tsp of poppy seeds for an extra flavor to make your seasoning more perfect.
How to make Togarashi?
You can make the Togarashi at home very easily by toasting and grinding the 7 elements altogether. Besides, there are some simple steps to make your work much easier. Apart from this, what else can be yummier than a topping of flavored seasoning on your favorite dish?
Togarashi is such a garnish that can be applied to all types of food to strengthen the relish easily. So, if you want to experience the taste of this seasoning, then all you need to do is to follow the mentioned steps one by one at home. The steps for preparing the recipe are given below:
Methods of preparing step by step:
Step 1:
Firstly, start the recipe by toasting all the ingredients. On a medium heat burner, heat your skillet. After that, wave the nori for a couple of minutes. If the nori is of good quality, then it will take only 2 minutes to toast them.
Step 2:
Remove the nori as soon as the side is curled. Then pour the white and black sesame seeds together to fry them. Keep on stirring the mixture until you get a fried and savory fragrance. Then add the Sichuan peppercorns and poppy seeds while mixing. Keep on waving it until the fragrance gets stronger.
Step 3:
After that, turn off the flame and prepare a bowl. Transfer the fried mixture of sesame seeds, Sichuan peppercorns, and poppy seeds from the skillet to the bowl. Wait for a few minutes to cool the mixture.
Step 4:
Now it is time to add other flavors to the mixture. Take the red chili pepper and orange peels in a grinder and crumble them into a fine mixture. After that, add the ginger powder to add a fizzing and refreshing flavor.
Step 5:
Mix all the ingredients in the bowl prepared the sesame mixture and stir for a couple of minutes. Then place the mixed seasoning in a grinder. Keep on grinding the spices until it turns into a fine seasoning mixture.
Then put the spice in an airtight glass jar. In this way, you can easily prepare the Togarashi Spice at home without any hassle.
Where can I use Togarashi Spices?
Togarashi seasoning is a must-go spice along with any type of food and it adds a combination of multiple flavors at a time. Whether you prepared ramen or steaks, soups, or rubs, this seasoning can always complement the overall taste of your dishes. Besides, you can use the Togarashi as a dressing on the salad and grilled fish as well.
Apart from these, Togarashi can be used as a topping on vegetables also before serving, popcorns, tempuras, prawn crackers, and many more. In a word, this spice can boost up a flavor of deliciousness in every bite of your dish if a topping of it is applied.
What can I use instead of Shichimi Togarashi spices?
If any of the ingredients are not available for making Togarashi, then you can use the following toppings to substitute the flavor. Different alternatives of the Togarashi spices are mentioned below:
- Hot sauce can work greatly to bring a spicy kick. You can also sprinkle red chili peppers on top of the sauce to add savory and a zingy flavor. Although, the sweetness and fragrance will not be as same as the Togarashi.
- Nanami Togarashi is a special type of Togarashi spice that is an alternative to the Shichimi Togarashi. Here, the use of orange peel zest is less than the Shichimi Togarashi resulting in less fragrance and fizzy flavor.
- Dukkah is a type of spice that can go well instead of Shichimi Togarashi. It is mainly prepared with hazelnuts which add a nutty tang to the spice.
These are some of the alternatives that can be applied instead of Shichimi Togarashi seasonings.
Conclusion:
A flavorful topping can always increase the relish of your favorite dish hundreds of times more. Whether you are eating in a restaurant or at home, an added layer of spicy flavor can tickle your tongue with loads of flavor. The Shichimi Togarashi is such a seasoning that adds tons of flavor to your food in every bite.
A perfect combination of citrus sourness, sweetness, spicy, and refreshing zingy taste can give you the best flavor experience every time.
