Shichimi togarashi
Condiment
Top 10 pairings
Shichimi togarashi (literally "seven-flavour chilli pepper") is a Japanese spice blend built around ground red chilli and rounded out with citrus peel, sesame, nori and other aromatics. A fixture on Japanese tables, it is shaken over noodle soups, grilled meats, yakitori, gyūdon and simmered dishes for a burst of heat, citrus fragrance and toasty crunch.
Picking a good onedrag
Freshly milled, citrus-brightFaded, caked or rancid
Sound jarEveryday bestA shaker lately opened, still loose and fragrant. The all-rounder - shake it over noodle soups, grilled meat, rice bowls and simmered dishes.
Smell at the jarChilli and sesame lead now, the citrus a step back - open a while, but every layer still there
Colour and flecksA shade duller, the red settling toward brick, but seed and nori still read plainly through it
How it shakes outA few soft clumps that collapse under a finger, and then it pours the way it should
Read the labelNanami togarashi, or a house blend tilted to citrus or sesame - same idea, no fixed recipe, so taste first