Furikake (ふりかけ) is a Japanese rice seasoning. The Japanese eat it with steamed rice and season Onigiri (rice balls). You can also sprinkle it over salads, snacks, avocado toast, and grilled protein, such as chicken.
What is Furikake
Furikake (literally “sprinkle”) is a flaky or powered Japanese seasoning consisting of sesame seeds, seaweed, and dried seafood, meat, or vegetable. It is often sprinkled over steamed rice to enjoy. Furikake goes back to the 12th century when there are records of making a salty powdered condiment consisting of dried sea bream, salmon, and shark. The current iteration was invented in the early 20th century as a nutritional supplement. It contained ground fish bones and poppy seeds to address the calcium and nutrient deficiency among the population. You may be familiar with the commercial variety in bottles or individual packets for kids and adults. The commercial variety contains a mixture of bonito flakes, toasted sesame seeds, nori seaweed, sugar, and salt. Some include salmon flakes, dried baby shrimp, shiso, egg, wasabi, and vegetables.
What Does It Taste
The flavors can range depending on the ingredients, but it tends to have a sweet and umami flavor.
Homemade Furikake
You can make homemade furikake with leftover umami-rich ingredients like kombu and katsuobushi from making dashi or Mentsuyu, daikon greens, or salted shiso leaves. It won’t contain preservatives and additives, and you won’t create waste!
Recipes Using Furikake
Furikake Chex Mix6 Japanese Twists on Avocado Toast アボカドトースト
Where To Buy
Find it at Asian and Japanese grocery stores or in the ethnic food aisle of major supermarkets.
How To Choose The Best
Some brands include MSG. Look for those with No MSG or mutenka (無添加) labels. Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
