Use this multipurpose Japanese seasoning to add umami to dishes ranging from popcorn to pasta.
What is furikake?
Furikake is a multipurpose seasoning that’s a staple on restaurant tables and in kitchen pantries across Japan. In its simplest form, furikake is made of roasted sesame seeds, dried seaweed and bonito flakes, along with salt and sugar. In the average Japanese grocery store, you’ll typically see dozens of different types of furikake, which build upon these basic ingredients with additions that span from dried wasabi to freeze-dried salmon flakes.
Furikake’s name literally means “sprinkle over,” since it’s most often sprinkled over rice as a savoury seasoning. It’s also frequently added to rice-based dishes like sushi rolls and onigiri balls to add flavour and colour.
Why we love furikake
Furikake functions like a next-level version of salt and pepper, adding a boost of flavour and umami to almost any savoury dish. We’ve added a few shakes to a bag of microwave popcorn to bring a new taste dimension to our favourite Netflix night snack. We’ve also used furikake to elevate a basic carbonara pasta, and sprinkled it over freshly-mashed avocado to put new riffs on bowls of guacamole and our morning avocado toast.
Dust it over fries or celery sticks, or add it to the breading mixture for fried chicken or tofu. The seasoning’s flavour is subtle enough that it’s hard to go wrong experimenting, yet it adds an extra deliciousness that will soon make you want to use it on just about anything.
Wherever your dish could benefit from an added hit of salty, umami-packed flavour, throw some furikake on it.
