Welcome to the EGGhead Forum - a great place to visit and packed with tips and EGGspert advice! You can also join the conversation and get more information and amazing kamado recipes by following Big Green Egg to Experience our World of Flavor™ at:
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Youtube  |  Vimeo
Share your photos by tagging us and using the hashtag #BigGreenEgg.

Want to see how the EGG is made? Click to Watch

Togarashi; my latest rabbit hole

500
500 Posts: 3,188
So I’m watching The Best Thing I Ever Ate last night and Togarashi spice was mentioned two times in one episode. Had to look it up. Now I want to either make my own or find it and try it out on pork tenderloin, chicken, veggies, anything. Found an article and some recipes for making my own blend. What’s your experience with this spice blend?  

I like my butt rubbed and my pork pulled.
Member since 2009

Comments

  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 19,780
    It's good stuff. We usually have nanami togarashi and shichimi togarashi on hand, but tend to use the nanami togarashi more. It's great as the final garnish for all kinds of things, especially soups and rice dishes. 

    It's readily available at Asian stores here, otherwise I'm sure Amazon has it. I'd be happy to send you some if you can't find it. 

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • Mattman3969
    Mattman3969 Posts: 10,458
    Now I want some too. 

    -----------------------------------------

    analyze adapt overcome

    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
  • buzd504
    buzd504 Posts: 3,878
    Now I want some too. 
    I still don't know what it is and I want some.
    NOLA
  • Photo Egg
    Photo Egg Posts: 12,137
    caliking said:
    It's good stuff. We usually have nanami togarashi and shichimi togarashi on hand, but tend to use the nanami togarashi more. It's great as the final garnish for all kinds of things, especially soups and rice dishes. 

    It's readily available at Asian stores here, otherwise I'm sure Amazon has it. I'd be happy to send you some if you can't find it. 
    Can you explain the differences between the 2?
    Thanks!
    Thank you,
    Darian

    Galveston Texas
  • gdenby
    gdenby Posts: 6,239
    I'm under the impression that is very commonly used in Japanese foods. When I 1st heard about it, I found it easily at a local Asian market. Not expensive. My wife thought it was a little hot. I liked it for the hint of orange flavor.
  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 19,780
    Photo Egg said:
    caliking said:
    It's good stuff. We usually have nanami togarashi and shichimi togarashi on hand, but tend to use the nanami togarashi more. It's great as the final garnish for all kinds of things, especially soups and rice dishes. 

    It's readily available at Asian stores here, otherwise I'm sure Amazon has it. I'd be happy to send you some if you can't find it. 
    Can you explain the differences between the 2?
    Thanks!
    I feel that the nanami togarashi has a more clean heat flavor than the shichimi togarashi, maybe because the latter has more orange peel, which balances the flavors somewhat. 

    I’ll do a side by side taste comparison when I get home to give you better info. 

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • Mattman3969
    Mattman3969 Posts: 10,458
    I need better Asian markets. They looked at me like I had leprosy when I asked where I was.  

    -----------------------------------------

    analyze adapt overcome

    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
  • 500
    500 Posts: 3,188
    The Richmond, VA area has a few Asian markets.  I guess I need schooling on the different types to determine what to buy, or make my own blend.  
    I like my butt rubbed and my pork pulled.
    Member since 2009
  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 19,780
    @500 The nanami togarashi we buy is in a little red shaker. 


    The shichimi togarashi is nearly identical, but the label and cap color are sort of orangeish. 

    You will almost never go wrong by making your own spice blends/rubs. I like to buy things like this at least once, to get an idea of the flavors in play, and then see if I feel the need for something better. 

    And now this thread has inspired me to try and make this at home :)

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • HeavyG
    HeavyG Posts: 10,380
    Perhaps furikake can be your next rabbit hole.
    “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” ― Philip K. Diçk




  • Mattman3969
    Mattman3969 Posts: 10,458
    @caliking - standing by for the outcome and hoping this takes precedence over the table stain.  Lol

    -----------------------------------------

    analyze adapt overcome

    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
  • theyolksonyou
    theyolksonyou Posts: 18,459
    Opened this thread and read the OP.

    Thought to myself “hmm I’ve never heard of this stuff but I bet @caliking has.  I wonder what he thinks.”

    First response - @caliking.

    This forum is amazing.
    Exact same thought.  The spice king has spoken.  
  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    Well, of course. 70% of the world's spices come from India.

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

  • I’ve purchased it at Savory Spice Shop before.  Good stuff!  
    Stuart
    Burlington/Alamance County, NC
  • Spaightlabs
    Spaightlabs Posts: 2,349
    HeavyG said:
    Perhaps furikake can be your next rabbit hole.
    Bukake with furries?  You are a sick, sick man.
  • 500
    500 Posts: 3,188
    HeavyG said:
    Perhaps furikake can be your next rabbit hole.
    Bukake with furries?  You are a sick, sick man.
    I had to Google furikake in private mode just to be safe. 😎 Turns out it’s rice seasoning. 
    I like my butt rubbed and my pork pulled.
    Member since 2009
  • HeavyG
    HeavyG Posts: 10,380
    500 said:
    HeavyG said:
    Perhaps furikake can be your next rabbit hole.
    Bukake with furries?  You are a sick, sick man.
    I had to Google furikake in private mode just to be safe. 😎 Turns out it’s rice seasoning. 
    Be glad you didn't google bukake with furries. Or rabbit holes. :)

    Furikake is probably mostly used as just rice seasoning but think of it more like we think of salt and pepper. Try it to season other things - fish, salads, stir fries, toast.



    “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” ― Philip K. Diçk




  • SciAggie
    SciAggie Posts: 6,481
    Opened this thread and read the OP.

    Thought to myself “hmm I’ve never heard of this stuff but I bet @caliking has.  I wonder what he thinks.”

    First response - @caliking.

    This forum is amazing.
    I know, right? And I’m ALWAYS having to Google something I’ve never heard of before. 
    Coleman, Texas
    Large BGE & Mini Max for the wok. A few old camp Dutch ovens and a wood fired oven. LSG 24” cabinet offset smoker. There are a few paella pans and a Patagonia cross in the barn. A curing chamber for bacterial transformation of meats...
    "Bourbon slushies. Sure you can cook on the BGE without them, but why would you?"
                                                                                                                          YukonRon
  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 19,780
    @Photo Egg @500 I tasted the 2 side by side and the nanami togarashi has more forward heat, like cayenne, with other flavors. The shichimi togarashi is more balanced in comparison, but more peppery than the nanami togarashi. Also, has more orange peel flavor.

    Furikake is nice on white rice - adds some flavor and a bit of crunch to the bite. Would likely be good on fish and such too, as suggested above. 

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • 500
    500 Posts: 3,188
    caliking said:
    @Photo Egg @500 I tasted the 2 side by side and the nanami togarashi has more forward heat, like cayenne, with other flavors. The shichimi togarashi is more balanced in comparison, but more peppery than the nanami togarashi. Also, has more orange peel flavor.

    Furikake is nice on white rice - adds some flavor and a bit of crunch to the bite. Would likely be good on fish and such too, as suggested above. 
    Thanks, so I think I'll look for shichimi togarashi first then.
    I like my butt rubbed and my pork pulled.
    Member since 2009
  • bucky925
    bucky925 Posts: 2,054
    buzd504 said:
    Now I want some too. 
    I still don't know what it is and I want some.
    Oh my, this site is famous for making me want something I didn't know I needed.   In other words I too want some. 

    The best things in life are not things.  

  • Mattman3969
    Mattman3969 Posts: 10,458
    Finally emptied my Amazon cart and one of each coming.  Thanks for the brand recommend @caliking.   

    @500 - have you used any of yours yet?

    -----------------------------------------

    analyze adapt overcome

    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
  • 500
    500 Posts: 3,188
    Finally emptied my Amazon cart and one of each coming.  Thanks for the brand recommend @caliking.   

    @500 - have you used any of yours yet?
    Um, I still haven’t found any locally. The Asian market is not nearby my work or home. 
    I like my butt rubbed and my pork pulled.
    Member since 2009
  • Mattman3969
    Mattman3969 Posts: 10,458
    The nanami togarashi came within a couple of days. My shichimi togarash came today after 4 or weeks.  I had forgotten about it.  I now see why it was delayed. 




    -----------------------------------------

    analyze adapt overcome

    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
  • 500
    500 Posts: 3,188
    Direct from the source!
    I like my butt rubbed and my pork pulled.
    Member since 2009