Unlock Flavor Beyond Rice: 12 Creative Ways to Use Furikake

Furikake, the popular Japanese rice seasoning, is known for its incredible variety of flavors. Beyond traditional dry types, you'll now find soft, moist furikake sprinkles that are perfect for more than just topping rice. But did you know this versatile umami seasoning can elevate countless dishes?

We surveyed 500 people to discover their favorite furikake recipes and meal ideas beyond a simple bowl of rice. Get ready to transform your pantry staples with these unexpected and delicious uses for Japanese rice toppings!

Delicious Ways to Use Furikake

1. Elevate Pasta & Noodles:

The most popular use was in pasta! Simply toss furikake with cooked pasta for a quick and flavorful meal. Mentaiko and tarako furikake were top choices, but Noritama, natto, and bonito-based furikake also shine. It's also great on somen and udon, adding a flavorful kick just like seaweed or sesame seeds on hiyashi chuka ramen. Try adding a little bonito furikake to your mentsuyu (noodle dipping sauce) for extra depth.

2.Top Your Favorite Meals:

Sprinkle furikake on yakisoba or ramen for an extra layer of flavor and texture. If your dish feels like it's missing something, a dash of furikake can make it more satisfying. Wakame furikake is particularly popular for ramen.

3. Transform Salads:

Use furikake like a powdered dressing to add flavor to your salads. Salmon furikake in potato salad, for example, can make it less heavy and more mellow.

4. Season Cooked Vegetables:

Furikake is a fantastic flavor enhancer for vegetables. Try mixing okaka (bonito flake) furikake into blanched green beans or spinach, sprinkling wasabi furikake on boiled potatoes, or adding okaka furikake to microwaved enoki mushrooms. You can even mix it with bean sprouts or use seafood-based furikake in stir-fries.

5. Upgrade Tofu & Natto:

If you eat hiyayakko (chilled tofu) or natto (fermented soybeans) regularly, furikake offers an easy way to change up the flavor. Try chirimen sansho furikake on chilled tofu or wasabi furikake on natto for a quick and popular twist.

6. Spice Up Tamagoyaki:

Customize your tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet) by adding tarako-based furikake for a delicious cod roe flavor. Noritama furikake is another popular choice.

7. Enhance Bread:

Furikake isn't just for rice—it pairs surprisingly well with bread! Sprinkle it over buttered toast, or for extra richness, spread mayonnaise on bread, sprinkle furikake, and then toast it.

8. Flavor Tempura Batter:

Since furikake often contains seaweed, sesame seeds, and bonito flakes, adding it to tempura batter can enhance the aroma and flavor, making your tempura even more delicious.

9. Season Potato Chips:

When you want a change from plain lightly salted potato chips, sprinkle some furikake on them for an instant flavor upgrade.

10. Make Unique Pickles:

Add Noritama furikake when making quick pickles for a delicious, lightly Noritama-flavored result. For a vibrant twist, use Yukari furikake (red shiso) to create beautiful pink pickles!

11. Flavor Meats & Okonomiyaki:

Sprinkle wasabi furikake on grilled meat with a dash of soy sauce. You can even use moist wakame furikake as an ingredient in okonomiyaki.

12. Create Savory Snacks:

Try sprinkling furikake on raw pasta and baking it in the oven for a delicious, crunchy snack similar to Pocky sticks.

Furikake often has a way of lingering in the pantry, especially the softer varieties which have a shorter shelf life. We hope these creative ideas inspire you to use up your furikake and explore its full potential as a flavorful seasoning in your everyday cooking!

Ready to experiment with furikake in your kitchen? Which of these ideas will you try first?

 

You can experiment with Furikake, often included in our savory Umami Snack Box