Homemade Creamy Togarashi Sauce (with Mayo and Togarashi Seasoning)

If you love spicy food, then you have to try this Togarashi Sauce. It’s made from a blend of spices to create a spicy but sweet, toasty seasoning with a hint of umami flavoring then added to a creamy mayonnaise base. Take your sriracha mayonnaise up a notch with this Japanese Togarashi Sauce. Great to serve with poke bowls, sushi rolls, and even fries!

In Japan, Togarashi seasoning is hugely popular and can be added to nearly any dish, similar to how you would use salt and pepper. The spice blend carries with it a ton of different flavors! The best part of making it yourself is that you can adjust the measurements to bring out the tastes you prefer.

Even with a longer list of ingredients, this Togarashi sauce is quick to make and keeps very well in the fridge if stored properly. This spicy sauce is a great way to add heat to your meal, but also add a few different layers of flavor. If you can’t handle a lot of heat, it can easily be adjusted so you can still enjoy the excitement of adding Togarashi to your meals.

What is Togarashi?

Shichimi Togarashi means “7 spice blend” in Japanese. In Japan, you can find it added to anything from rice and udon to meats to even crackers. Different manufacturers have unique spins on the spice mix, but it consistently has a few key components.

Toasted sesame seeds add a nuttiness and nori (seaweed) adds the umami. Lastly, ginger and citrus zest add the perfect zing to really round off the spice blend.

Togarashi Sauce Ingredients and Substitutes

• Mayonnaise: Adds a creamy texture to the sauce. I used the regular mayo, but you can substitute sour cream or plain Greek yogurt for a healthier option
• Sriracha: Adds heat to the sauce. Reduce the amount of sriracha sauce if you prefer a mild taste or add more for making it very spicy!
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Add more heat that can be nice and mild in moderation, or loaded on for a stronger kick.
• Orange or Tangerine Zest: Adds the perfect zing to the sauce.
• Sugar & Salt & Ginger Powder: For extra flavors.
• Ground Black Pepper: Use fresh ground pepper.
• Toasted Sesame Seeds: This recipe works with black or white sesame seeds, or even a mix of both.
• Nori: Add crumbled nori for the nice umami flavor.

How to Make Togarashi Sauce

Make Togarashi Seasoning

• In a small bowl, add crushed red pepper flakes, orange zest, garlic powder, sugar, salt, pepper, sesame seeds and crumbled nori.
• Mix well.

Make Sriracha Mayo

• Add mayo and sriracha sauce in a separate small mixing bowl.
• Whisk until smooth with a fork or whisk.

Mix Everything Together

• Mix Sriracha mayo with Togarashi seasoning.
• Taste and adjust heat and salt. Add more spices if you like. Serve and enjoy.

Variations

• Vegan: This recipe can easily be made vegan by substituting vegan mayonnaise.
• Non-spicy: If you want to give the recipe a shot, but aren’t a fan of a lot of spice, try making it without sriracha and crushed red pepper flakes. You can always adjust any of the spice measurements to your liking as well.

Ways to Use Togarashi Sauce

Togarashi sauce can go on virtually anything you want to give an added kick. For a more traditional approach, put it on sushi or a poké bowl. Or experiment with it anywhere you would use a spicy mayo, like as a condiment on a burger or a dip with fries.

What Does Togarashi Sauce Taste Like?

This Togarashi Sauce is spicy, mainly from the sriracha and red pepper flakes. The other spices each add their unique flavor notes too, so it’s hard to describe the taste in a single word. There’s a nuttiness to it, and a tanginess too. But there’s also a sweetness, balanced with the savoriness from the umami notes. It’s all blended together into a creamy sauce, that’s undeniably packed with flavor.

Where to Buy Togarashi Seasoning?

Togarashi can be found very easily online. Check out this House Foods brand. You’ll very likely be able to find it at your local Asian grocery store, but it may be even easier to find than you think. Many popular brands have started making their own version of the spice, including Knorr.

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I hope you like this recipe. If you try it, please comment below and let me know how your Togarashi Sauce turns out!