Japanese cuisine and spicy aren’t often a pairing that go together, but there are some exceptions. One is shichimi togarashi seasoning. The popular Japanese spice mix, also known as Japanese seven-spice seasoning, is popular for everything from Asian soups and tempura to noodles and grilled meats.
Yet, for all its popularity in its native land, it can be a surprise to see this exotic ingredient in a recipe. You likely don’t have this seasoning just sitting in the spice rack (and it can be difficult to source), so where do you turn? What’s a good shichimi togarashi substitute that will work? Let’s review your choices.