What does furikake taste like?
Furikake tastes salty, savory and toasty: a Japanese rice sprinkle of crumbled seaweed, toasted sesame, salt and a little sugar, often with dried bonito fish flakes.
Furikake
savory seaweed and sesame sprinkle
Furikake is a Japanese seasoning made for shaking onto plain rice. The common version mixes toasted sesame seeds, bits of nori (the seaweed on sushi), salt, a pinch of sugar and often bonito flakes, which are dried, smoked fish shaved thin. It tastes like the ocean in a pleasant way: savory, slightly sweet, toasty and a little crunchy. Other blends add egg, shiso, wasabi or salmon. In Hawaii it's on everything, and US restaurants have followed.
Where you’ll see it
Over rice bowls, poke, sushi rolls and onigiri, on popcorn and fries, crusting salmon or ahi, and on avocado toast and furikake chex mix in Hawaii-style spots.
Order it if you like salty, toasty, seaweed-savory crunch on rice or fish.
Quick questions
- Does furikake have fish in it?
- Many blends do, usually bonito flakes or dried shrimp. Seaweed and sesame only versions exist, so check if you avoid fish.
- Does furikake taste fishy?
- Not strongly. It tastes more of toasted sesame and seaweed, with a smoky, savory hint from any bonito.