Fried Rice with Japanese Seven Spice

If you have been reading my blog for any amount of time...then you know how I like to try different spices. The last time I was visiting my parents I picked up some Sansho Seven Spice Blend. To find out it is known as Japanese Seven Spice, Shichimi togarashi, and it apparently has been around for a long time. There are a a few different versions as do many spice blends, but this one has sansho pepper and poppy seeds in it, along with red chili, seaweed,orange peel, white and black sesame seeds. It is used as a table seasoning to enhance Japanese noodle dishes and grilled fish.


Of course it would be good on rice, and I have used it on chicken. Then I noticed a simple fried rice with Japanese seven spice on Vegan Yum Yum .... you also know how much I love fried rice, and how perfect to try out this spice blend. Now fried rice you don't really need a recipe for, and it is a good way to use up what you have on hand and throw together a great tasting quick meal. I find it's best to use day old or cold cooked rice, so the next time you make rice just throw a little extra in and save the rest for your next meal of fried rice! :D



I love this spice, it has just a nice amount of heat and the orange peel gives it a nice citrus flavor without being too much. I know my daughter loves it because of the seaweed in it...reminds her of furikake on rice.

For this fried rice: adapted from Vegan Yum Yum

2 cups cold cooked rice

1 tablespoon oil

1 shallot chopped

1 teaspoon ginger paste

1 teaspoon garlic paste or clove of garlic chopped

2 tablespoon soy sauce

2 teaspoons Japanese seven spice

shiitake mushrooms

shrimp (I used frozen little ones)

1-2 carrots chopped

1 egg

I have made a few fried rice here on my blog but I will do a quick run down on how to ...In a large pan or wok heat the oil and cook the shallots and carrots until soft, then add the mushrooms and cook around 3 minutes, add ginger, garlic, and shrimp and cook a few more minutes until shrimp are pink. Add the rice, you can hear it sizzle when the cold rice hits the hot pan, cook a bit to warm it through. Separate all the ingredients to add the egg in the middle and scramble it until cooked, add the soy sauce and mix everything up good. Sprinkle it with the Japanese seven spice.

You can vary the ingredients to what you have or what you like...that's the nice thing about fried rice. I will make this again with the Japanese seven spice for sure!! When I run out I might have to figure out how to get the ingredients to make my own!



Edited to add the spice photos...the ingredients listed on the back of the package - red chili, seaweed, sansho pepper, orange peel, poppy seeds, white & black sesame seeds.




Hope this helps!