Homemade furikake is rice seasoning made with leftover kombu and katsuobushi from making dashi. This quintessential Japanese rice seasoning is fabulous on rice of course, but also on onigiri, udon noodles, soup, salad, boiled egg, popcorn, and more!
Furikake (ふりかけ) is a nutty, crunchy, umami-packed Japanese blend used to season rice. Although it’s referred to as a rice seasoning, furikake is literally the salt and pepper of the Japanese kitchen. It is so versatile that you can use the seasoning to instantly perk up any bland dishes.
How to Make Homemade Furikake
There are endless versions of furikake, but my homemade version uses leftover kombu (kelp) and katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes). Instead of throwing the kombu and katsuobushi away after making dashi or Mentsuyu (soup base for noodles), this recipe repurposes the ingredients into a delicious seasoning! Not only it adds flavors to plain steamed rice, but furikake can also transform any food you sprinkle on into something more yummy and fun.
This homemade furikake is really easy to make. You just chop up the leftover kombu into small pieces, combine with katsuobushi, and then cook it in a saucepan. Once the katsuobushi separates, add them in a simple mix of sugar, salt and soy sauce. Cook until the liquid evaporates and the flavor is absorbed, let cool, and then sprinkle in sesame seeds and nori seaweed.
Rich in calcium, iodine, and iron, this homemade furikake is a healthy way to season your Japanese dishes!
Creative Ways to Enjoy Homemade Furikake
Furikake is absolutely wonderful on just a simple bowl of rice, porridge, or udon noodles. It’s also perfect for seasoning onigiri (Japanese rice balls), soba noodle salad, grilled salmon, or rice crackers. But don’t stop there, furikake is so versatile that I love to get creative and sprinkle it on these as well:
- Avocado – this is my favorite. Keep it simple and halve the avocado and season it with furikake as an afternoon snack. For a savory breakfast, smear your toasted bread with mashed avocado before you give it a good sprinkle of furikake. It’s a Japanese-twist on avocado toast.
- Egg – you can totally replace salt and pepper with furikake on a fried egg or soft-boiled egg when you want something more punchy.
- Popcorn – planning on binge-watching Japanese shows on Netflix or a Japanese movie night? Flavor your homemade popcorn with furikake to keep to the theme.
- Pasta – oh yes, you can top furikake on Mentaiko Pasta, cacio e pepe pasta, or any simple creamy pasta.
So next time, don’t toss the kombu and bonito after making dashi, and instead, create some homemade furikake seasoning and sprinkle it in your favorite dishes. If you make a big batch, you can even freeze the seasoning for a month. Furikake also makes a great holiday gift. Just pack the Japanese seasoning in a cute little glass jar to surprise your foodie friends and family!
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Japanese Ingredient Substitution: If you want to look for substitutes for Japanese condiments and ingredients, click here.
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Homemade Furikake (Japanese Rice Seasoning)
Ingredients
- ½ oz reserved kombu (from making dashi or mentsuyu; see Notes)
- 1 oz reserved katsuobushi (from making dashi or mentsuyu; slightly moist; see Notes)
- 1 Tbsp toasted white sesame seeds
- 2 tsp toasted black sesame seeds
- nori seaweed (I like seasoned nori (Ajitsuke Nori) or Korean seaweed)
Seasonings:
- 1 tsp sugar (add more to your taste)
- 2 tsp soy sauce (You can skip adding soy sauce if you use kombu and katsuobushi from making mentsuyu (noodle base soup).)
- ¼ tsp kosher/sea salt (I use Diamond Crystal; use half for table salt) (add more to your taste)
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients. Make sure the kombu and katsuobushi are well drained.
- Cut kombu into small pieces. You can cut katsuobushi into smaller pieces if you prefer.
- Put kombu and katsuobushi in a saucepan and cook on medium-low heat until katsuobushi becomes dry and separated from each other.
- Add sugar, salt, and soy sauce.
- Cook on medium-low heat until the liquid is completely evaporated, and katsuobushi is dehydrated and crispy.
- Transfer the furikake to a tray or plate and let cool. Once it’s cooled, you can add toasted/roasted sesame seeds and nori seaweed.
- Put in a mason jar or airtight container and enjoy sprinkling over steamed rice and popcorn! You can refrigerate for up to 2 weeks and freeze for up to a month.
Notes
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in July 2013. The images and recipe have been updated in April 2019.
