Ever met someone who doesn’t like fries?
Neither have we.
Light and crispy, finger chips are among the most popular appetizers and snacks globally.
They are also highly versatile, getting along with nearly every dish.
If you have a last-minute dinner party and can’t come up with any other ideas, togarashi fries, a quick, delicious appetizer, are the way to go.
Togarashi, the famous Japanese spice blend, will add a unique touch to your regular salty fries.
Not only have we simplified the recipe for you, but we also made it healthy.
How to Make Togarashi Fries
Let’s take a look at this recipe for delicious homemade togarashi fries. Do it right, and you may never have to snack out again.
Togarashi is the Japanese word for chili or pepper.
The Shichimi togarashi spice mix is a blend of seven exotic spices that belong on your fries.
Here, you will find the secret to creating a chef-like togarashi mix.
Just sprinkle the spice mix on your fries, and the dish is ready to serve.
The dish also uses minimal ingredients and equipment, which is always a relief if you do not want a mess.
Ingredients
For the togarashi spice mix
● ½ tsp ginger powder
● 1 tsp black sesame seeds
● 1 tsp white sesame seeds
● 1 tsp Japanese Sichuan peppercorns/Sancho peppercorns
● 2 tsp Nori seaweed
● 1 tbsp dried orange peel
● 1 ½ tbsp chili flakes (Since the togarashi mix is spicy, you can increase or decrease the chili flakes according to your tolerance.)
For the french fries — four servings
● 500g potatoes, peeled and chopped into matchsticks
● 1 ½ tbsp cornflour
● 3 tbsp water
● 2-3 tbsp olive oil
● Salt to taste
Instructions
Before beginning, please note that it is vital to use the exact measurements.
Shichimi Togarashi Spice Mix:
Step 1
All you need to prepare the spice mix is a pan and a grinder. So, grab your equipment.
Place the pan on the stove and heat it on low flame before adding any ingredients.
Step 2
Once the pan or skillet is slightly warm, add black and white sesame seeds to it.
Mix in the peppercorns and orange peel when the sesame seeds are a little toasty.
Stir the mix till it grows aromatic.
Step 3
Once the mixture heats, wait for it to cool before transferring it to the grinder.
Take the Nori seaweed, gently tear it up, and crumble it with your hands.
Add the crushed Nori along with the remaining ingredients and grind it.
Crush the mix until it gains a coarse or rough texture and looks like the image above.
Store the togarashi powder in a bowl and save it for the end before you start making your fries.
French Fries:
Step 1
Take your chopped potatoes and carefully spread them out on a baking sheet.
Mix the cornflour and water to make a loose paste, and cover the potatoes.
Step 2
Next, preheat your microwave oven for 5-7 minutes on low while you coat your fries with some olive oil.
Once the oil is spread nicely on the potatoes, season them with salt and half of your togarashi mix.
Put the plate in the oven and let it bake for 10 minutes.
Step 3
Once done, serve the fries in a bowl and sprinkle them with the rest of the togarashi spice mix.
Alternatively, you can also deep-fry your fries.
To do that, you must follow the same process but instead of placing them in the oven in step three, fry them.
However, baking ensures a healthier snack and fewer calories.
Ingredient Substitution
The best way to make a dish is to add your personal touch.
So, when you follow any recipe, you can swap a few ingredients to fit your taste better.
Here are a few ingredients in this togarashi fries recipe that you can substitute for the following:
Rice Flour
You can use rice flour instead of cornstarch or corn flour.
While most people find cornstarch the handiest ingredient, it is often not readily available.
So, rice flour is a good option when you want that crisp crunch but can’t get corn flour.
Corn Oil or Sunflower Oil
Various cooking oils are available in the market, and we all have different preferences.
Olive oil is one of the more popular options, but you can substitute it with other oils like corn oil and sunflower oil.
Allspice, Nutmeg, or Cinnamon
Some people are less fond of ginger than others.
In such cases, you can substitute the ginger powder in the spice mix for allspice, nutmeg, or cinnamon.
While it won’t taste exactly the same, it is a good alternative for the ingredient.
What to Serve With Togarashi Fries
Togarashi fries make great appetizers and side dishes.
You can serve them with various dips or burgers and sandwiches.
Here is a list of some dips you can use with togarashi fries:
Garlic Sauce
The Pizza Hut garlic dip is togarashi fries’ best buddy.
It offers a unique Italian flavor to the Japanese spice blend.
Sweet and Sour Sauce
This McDonald’s Sweet and Sour sauce copycat recipe will add a tangy twist to your fries.
Avocado Dip
Avocado dips are both healthy and tasty.
Use this avocado dip as an excuse to add some greens to your meal.
How to Store Togarashi Fries
Togarashi fries have a lower shelf life than regular fries due to exposure to other spices.
It is crucial to ensure that they remain in a tightly sealed box however you store them.
Here are how long they’ll last in different environments:
In the Fridge
They will likely last a few days if you store them in a fridge.
In the Freezer
Freezing any food item decreases its rotting period.
You can deep freeze these fries and use them for one week to ten days.
In Room Temperature
The fries will quickly start turning soggy when you leave them outside.
So, if you do not want to reheat them, do not leave them out for more than an hour.
How to Reheat Togarashi Fries
You should avoid using your microwave as much as possible to reheat your fries, as this will only make them soggy or dry inside. Instead, use an oven.
Oven
To reheat your fries, you should preheat your oven to 425 degrees. After that, place your togarashi fries on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and heat for about ten minutes.
Give them a quick toss and a couple more minutes in the oven for even more crunch.
Your Top Questions Answered
1. Why did my togarashi fries turn out soft instead of crispy?
Overcrowding is almost always the culprit here.
When fries overlap on the tray, they steam each other instead of roasting, and soggy results are disappointing but totally fixable!
Spread them in a single layer with space between each fry, and your oven’s dry heat can do its job properly.
2. Why does my shichimi togarashi smell faint and taste flat?
Your spice is probably past its prime.
I always check the aroma before seasoning; if it doesn’t smell citrusy and warm, the volatile oils have faded.
Fresh shichimi togarashi should hit you with bright citrus peel and a mild chili warmth the moment you open the jar!
3. Why aren’t my fries browning evenly across the tray?
Uneven browning usually signals hot spots in your oven.
I’ll rotate the tray halfway through cooking to compensate.
If some fries look golden while others stay pale, that’s your cue to flip and rotate immediately before the darker ones burn!
4. How do I know my fries are cut to the right thickness?
Keep one cut fry as your physical reference and match every other slice to it.
What I do is aim for roughly half an inch thick; thinner than that and they go too crispy, thicker and the center stays dense.
Consistent sizing matters more than perfection here, so don’t stress it!
5. Why is the togarashi seasoning not sticking to my fries?
You’re probably seasoning too late.
I toss the fries in a bowl immediately out of the oven while they’re still hot and slightly oily; that surface grabs the spice blend beautifully!
Cold fries just won’t hold seasoning the same way.
6. How do I balance the heat if my togarashi fries taste too spicy?
A cool, creamy dip like Japanese mayo or miso mayo cuts through the chili heat fast.
You can also reduce your togarashi quantity next time and substitute smoked paprika to keep that complex flavor without the intensity.
Keep experimenting until you nail your perfect heat level!
7. What visual cue tells me the fries are genuinely done?
Look for a deep golden color on the edges with a slightly blistered surface texture.
If they still look pale and smooth, they need more time.
I usually give the tray a gentle shake; done fries slide freely and sound crisp when they knock against each other!
Togarashi Fries Recipe That Will Make Your Mouth Water
- baking sheet
- pan or skillet
- microwave oven
- ½ tsp ginger powder
- 1 tsp black sesame seeds
- 1 tsp white sesame seeds
- 1 tsp Japanese Sichuan peppercorns/Sancho peppercorns
- 1 tsp Nori seaweed
- 1 tbsp dried orange peel
- 1½ tbsp chili flakes (Since the togarashi mix is spicy, you can increase or decrease the chili flakes according to your tolerance.)
- 500 g potatoes, peeled and chopped into matchsticks
- 1½ tbsp cornflour
- 3 tbsp water
- 2-3 tbsp olive oil
- Salt to taste
- All you need to prepare the spice mix is a pan and a grinder. So, grab your equipment.
- Place the pan on the stove and heat it on low flame before adding any ingredients.
- Once the pan or skillet is slightly warm, add black and white sesame seeds to it.
- Mix in the peppercorns and orange peel when the sesame seeds are a little toasty.
- Stir the mix till it grows aromatic.
- Once the mixture heats, wait for it to cool before transferring it to the grinder.
- Take the Nori seaweed, gently tear it up, and crumble it with your hands.
- Add the crushed Nori along with the remaining ingredients and grind it.
- Crush the mix until it gains a coarse or rough texture and looks like the image above.
- Store the togarashi powder in a bowl and save it for the end before you start making your fries.
- Take your chopped potatoes and carefully spread them out on a baking sheet.
- Mix the cornflour and water to make a loose paste, and cover the potatoes.
- Next, preheat your microwave oven for 5-7 minutes on low while you coat your fries with some olive oil.
- Once the oil is spread nicely on the potatoes, season them with salt and half of your togarashi mix.
- Put the plate in the oven and let it bake for 10 minutes.
- Once done, serve the fries in a bowl and sprinkle them with the rest of the togarashi spice mix.
- Alternatively, you can also deep-fry your fries.
- To do that, you must follow the same process but instead of placing them in the oven in step three, fry them. However, baking ensures a healthier snack and fewer calories.
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