The Japanese Seasoning You Need To Try On Homemade Chex Mix

For some people, a gathering is not complete without Chex Party Mix. For about 70 years, home cooks have transformed classic Chex cereal into multi-textural, flavorful snacks. While Ralston Purina used the snack concept to entice people to eat more cereal, the original recipe had approachable flavors like Worcestershire sauce, butter, and garlic salt. Over the years, many cooks have elevated the traditional offering. From sweet Muddy Buddies to bold Cajun-flavored options, the cereal brand's website offers a plethora of recipes. In some ways, those recipes inspire home cooks to push their flavor creativity even further.

Some suggest elevating your homemade Chex mix recipe by using brown butter and furikake. First, brown butter offers a nutty note and depth. It serves as the first component to lay the groundwork for an umami bomb — Japanese furikake. When contrasted with a touch of sweetness from maple syrup, the final flavor hits every note and entices guests to take another handful. 

While a well-rounded dish often incorporates salt, acid, heat, and fat, a punch of umami can make a recipe even more enticing. Derived from the Japanese word for "to sprinkle," furikake is a condiment that is often used to season rice, fish, and vegetables. Various brands have their own blends, but common ingredients include dried nori, toasted sesame seeds, dried fish, herbs, salt, and sugar. Overall, furikake's flavor depends on the ingredients and their concentration. For instance, using more sesame seeds will enhance the nuttiness, and additional spice will bring the heat.

Overall, Japanese furikake is treated more as a finishing component than it is used during cooking. Some people might think of the condiment as a finishing salt. While furikake is commonly found in Japanese cuisine, it can also be used in other recipes like sprinkling over avocado toast or boosting the flavor of deviled eggs. With snack mixes, the ingredient doesn't just add flavor — the crunch from furikake's various components can amplify the already crunchy snack mix. Next time that familiar Chex mix recipe needs a flavor boost, grab a jar of Japanese furikake.

After discovering the versatility of furikake, you might want to add a container to your home pantry. For Trader Joe's fans, the store-brand offering is a favorite among many shoppers. Trader Joe's furikake keeps it simple by combining kelp powder, black and white sesame seeds, nori, and salt. Whether topping instant ramen, rice, or even popcorn, furikake goes surprisingly well with anything that could benefit from extra savory flavor. 

Although the Trader Joe's version might be a convenient purchase, there are more comprehensive lists of furikake offerings out there. Although some brands could be more easily found in Japan, you might find some in a specialty store or when shopping online. One thing to note: The general term furikake has many varieties. From avoiding certain additives to bolder flavor combinations, not all brands are the same.

In the end, for any cook who wants to add some umami to a dish that can otherwise be a little one-note, furikake is a tasty option. It might even be the ingredient that makes you feel like a next-level chef.