Shichimi Togarashi: Japan's Seven-Spice Blend

Shichimi togarashi, literally meaning seven-flavor chili, is a Japanese spice blend combining dried red chili with six complementary ingredients: most commonly dried orange peel, black and white sesame seeds, nori, sansho pepper, ginger and poppy seeds. Exact proportions vary by producer and region. Its flavor is warm, citrusy and mildly hot, complex rather than simply spicy. Traditionally used as a finishing condiment on soups, noodles and grilled meats, it works equally well as a dry rub or crust on fish: pressing it into cured salmon before plating, as one chef did this episode, adds both visual drama and layered flavor. Available at Asian grocery stores and increasingly in mainstream supermarkets.