Furikake Snack Mix Recipe (2024)

By Sue Li

Updated Oct. 11, 2023

Furikake Snack Mix Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Rating
4(174)
Notes
Read community notes

This sweet and spicy snack mix is inspired by furikake snack mix, a Japanese Hawaiian dish that uses a soy-butter blend to coat a cereal mixture and then seasons it with furikake, a traditional Japanese seasoning mix that traditionally combines dried fish, seaweed and sesame seeds, creating deep umami. Taking the original as inspiration, this recipe introduces the use of a pack of store-bought ramen. The ramen seasoning is used to flavor the cereal mix, while its crunchy noodles add texture and flair. The foundation of this snack mix calls for a wide variety of crunchy ingredients, but feel free to streamline your shopping list by skipping one of the snack items listed and doubling up on another.

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Ingredients

Yield:12 servings (about 14 cups)

  • ¾cup/1½ sticks unsalted butter
  • 3tablespoons light agave syrup
  • 3tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2tablespoons gochugaru
  • 1teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
  • 1(4.23-ounce) pack spicy Korean ramen (such as Shin Ramen), spice packet reserved and noodles broken into bite-size pieces
  • 1(2.6-ounce) pack shrimp crackers (about 2½ cups), or substitute with extra oyster crackers
  • 2cups waffled rice cereal (such as Rice Chex)
  • 2cups honey-flavored corn and oat cereal (such as Honeycomb)
  • 2cups thin, 3-inch-long pretzel sticks
  • 2cups oyster crackers
  • 1cup wasabi peas
  • 4sheets toasted nori, torn into ½-to-1-inch pieces
  • 2tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Heat the oven to 275 degrees. Line two 13-by-18-inch baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

  2. Step

    2

    In a small saucepan, combine butter, agave syrup, soy sauce, gochugaru, salt and the spice packet from the ramen. Cook over medium heat until the butter is melted and slightly bubbling, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside to allow the gochugaru to bloom.

  3. Step

    3

    In a large bowl, combine the ramen noodles with the shrimp crackers, rice cereal, honey-flavored cereal, pretzel sticks, oyster crackers, wasabi peas and nori.

  4. Step

    4

    Drizzle half of the warm, spicy butter over the crunchy mixture and toss to coat. Drizzle with the remaining butter and toss to coat again until all of the pieces are coated.

  5. Step

    5

    Divide the mixture evenly between the two prepared baking sheets and spread into even layers. Sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds.

  6. Step

    6

    Bake until the mixture has dried and toasted, 25 to 35 minutes, switching the sheet pans between racks and tossing the mixture every 10 minutes. Let cool completely before serving (about 20 minutes). Snack mix will keep 1 week in an airtight container.

Ratings

4

out of 5

174

user ratings

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Katy

Would love to see the nutrition details before I try this recipe!

Gourmanding in the 206

I like this Korean style Chex Mix! Added cashews and almonds instead of Honeycomb but the flavor profile is a keeper. Thanks.

Christy

The hardest thing about this recipe is not eating the entire massive quantity of snack mix in one standing (as opposed to sitting, because I’m in my kitchen trying to convince myself I’m about to put the lid back on the container).

Stephanie

Yes, it’s an absolute sodium bomb … and therefore delicious. I subbed Diamond brand wasabi roasted almonds. The almonds themselves were not a terrible addition but all the wasabi flavoring was washed off by the butter/Gochujang mixture. Couldn’t find Honeycomb (so disappointed, this was the sugar cereal fantasy of my youth, still yet to pass these lips) so subbed Honey Nut Chex. Next time I might increase the sweet Chex and decrease the plain — I like that hit of sweet and savory.

Cynthia

Melissa

I have been obsessed with this recipe since it was published because I've loved this flavor profile ever since a childhood in Hawaii where arare crackers are popular. I finally got around to buying all the ingredients, which involved a trip to three stores. (I still couldn't find gochugaru but substituted Aleppo pepper, which worked fine.) It turned out great! Because I live alone, I halved the recipe. How to use up the leftover ingredients is my next task ...

Suzanne

Agreed. The sodium content has to be really high.

carolem

I learned from your experience and added coarsely chopped wasabi/soy almonds at the end, after cooking the mix. Turned out very nicely. I don't care for wasabi peas, so it was an excellent substitution.

SusanW

The recipe says that it makes approximately 14 cups for 12 servings. So it's a little more than one cup per serving.

Brushjl

Oh my, I think I just added 10 years to my life! Absolutely delicious. Will never go back to my mother's chef mix.

Johnson

its honestly really good in my opinion, especially if you have had it before.

Melissa

There's no need to; it has the furikake ingredients (nori, sesame seed) in it.

Betsy

I made this for my husband this afternoon, and he sampled it when he got home. He called it "fantastic." (I really don't like spicy stuff, so I have no opinion.)

Sweet Tooth

Omitted wasabi peas, nori, & shrimp crackers. Added more of other 4 dry ingred; only 2 oz of ramen noodles. Subbed Aleppo pepper for gochugaru, and Lyle's Golden Syrup for agave. Omitted salt and used only one ramen seasoning pack. This resulted in a less salty snack mix. I bumped up the sweetness, too, by going a little heavy on my Honeycomb cereal and syrup. I like the salty, sweet, spicy, umami flavor. Planning to add macadamia nuts! Definitely switch the pans every 8 min; 25 min total.

Sue T

So we’re basically addicted to this stuff. I made some for Christmas snacking and am making more today for New Year’s snacking. My husband suggested adding mini Nilla wafers (basically cause we were in the cookie aisle and he wanted some) but it turned out to be genius! Another little hint of sweet along with the Honeycomb. And I was pleasantly surprised by the gochugaru as I'd never heard of it. Smoky and just slightly spicy. Love it!

Susan B

I made this exactly as written, but found that it was inedibly salty and very spicy. After spending about $30 on the ingredients, I ended up throwing most of it out. Maybe I used a very salty brand of Shin Ramen? The torn bits of toasted nori had the unappetizing appearance of burnt paper flakes in the mix.

Nancy

Made as directed except used Gold Emblem Asian Trail Mix in place of shrimp crackers, used two small packs of Gim roasted seaweed snacks instead of toasting Nori sheets, and only used 5 tsp of Gochugaru. It was really good and everyone liked it. Next time, I would sprinkle the sesame seeds on at Step 4. Doing it at Step 5, a lot of them just fell off.

Anchorage

Very good, especially first day. After that, the nori became a bit overpowering and I might leave out on next batch as it definitely commanded the palate. Swapped in light corn syrup for agave and loved how it made clumps of mix and did not over sweeten the batch.

durantenge

delicious!!! addictive.

Nancy

Gochukaru is Korean chile flakes, kind of like Aleppo pepper in consistency.

Regina

Thanks - I've mainly seen it paste form. I'm glad I asked!

Regina

Is the gochugaru powdered or sauce?

Nancy

Gochukaru is Korean chile flakes, kind of like Aleppo pepper in consistency.

Choppie

Rotated my baking sheets after 12 minutes. Four minutes later everything was burned. The different elements seemed to bake at different speeds. The rice Chex was black! Next time I will remove after 12 minutes!

Regina

I rotated the pans and tossed the mix at each rotation every 10 minutes.

A. Cleary

This looks like a nice change from the Chex Party Mix, and I'd like to give it a try. But I have some furikake on hand and wonder if I could substitute it for some of the ingredients here. Any ideas?

Anne

This is close to gluten free already. How can I make it totally gluten free?

carolem

Substituted dark maple syrup for the agave syrup with decent results. Light maple syrup is probably a better sub.

Christy

The hardest thing about this recipe is not eating the entire massive quantity of snack mix in one standing (as opposed to sitting, because I’m in my kitchen trying to convince myself I’m about to put the lid back on the container).

Jessica

I can’t wait to make this! Someone mentioned using Diamond wasabi almonds. Are they less spicy than wasabi peas? I plan on only using half the ramen spice packet because of the high sodium and will omit the pretzels or use no salt ones to modify it a little. Curious if others have worked with lessening the salt or spice.

Betsy

I made this for my husband this afternoon, and he sampled it when he got home. He called it "fantastic." (I really don't like spicy stuff, so I have no opinion.)

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Furikake Snack Mix Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you use furikake seasoning? ›

Try adding furikake to ramen, grain bowls, roasted vegetables, pan-seared fish or even sprinkled on popcorn. For a quick and easy crunchy snack, try making Fried Rice Paper with Furikake (pictured above), which are generously sprinkled with furikake.

What is furikake made of? ›

Furikake is a Japanese seasoning typically made with toasted sesame seeds, nori, salt, sugar. It varies from region to region and can also include anything from bonito flakes, to chili flakes to miso powder to sh*take powder to poppy seeds.

What goes well with furikake? ›

Best Furikake For Seafood & Spice Lovers

The seasoning includes chili pepper as one of its main ingredients and in addition to rice dishes, makes a tasty flavor enhancer for dishes like spaghetti, pizza, and potato salad! It can also be added to mayonnaise to make a delicious tasting dip for raw veggie sticks.

Is furikake sweet? ›

Furikake is a Japanese seasoning intended to be sprinkled on rice, vegetables and fish. It is typically a mixture of different varieties and treatments of sesame seeds (black, white, toasted, etc), seaweed and salt. Some brands do have a bit of added sugar but usually not very much.

How much furikake to use? ›

All you have to do is add a few teaspoons to the top of your dish, and you'll instantly boost the flavor, texture, and appearance of whatever you're serving. Generally, furikake is a savory mix of sesame seeds, seaweed, and salt that is used as a finishing touch on meals.

Is furikake healthy for you? ›

As you can see from its origin story, furikake is high in many vital nutrients. As previously mentioned, that includes calcium, but it's also high in protein, iodine, iron, and other minerals. Considering the combination of health benefits and depth of flavor, it's easy to see why furikake is so popular!

What is a substitute for furikake? ›

Gourmet Hacks: 5 BEST Substitutes for Japanese Furikake
  • Produce. • 1 Nori flakes. • 1 Nori seaweed.
  • Baking & spices. • 1 Furikake seasoning, Homemade. • 1 Salt + sesame seeds.
  • Other. • Schichimi Togarashi.

Should you refrigerate furikake? ›

Furikake are further categorized into dry types, which have a long shelf-life, and soft, moist varieties, which typically require refrigeration after opening. Furikake flavors range from classic soy sauce or salt blends to fusion-inspired options that might include popular curry or taco rice.

What does furikake mean in English? ›

These days furikake is, broadly speaking, a mixture of sesame seeds, seaweeds, herbs, fish flakes, and salt that derives its name from the Japanese term for sprinkles.

What is the most popular furikake flavor? ›

Noritama: The Classic Furikake Rice Seasoning Choice

Marumiya is one of the biggest names when it comes to furikake, boasting its own extensive “furikake series.” The Noritama flavor combines nori (dried seaweed) with tamago (egg) and is the most popular long seller among colorful furikake products.

Is there MSG in furikake? ›

Most of the store-bought furikake contain M.S.G; even if health concerns surrounding M.S.G. have been disproven, I still consider it cheating to use it: The key ingredients of furikake are already intensely umami—they don't need a synthetic boost, just a pinch of salt and sugar.

Why does furikake taste so good? ›

It has a distinct seaweed taste which many associate with healthier food. It's also crunchy and salty, meshing with a lovely nutty taste that comes from the inclusion of the sesame seeds. It's a very savory seasoning that combines well with Japanese flavors.

Can I eat furikake alone? ›

The main function of Furikake is to season rice, but it is usually not eaten with rice alone without other dishes. However, when people have no time to cook or don't have much appetite, Furikake works like a small side dish.

Does furikake taste fishy? ›

While furikake does typically contain dried fish and nori seaweed, its taste isn't overwhelmingly fishy. Instead, expect more of a salty, umami flavor (think miso soup rather than canned sardines). So if you're not into strong fish flavors, you might still find furikake a welcome addition to your pantry.

Does furikake go in or on rice? ›

Sprinkled on rice

As such, the most well-known and accepted way of using furikake is to tear open a sachet and sprinkle it over a serving of rice, whether that be hot, steamed rice fresh from the rice cooker/saucepan, cold rice from the night before, or rice that is going into a bento box for lunch.

What does furikake seasoning taste like? ›

It has a distinct seaweed taste which many associate with healthier food. It's also crunchy and salty, meshing with a lovely nutty taste that comes from the inclusion of the sesame seeds. It's a very savory seasoning that combines well with Japanese flavors.

Does furikake seasoning need to be refrigerated? ›

Furikake are further categorized into dry types, which have a long shelf-life, and soft, moist varieties, which typically require refrigeration after opening. Furikake flavors range from classic soy sauce or salt blends to fusion-inspired options that might include popular curry or taco rice.

What is the popular furikake flavor? ›

Noritama: The Classic Furikake Rice Seasoning Choice

Japanese people immediately recognize the characteristic taste of the subtly sweet egg granule and the aromatic shredded seaweed, recognizable from the very first bite ever taken.

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