Furikake (Japanese Rice Seasoning)

Furikake is a savoury-sweet Japanese rice seasoning sprinkled straight from the jar onto plain steamed rice, onigiri, eggs or popcorn. It typically combines dried nori seaweed, toasted sesame seeds and bonito flakes with sugar and salt for a crunchy, umami-packed finishing touch. Dozens of regional and flavoured varieties exist, from classic nori komi to spicy or wasabi blends.

Ingredients

Furikake usually contains dried nori seaweed, sesame seeds, dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi), sugar and salt, with MSG included in some commercial blends for extra savouriness.

Nutritional Facts

Furikake is used sparingly as a topping, so its nutritional impact is modest. Per tablespoon, it contains approximately 15 to 25 calories, around 1 gram of fat and 2 grams of carbohydrates, with roughly 1 gram of protein. Sodium is typically 90 to 150 milligrams per tablespoon.