Furikake and Lemon Shishito Peppers are sweet, spicy, and add a little kick to a weeknight dinner or whet your palate as a zesty appetizer. They only take 15 minutes to make and are loaded with umami flavor!
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Sweet and Spicy Shishito Peppers with Lemon and Furikake
When we lived in Santa Monica, we had a little garden on our balcony. We grew cherry tomatoes, butter lettuce (that our dog Peeps loved to munch on), Japanese eggplant, and shishito peppers. Our absolute favorite were the fresh shishito peppers and it was such a treat having them grow right at home!
Shishito peppers are Japanese sweet peppers that are mildly spicy. They thrive in sunshine and are in season during the spring and summer. Shishito peppers are long and skinny and taste delicious when blistered or grilled.
Our favorite way to prepare Shishito peppers is with a few simple ingredients that highlight the taste of the peppers. We often season them with garlic, furikake, and a squeeze of lemon juice. The garlic adds a tasty aroma, the furikake adds an umami flavor, and the lemon brightens the dish. This recipe takes less than 15 minutes, which is perfect for a last-minute appetizer or a weeknight dinner.
What is Furikake?
Furikake is a Japanese seaweed seasoning. The most common furikake is made of dried nori, or seaweed, sesame seeds, and salt. There are other types of furikake, which have bonito flakes, rice puffs, shrimp, and other bits of umami-packed ingredients. For everyday seasoning, we use a classic furikake with the most basic ingredients. Furikake is one of my favorite seasonings. We put it on vegetables, rice, popcorn, the list goes on. It adds a tasty umami flavor to anything you add it to without being overpoweringly salty.
Furikake adds a lot of flavor to any dish, without overpowering it. We add furikake to vegetables, rice, salmon, chicken, and more.
Ingredients
- Shishito peppers - A sweet Japanese pepper that packs a spciy kick.
- Vegetable oil or Olive Oil- Good fats to cook the shishito peppers in because it is both flavorful and healthy.
- Garlic - Adds a hint of garlicky flavor and dimension to the dish.
- Lemon - Adds acidity and brings out all of the other flavors.
- Furikake - A unique Japanese seasoning.
- Kosher salt to taste - Brings all the other flavors together.
How to Make Furikake and Lemon Shishito Peppers
- Heat the oil - First, add oil to a medium skillet on medium heat.
- Toss the Shishito peppers - Once the oil gets hot, but does not smoke or burn, add the peppers and toss in the oil. Then, allow the Shishito peppers to cook in a single layer until they blister, occasionally turning the peppers over with tongs.
- Add the garlic - After 5 to 7 minutes or Shishito peppers are blistered, add the minced garlic and toss until the peppers are evenly coated with the garlicky oil. Continue to cook the peppers until the garlic becomes fragrant, or for about 2-3 minutes, then remove the pan from the heat.
- Squeeze lemon juice on Shishito peppers and season - For a final touch, add a squeeze of lemon juice, the furikake, and salt to taste. Toss the blistered shishitos in this mixture until evenly coated and serve. These peppers go particular well with an ice cold Japanese beer or with a tasty donburi.
Substitutions
- Padrón peppers - The Spanish sister pepper of Shishitos have a thicker skin, taste more like a green bell pepper, and have more seeds. This recipe also works with padron peppers.
- Sesame Oil - Sprinkle the shishito peppers with sesame seeds instead of furikake for a light nutty flavor.
Variations
- Omit Furikake - Even without furikake, this recipe is delicious.
- Kewpie Mayo Shoyu Sauce - Adds a unique umami flavor to the dish. In a small bowl, add Kewpie mayo, soy sauce, and garlic powder. Use a spoon or chopsticks to mix the sauce until homogeneous and smooth.
Equipment
This easy shishito recipe requires common kitchen essentials. For prep, use a knife, cutting board, and our favorite prep bowls to make prepping quick and efficient.
To cook the shishito peppers, simply cook them in a stainless steel skillet, cast iron skillet, non-stick skillet, or braiser. You will also need a wooden spoon and a serving bowl.
Storage
We recommend enjoying Furikake and Lemon Shishito Peppers immediately, but if you have leftovers, you can store and refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat leftover peppers in a pan on the stove or microwave them in a microwave safe container until hot.
Did You Like This Recipe?
If you enjoyed Furikake and Lemon Shishito Peppers, please rate and comment below! For similar recipes, check out:
- BROILED SALMON COLLARS (SAKE KAMA)
- SAUTÉED GREEN BEANS WITH FURIKAKE
- FURIKAKE SALMON
- SAUTÉED MUSHROOMS WITH WHITE WINE
Furikake and Lemon Shishito Peppers
Ingredients
- 8 oz shishito peppers
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- ½ lemon
- 2 tbsp furikake
- Kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil - First, add oil to a medium skillet on medium heat.
- Toss the Shishito peppers - Once the oil gets hot, but does not smoke or burn, add the peppers and toss in the oil. Then, allow the Shishito peppers to cook in a single layer until they blister, occasionally turning the peppers over with tongs.
- Add the garlic - After 5 to 7 minutes, add the minced garlic and toss until the peppers are evenly coated with the garlicky oil. Continue to cook the peppers until the garlic becomes fragrant, or for about 2-3 minutes, then remove the pan from the heat.
- Squeeze lemon juice on Shishito peppers and season - For a final touch, add a squeeze of lemon juice, the furikake, and salt to taste. Toss the blistered shishitos in this mixture until evenly coated and serve.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
These were so delicious! Made them to be a side dish with our dinner but they were so good we ended up finishing them before we got to the meal!
Love the seasoning on these shishito peppers, a nice new twist.