Looking for a super easy appetizer idea? Have you tried Grilled Shishito Peppers? Easy, addictive, fun to make and super fun to eat.
This Japanese shishito pepper recipe uses ONLY 3 ingredients. And if you have never tried togarashi seasoning, you are in for a real treat.
Pepper appetizers have got to be one of the easiest things to make. Party perfect. All you have to do is pick them up and eat them. Drink in one hand, food in the other. Sounds like a great way to spend a summer afternoon with friends.
Peppers on the grill are perfect for bbq parties. According to my guests, Stuffed Mini Peppers happen to be the BEST stuffed pepper recipe ever. Wait till they try this grilled shishito pepper recipe at our next party.
They also love Cold Smoked Brie.
I didn’t even know what a shishito pepper was. While looking for snap peas, I found these strange looking peppers and wondered what do you do with these? Since I did not know, I didn’t buy them.
That night I was watching MasterChef Junior and wouldn’t you know it, one of those remarkable little chefs cooked some shishito peppers as part of their entree.
Have you ever watched that show? Honestly, they make adults look like amateurs in the kitchen. You can learn a lot from kids let me tell you.
What is a shishito pepper? It is actually a Japanese pepper. They are about the size of a finger, with long creases in the body. Green in colour, but turn red when they are mature.
Shishito pepper season is year-round, but peak season is summer and fall.
Spring is the perfect time for my Roasted Fiddleheads. Watch for these little gems, they are only here for a few short weeks.
You will also want to hunt down some Japanese turnips. Grilled Hakurei Turnips and Radishes make a great bbq side dish. Field to farm eating at it’s best.
EASY GRILLED SHISHITO PEPPERS
When I say EASY I mean SUPER EASY. 3 ingredients, one pan.
- Wash the peppers, pat dry and place in a bowl.
- Drizzle some olive oil (I like to use avocado oil).
- Sprinkle on some togarashi spice.
- Place the peppers in a grill basket.
- Grill and eat.
How easy does that sound? No cutting, or cleaning necessary. You eat the WHOLE pepper (just not the very top) unless you really want to.
Have you ever tried *togarashi spice? Sometimes called Japanese 7 spice, it really works well on shishito peppers. Japanese peppers seasoned with Japanese spice.
For the most part, shishito peppers are mild with a hint of smokey flavour. About 1 in 10 can be HOT. I wanted to make my shishito peppers spicy (but not too spicy). Don’t go too heavy on the spice, it really packs a punch.
Some people will cook the peppers right on the grates. I like to use a *grill basket. You don’t have to worry about them falling through the grates (you don’t want to lose any of these tasty gems). You can also place them on skewers if you wish.
Grill over medium-high heat for about 6-8 minutes, turning several times while cooking.
What you are looking to achieve are peppers that are nicely blistered and charred on the outside.
Once they are done, put them in a bowl and let the guests help themselves. They are so addictively good, believe me, they will disappear in a flash.
It is always fun to see who gets the HOT one. You will know when they suddenly reach for something to drink. It’s like winning the lottery if you like spicy food.
OTHER WAYS TO COOK SHISHITO PEPPERS
We love to grill them, but you can also:
- saute
- roast
- fry
You can even eat them RAW if you like.
How long will shishito peppers last? Fresh peppers will last about 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Summer entertaining should be stress-free. Food should be easy to make and fun to eat. Things like Chili Lime Chicken Skewers, Kofta Kebabs, and Grilled Garlic Scapes are always a hit.
Looking for a low cab appetizer? Roasted Eggplant Slices are perfect.
How about cold soup? Zucchini Noodle Gazpacho is the perfect summer appetizer for your next bbq party.
Grilled mushroom stacks are an easy-to-make starter or light meal option.
Festive Guacamole Appetizers are an easy and fun starter for any party.
Grilled Shishito Peppers are going to be a hit at lots of parties this summer. Next time you go shopping, pick some up and give them a try.
What is your favourite grilled pepper recipe?
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Togarashi Grilled Shishito Peppers
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh shishito peppers
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon togarashi seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Wash peppers, dry and place in a bowl. **NOTE** Leave peppers WHOLE.
- Add the oil to the peppers. Using your hands, rub the peppers to coat evenly.
- Sprinkle on the seasoning, and shake to distribute. Place in a grill basket.
- Grill for about 6-8 minutes, turning often.You want the peppers to be nicely charred and blistered.
- Remove from heat.
- Place in a bowl and let the guests help themselves.
- ENJOY!
Daniela
Love shishito peppers!!! Don’t make them as often as I should and your recipe is def inspiring me to get my shishito pepper game on… :)!!!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY…these are fun to make and fun to eat too.
Jo
Grilled peppers is such a great snack. I love this grilling season, so many wonderful things to be grilled and these grilled shishito peppers are so wonderful.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I love grilling veggies ALL the time.
Julie
I’ve never heard of togarashi spice before! It sounds delicious. Somehow I always seem to get that 1 in 10 SUPER spicy shishito pepper — good thing I love spicy.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
The spice really is a great addition to this recipe. It can really heat things up.
Karyl Henry
There’s a local bar we go to and they have shishito peppers on the menu. They are so good! And thankfully I’ve never gotten one of the really hot ones. I have never heard of this togarashi spice, but it looks right up my alley
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I have a link in the post. It works great with these peppers.