Togarashi Grilled Shishito Peppers

Name: Togarashi Grilled Shishito Peppers
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8 min
Ingredients: 1 pound fresh shishito peppers; 1 tablespoons avocado oil; 1/2 teaspoons togarashi seasoning

June 18, 2019 *Updated* May 10, 2023 / By: Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy 70 Comments

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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.

Togarashi Grilled Shishito Peppers in serving bowls ready to eat.

Speaking of Japanese cuisine, this sushi salad recipe is a must try. All the flavours of a California roll in a bowl. None of the work involved rolling sushi. Perfect!

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.

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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.

Overhead shot of a jar of togarashi seasoning.

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.

A grill pan with togarashi seasoned shishito peppers in a grill basket.

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.

A close up shot of blistered peppers on the grill.

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.

Grilled Shishito Peppers in serving bowls ready to eat.

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.

Grilled Vegetables are the easiest side dish for summer and beyond. Mix and match your veggies and spices however you please.

Festive Guacamole Appetizers are an easy and fun starter for any party.

A close up shot of a bowl of grilled peppers.

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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