Ito Togarashi

Ito Togarashi is a shredded Japanese red chile pepper used as a garnish. The shredded pepper is not crisp and dried but it has a slightly chewy texture.  The shreds do have a little bit of heat but nothing drastic.

Image credit: Asian Chef Association

Uses For Ito Togarashi

These finely shredded chiles are most often used as a decorative garnish on savory dishes including noodles, sashimi and soups.

Where To Buy

If you happen to have a Japanese market in your area then definitely go there first.  In the San Jose, Cupertino area there is a great Japanese market named Mitsuwa Marketplace which carries virtually everything Japanese.  Also, Hankook Supermarket is an excellent Korean superstore.  If you're in the U.S. and you want to buy online you can purchase the similar shilguchu here at Amazon.com.

Substitutes For Ito Togarashi

If you can't find ito togarashi you can substitute one of these alternatives:

• With a very sharp knife, chop Japonica red chiles length-wise as thin as you can.  The result won't be as fine but it may be adequate.
• Korean shilgochu pepper is very similar if not identical so if you happen to live in an area with a Korean grocery you can find those shredded chiles.
• Safflower threads are very similar in looks but won't provide any flavor.
• If you want to just add a little red color but obtain a similar flavor you can use a couple pinches of aleppo pepper.