Winter Warmers: Heat Up Your Holiday Snacking with Maple Togarashi Spiced Nuts

The holidays are quickly approaching, and the prospect of a few relaxing days of food, family, and festivities has visions of sugar-plums dancing in our heads. The only thing that could possibly make our spirits brighter is a spicy snack and a warming drink to hold us over as we count down the days.

Maple Togarashi Spiced Nuts - served in a Sinafu Small Stand Bowl set on a Saibi Tray - alongside a pair of refreshing Pear Sake Fizz cocktails.

Maple Togarashi Spiced Nuts

This nut mixture offers a subtle hint of maple sweetness with the spicy kick of shichimi togarashi, a Japanese 7-spice blend made with red chili peppers. Feel free to swap out peanuts, cashews, or pecans for your favorite nuts or whatever you happen to have in your pantry. With a total prep and cook time of less than 30 minutes, this is the perfect snack to whip up when hosting friends and family for dinner and drinks. Makes 3 cups

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw peanuts

  • 1 cup raw cashews

  • 1 cup raw pecans

  • ½ cup maple syrup

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

  • 2 tablespoons shichimi togarashi (Japanese 7-spice blend)

  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon

  • 2 teaspoons ginger powder

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

  2. Combine the peanuts, cashews, and pecans in a bowl.

  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, soy sauce, shichimi togarashi, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, ginger powder, and salt.

  4. Pour the syrup-and-spice mixture over the nuts and toss until fully coated.

  5. Spread the seasoned nuts evenly on a 13 x 9 parchment-lined baking tray. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown, tossing once halfway through cooking.

  6. Remove from the oven and let cool. Use your hands to break apart any nuts that are clumped together. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.

Pear Sake Fizz

Whether paired with a sweet-and-spicy treat like our Maple Togarashi Spiced Nuts or served as a standalone cocktail, this Pear Sake Fizz will leave your palate feeling light and refreshed.

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce sake

  • 1 ounce elderflower liqueur

  • 2 ounces pear nectar

  • About 3 ounces champagne or sparkling wine

  • Thinly sliced pear

  • Thyme sprigs for garnish (optional)

Directions

Combine sake, elderflower liqueur, and pear nectar in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a champagne flute. Place a thin slice of pear in the glass and top with champagne or sparkling wine. Garnish with a sprig of thyme.

Recipes by Lisa Hecht

RecipeMorihata AdminRecipes, Food + Drink