Furikake Snack Mix

"A favorite among many Hawaiian households since at least the 1980s, the first recipes for furikake mix were traditionally made with breakfast cereal as a base. Home chefs would slather that cereal in a savory mix of dried seaweed, fish flakes, and sesame seeds (better known together as furikake), mixed together in melted butter, then bake it to a golden brown. For our take on this Hawaiian hit, we’ve omitted the fish flakes in our furikake formulation, though we’ve expanded on the crunchy base quite dramatically, as modern furikake mixes are wont to do. As such, Trader Joe’s Furikake Snack Mix contains a whole host of savory, spicy, and even sweet snack-y bits, including mochi crisps, sesame sticks, corn chips, waffle crisps, and wasabi style peas, which our supplier seasons with butter, salt, sesame seeds, seaweed, and an umami-forward mix of mushroom, garlic, and onion powder. This vivid variety of flavors and textures means that every handful, and even every bite within a handful, is delightfully different: sometimes you get the yielding crunch of the mochi, sometimes you get the satisfying pop and invigorating heat of a wasabi style pea, and you always get a whole lot of umami going on. We recommend bringing out a pouch of this Mix in any situation that calls for snacking: family movie nights, pool parties, or even mini-picnics at the park. We’re also big fans of serving them alongside suitably savory fare: they’re an especially excellent accompaniment to a burger, hot dog, or poke bowl."