Are you ready to serve up the most exciting, tasty yet easy appetizer this season? I have a Blistered Shishito Peppers with Ginger Soy Sauce recipe for you! These blistered shishito peppers are immensely popular at Japanese izakayas (Japanese gastropubs), but you can easily make this at home. They are so fabulous at any summer parties, BBQs, game days, or Asian-themed gatherings. Don’t forget to bring out some icy cold beer or sake or whatever bubbly you have on hand!
What Are Shishito Peppers?
Shishito peppers (獅子唐) are East Asian variety peppers that are harvested early when they turn bright green and reach 3-4 inches long. These slender, finger-like peppers have a mild heat and are enjoyed commonly in Japanese cuisine. While shishitos might not meet the score of capsaicin-induced heat level, you would love them for their infinitely cool and thrilling factor. The peppers have very thin skins so they cook quickly and could easily sizzle and achieve appetizing chars on the outside in an open flame or in a hot pan. They are so delicious when pan-grilled for teppanyaki, skewered for yakitori, or battered and deep-fried as tempura. In the US, they are gaining fast in popularity as grilling peppers. When pan-fried as I did in this blistered shishito peppers recipe, you’d get tantalizingly smoky, caramelized yet bright flavor. The skin around the charred edges is crispy and the inside is deliciously creamy.
What do shishito peppers taste like?
These are uniquely flavorful chili peppers: sweet, crisp, and citrusy taste with a slight hint of smoke. Once cooked, shishito peppers have a verdant tang and creamy texture. They might remind you of green bell peppers, but with a little more kick and personality.
Are shishito peppers spicy?
Shishito peppers aren’t hot at all—most of the time. To give you a comparison, jalapeños are rated at 2,500-8,000 units on the Scoville Heat Scale while shishito peppers are only rated anywhere between 50-200 units. Which is why they are the only chili peppers that the Japanese like myself daringly eat whole:) While they are on the tame side of things, about 1 in 10 to 20 of the shishito peppers do pack some good heat. Occasionally, you’ll come across some surprising outliers that can set your mouth aflame. And that’s the exciting part of eating shishito peppers.
Where to Buy Shishito Peppers
Shishito peppers are harvested year-round but are at their peak from summer to early fall, so look for them at your local farmers’ market! You can also find shishitos at major grocery stores, like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, local co-ops, etc. Alternatively, you can grow them easily in your own garden!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Shishito peppers – After rinsing, make sure to pat them dry with paper towels or a clean dish cloth. Soy sauce – You’ll need just a light splash of soy sauce at the end when the peppers are sizzling and charring in the hot pan. The soy sauce adds an unmistakable touch of savoriness to the dish. Ginger Honey (optional)
This makes an ideal vegan and gluten-free appetizer.
How to Make Blistered Shishito Peppers with Ginger Soy Sauce
How to Grate Ginger
5 Tips to Roast Shishito Peppers
Flavor Variations
If you’re interested in some easy variations for your blistered shishito peppers, try:
Sesame oil and sea salt flakes Extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, and a squeeze of lemon Shichimi togarashi pepper and sea salt Soy sauce and chili sauce
What to Serve With Blistered Shishito Peppers
Blistered shishito peppers go with almost everything! Hand me a plate and I could easily finish them off all by myself as a stand-alone appetizer. You could serve it as a side to go along with your cold soba noodle salad, BBQ dishes, sushi meal, and more! Another great idea is to serve blistered shishito peppers alongside a few other izakaya dishes to make a spread for the evening meal.
More Appetizer Recipes You’ll Love
Edamame & How to Cook Them the Proper Way Gyoza (Japanese Pan Fried Dumplings) Salted Chicken Wings Onigiri (Rice Balls)
Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram. Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on August 10, 2022. It was republished with more helpful information on July 10, 2024.
