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| nutritional information (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 324 | calories |
| 15g | Fat |
| 42g | carbohydrates |
| 7g | protein |
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| nutritional information | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 20 | |
| amount per serving | |
| calories | 324 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| 15g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat 5g | 24% |
| 12 mg | 4% |
| 530 mg | 23% |
| 42g | 15% |
| dietary fiber 3g | 10% |
| Total sugar 11g | |
| 7g | |
| Vitamin C 6 mg | 32% |
| Calcium 73 mg | 6% |
| iron 6 mg | 31% |
| Potassium 246 mg | 5% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) indicates how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories per day is used for general nutritional advice. | |
(Nutritional information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
I've always been an avid fan of the classic Chex mix. The massive batches of homemade, extra Worcestershire Chex mix I made for my dorm mates led to my college nickname, Chex Girl. Since then I've been making the delicious, crunchy snack regularly. So imagine my delight when I tried a new, sweet and salty twist on the granola snack while visiting Hawaii!
How is Furikake Chex Mix different from regular Chex Mix?
The Hawaiian version of the chex mix starts out in the familiar rice chex, corn chex, and pretzel fashion, with some variations of added grains like honeycomb granola, but that's where the similarities end. This crabby concoction gets a Pacific flavor with the addition of furikake, the Japanese condiment made from tiny flakes of nori seaweed and sesame seeds. It adds an umami twist to many Hawaiian foods like poke, rice bowls, musubi… and even chex mix!
What is Furikake?
Furikake comes in bags and jars with a wide range of flavorings. Some include bonito (smoked and dried fish flakes), spicy ume plums, freeze-dried kimchi, or even crunchy egg chunks. Although any flavor of furikake will work here, I'll go with the plain nori sesame version (which says “Nori Komi Furikake”) from Ajishima brand. Try Trader Joe's Furikake if you're avoiding MSG.
Syrup makes it stick
To make the furikake stick, the grain mixture is coated with a mixture of butter, corn syrup, and soy sauce. While corn syrup is traditional, I prefer Lyle's Golden Syrup because it's made with pure cane sugar and adds a subtle hint of caramel to the snack rather than just pure sweetness. Look for it in the baking aisle. Be sure to thoroughly stir the syrup mixture through the snack mixture before adding the furikake or it will sink instead of sticking to the granola.
Let's talk mix-ins
To amp up the Japanese-inspired flavor profile, I add wasabi peas for crunch and a hint of sinus-clearing spice. Look for dried peas coated in wasabi in the bulk section of the grocery store or anywhere that sells Asian snacks.
I do without the honeycomb muesli because it tears the palate and I find the sweetness a bit too intense. Instead, I add a salty snack to balance out the syrup's sweetness: either Cool Ranch Doritos or Bugles. I can't have a Chex Mix without nuts to rummage for, so I add a can of Sesame Stick Nut Cocktail Mix to round out the sweet and salty tableau. In a pinch, regular salted nuts will suffice.
recipe tips
- Use rimmed baking sheets to ensure ingredients don't spill out while stirring.
- Stir the mixture every 20 minutes to ensure everything is evenly browned.
- After baking, let the mixture cool before stirring it in. I know this part is tricky, but it will be mushy at first and will crisp up as it cools, so it's worth the wait.
“This take on the classic household snack has delicious Asian flavor influences. The recipe gives you plenty of leeway to customize it to suit your tastes, but it's best to aim for a salty and slightly umami-rich snack.” –Noah Velush-Rogers
4 cups (5 ounces) Corn Chex Granola
4 cups (5 ounces) Rice Chex Granola
4 cups (6 ounces) Pretzel Sticks
3 cups (5 ounces) Cool farm Doritos (or salty snack of your choice)
2 cups (8.5 ounces) sesame stick nut mixture (or cocktail nuts)
2 cups (8th ounces) Wasabi Peas
1/2 Cup (4 oz) Salted butter
1/2 Cup golden syrup or light corn syrup
2 tablespoon i am willow
2 teaspoon onion powder
1 (1.7–ounce) Jug Furikake
Gather the ingredients.
The spruce eats / Bahareh Niati
Preheat the oven to 250 F with the racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
The spruce eats / Bahareh Niati
Combine corn and rice granola, pretzels, Doritos, sesame stick nut mix, and wasabi peas on a baking sheet. Put aside.
The spruce eats / Bahareh Niati
In a small saucepan, combine butter, syrup, soy sauce, and onion powder over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted and mixture is bubbling (about 4 minutes).
The spruce eats / Bahareh Niati
Pour the syrup mixture evenly over the granola mixture, stirring gently with a spatula until all of the liquid is absorbed and the granola is evenly coated.
The spruce eats / Bahareh Niati
Sprinkle the furikake over the granola and stir gently until evenly distributed. Divide the mixture between the two prepared baking sheets and spread evenly.
The spruce eats / Bahareh Niati
Bake, stirring, every 20 minutes, rotating and swapping baking sheets in the oven, until mixture is toasted and crisp, 1 hour. Let the Chex mixture sit for 1 hour. It will crisp up as it cools.
The spruce eats / Bahareh Niati
How to store it
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
recipe variations
- You can substitute gluten-free pretzels and tamari to make the recipe gluten-free.
- For a vegan version of the recipe, substitute neutral oil for the butter. Replace the Cool Ranch Doritos with a vegan variety of Doritos, such as Spicy Sweet Chili. Or use a salty vegan snack of your choice.
- Replace the Doritos with an equal amount of a salty snack of your choice like Bugles, SunChips, Fritos, or Goldfish Crackers.
