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Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls)

Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls)

Onigiri, or Japanese Rice Balls, are stuffed with various fillings, making them a quick snack and fun alternative to sandwiches.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course lunch, Snack
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 9 onigiri
Calories 174 kcal

Equipment

  • rice cooker
  • oven
  • Mixing bowl
  • onigiri mold
  • toaster oven
  • Pot

Ingredients
  

For the Steamed Rice

  • 2.25 cups uncooked Japanese short-grain white rice 3 rice cooker cups; 540 ml
  • 2.5 cups water 600 ml

For the Onigiri

  • Diamond Crystal kosher salt
  • 3 sheets nori (dried laver seaweed)

For the Japanese Salted Salmon Filling (quick version)

  • 1-2 fillet salmon
  • Diamond Crystal kosher salt

For the Okaka Filling

  • 1 packet katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) one packet is typically 3 g or 5 g
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

For the Tuna Mayo Filling

  • 1 (5-ounce) can albacore tuna (preferably packed in olive oil)
  • 2 tablespoon Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise
  • 0.5 tablespoon soy sauce

For the Other Fillings

  • 2 umeboshi (Japanese pickled plum)
  • 2 sacs spicy salted pollock roe or cod roe (karashi mentaiko)
  • shio kombu prepared
  • furikake (rice seasoning)

Instructions
 

To Prepare the Steamed Rice

  • Measure 2¼ cups uncooked Japanese short-grain white rice and rinse it.
  • Cook the rice with a rice cooker, adding 2½ cups of water.

To Prepare the Onigiri Fillings

  • Prepare the fillings while the rice is cooking, including the Japanese salted salmon, okaka, tuna mayo, umeboshi, and mentaiko fillings.

To Shape the Onigiri

  • Gather ingredients and cool the cooked rice slightly.
  • Method 1: With an Onigiri Mold - Fill the mold with rice and a spoonful of filling, then shape it.
  • Method 2: With Your Hands - Wet your hands, add salt, and shape the rice into a ball.
  • Method 3: Using Plastic Wrap - Use plastic wrap to shape the rice.

To Coat with the Furikake

  • Dip fingers in water and coat onigiri with furikake.

To Wrap with the Nori and Serve

  • Toast nori sheets and wrap them around the onigiri.

To Store

  • Keep onigiri cool if packing for lunch and consume within 6 hours.

Notes

Onigiri can be a fun lunch alternative with diverse fillings.

Nutrition

Serving: 1onigiriCalories: 174kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 7gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 341mgPotassium: 109mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 56IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 2mg
Keyword easy recipes, Japanese Rice Balls, Japanese snacks, Onigiri, quick meals, rice balls
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