Japanese Rice Balls (Easy Onigiri Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

Are rice balls and onigiri the same thing? ›

Onigiri (お握り or 御握り), also known as omusubi (お結び), nigirimeshi (握り飯), or rice ball, is a Japanese food made from white rice formed into triangular or cylindrical shapes and often wrapped in nori.

For onigiri that holds its shape well, it's important to use short-grain Japonica rice, such as “sushi” rice, a category that includes Calrose and Koshihikari rice and, as Sho notes, simply refers to varieties of rice preferred in Japan.

Notes. Use Freshly Cooked Rice: For the best results, it's generally recommended to use freshly cooked rice when making onigiri. Freshly cooked rice is warm, moist, and sticky, which makes it easier to shape into the desired form and ensures that the onigiri holds together well.

Use freshly cooked rice.

Transfer the cooked rice to a large bowl, baking sheet, or sushi oke (hangiri). Let cool slightly. The rice should be warm when making onigiri.

Onigiri, or Omusubi as they are known in eastern Japan, are a great way to use your perfectly cooked Japanese steamed rice. Unlike sushi, we never use vinegar flavouring in the recipe but instead stir some salt into the rice and sprinkle a little salt on the outside.

Grab some hot rice and mould it into a triangular or round shape with your hands, making sure to compact the rice as much as possible to stop the onigiri from falling apart when you grill it. If you cooked your rice the night before and it has become cold, just warm it up a few minutes in the microwave.

While the best rice for onigiri is freshly steamed from the rice cooker and so hot as to hurt a little, Tomioka suggests that you may also cool it slightly before forming. 1. Start by preparing two small bowls: one filled with water and the other with some good quality salt.

The onigiri is stuffed with savoury fillings. The rice ball can be seared, rolled in sesame or finished with seaweed. I created three varieties of this recipe using U.S.-grown Jasmine Rice. The rice itself can be prepared plain, mixed with soy sauce or furikake.

Place 2 cups sushi rice in a large bowl and pour in cold water to cover by 2"–3". Gently swish around with your hands to rinse, then drain. Repeat process until water is almost clear (about 3 more times).

Nutrient-rich: Rice balls are made with rice, which provides carbohydrates for energy, and depending on the filling, they can also contain protein, vitamins, and minerals. 2. Portion control: Their compact size can help with portion control, making it easier to manage your calorie intake.

Why is my onigiri falling apart? ›

Onigiri can fall apart for a few reasons. First, using the wrong type of rice can cause it to fall apart because it's not sticky enough. Use short or medium-grain rice and avoid long-grain rice. The second reason can be that it was not firmly pressed into its shape.

What kind of rice should I use for onigiri? We recommend using koshihikari sushi rice which is stickier and will hold its shape better. Medium grain rice or short grain rice works best for onigiri as the grains tend to stick to each other better than long grain rice (such as jasmine rice).

How long do onigiri last in the refrigerator? How do you keep them safe to eat? This mainly depends on the filling as well as how much salt you use on the surface when you make the onigiri. If you use tuna with mayonnaise or any filling with mayonnaise in it, do not keep more than a day to be safe.

onigiri, popular Japanese snack consisting of a ball or cone of rice, often with a filling and wrapped in nori (seaweed). Onigiri takes its name from the Japanese word nigiru, meaning “to grasp” or “to squeeze,” so called because it is pressed by hand into a ball.

Contrary to the Japanese rice ball "Onigiri" which is seasoned with rice wine vinegar, sugar, and salt, Korean rice is seasoned with sesame oil for a more umami-rich flavour. This dish is sweet, tangy, spicy, and delicious!

Onigiri (rice balls), also known as o-musubi, usually formed into balls, cylinders or pyramidal shapes,often wrapped with nori (seaweed paper), may be plain rice but are often filled with pickled or preserved foods. They are often sold in convenience stores. Onigiri are not a form of sushi.

The pun in the name is that onigiri is also the name of a Japanese rice snack, while an oni is a type of ogre/demon in Japanese folklore. This was first seen used to finish Cabaji and the first technique he used against Dracule Mihawk.