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Onigiri Recipe

Easy Onigiri - Japanese Rice Balls

These authentic Japanese rice balls are seasoned with furikake and wrapped in nori seaweed for the perfect portable snack. Simple to make with just a few ingredients, onigiri can be customized with various fillings and seasonings. Perfect for lunch boxes, quick meals, or on-the-go snacking.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 6 rice balls
Course: Lunch, Snack
Cuisine: Japanese
Calories: 143

Ingredients
  

Rice Ball Ingredients
  • 3 cups cooked Japanese short-grain rice preferably koshihikari variety
  • 50 g furikake rice seasoning about 1.76 oz
  • 6 sheets nori seaweed cut into small rectangles
  • 1 tsp salt for hand preparation
  • water as needed for hands
Optional Fillings
  • salted salmon flaked
  • umeboshi pickled plum pitted
  • tuna mayo seasoned with Japanese mayo

Equipment

  • Rice cooker or saucepan
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Small bowl for salt water

Method
 

  1. Place the cooked sushi rice in a large mixing bowl while still warm. Add the furikake rice seasoning and mix through evenly until well distributed.
  2. Divide the seasoned rice into 6 equal portions, approximately one large handful for each onigiri.
  3. Fill a small bowl with water and add a pinch of salt. Wet your hands with the salt water and rub together. This prevents the rice from sticking to your hands.
  4. Take one portion of rice in your hands. If adding fillings, make a small indent in the center, place the filling inside, and fold the rice over to cover.
  5. Using your fingertips and palm, gently press and squeeze the rice into a triangular shape, rotating as you work. Create a small indentation on one face with your fingers to show it's handmade.
  6. Place a strip of nori seaweed on the bottom of the onigiri with the rough side touching the rice. Fold it up towards the middle of the rice ball.
  7. Repeat the process with the remaining rice portions. Re-wet your hands with salt water as needed to prevent sticking.

Notes

Storage: Best eaten fresh or stored for no more than 1 day in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Keep nori separate until ready to eat to prevent sogginess.
Rice Tips: Use warm rice for easier shaping. Cold rice is harder to work with and doesn't hold together as well.
Hand Technique: Re-dip your hands in salt water after every few rice balls if the rice starts sticking. Apply gentle pressure when shaping to avoid over-compacting.