Onigiri - Japanese Rice Balls Recipe
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Onigiri - Japanese Rice Balls

By: Li Shu 
"Onigiri are Japanese rice balls. They're fun to make and are a staple of Japanese lunchboxes (bento). You can put almost anything in an onigiri; try substituting grilled salmon, pickled plums, beef, pork, turkey, or tuna with mayonnaise."

This Kitchen Approved Recipe has an average star rating of 4.6 Rate/Review | Read Reviews (10)

What to Drink?

Beer Beer
Prep Time:
20 Min
Cook Time:
30 Min
Ready In:
1 Hr 10 Min

Servings  (Help)

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Original Recipe Yield 8 onigiri
 

Ingredients

  • 4 cups uncooked short-grain white rice
  • 4 1/2 cups water
  •  
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup bonito shavings (dry fish flakes)
  • 2 sheets nori (dry seaweed), cut into 1/2-inch strips
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Directions

  1. Wash the rice in a mesh strainer until the water runs clear. Combine washed rice and 4 1/2 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low; cover. Simmer rice until the water is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Let rice rest, for 15 minutes to allow the rice to continue to steam and become tender. Allow cooked rice to cool.
  2. Combine 1 cup water with the salt in a small bowl. Use this water to dampen hands before handling the rice. Divide the cooked rice into 8 equal portions. Use one portion of rice for each onigiri.
  3. Divide one portion of rice in two. Create a dimple in the rice and fill with a heaping teaspoon of bonito flakes. Cover with the remaining portion of rice and press lightly to enclose filling inside rice ball. Gently press the rice to shape into a triangle. Wrap shaped onigiri with a strip of nori. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Repeat to make a total of 8 onigiri.

Nutritional Information open nutritional information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 744 | Total Fat: 3.3g | Cholesterol: 0mg Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

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The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Apr. 12, 2010 by elyssa   view full review
very simple, i love making these either to snack on or for a dinner. my only change is i make...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 4, 2010 by just for you Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)  view full review
I made this recipe for rice balls for my daughters international night. They turned out great!...
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Oct. 30, 2009 by capercook   view full review
I am not a fan of bonito flakes but this is a great picnic food and you can put anything...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on May 20, 2010 by NomNomDelicious Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)  view full review
A good friend of mine that I met through anime conventions years ago was having a graduation...
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 27, 2009 by BritBrit   view full review
I made this a few days ago while looking around the site. I finally decided I had to join so I...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 27, 2010 by Elazul2k   view full review
I have been making these for a while now ever since working with a Japanese fellow who's wife...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Sep. 15, 2010 by Sehlynah12   view full review
This was amasing! I added my picture of how they turned out! It was delicious! All my friends...
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Aug. 9, 2010 by beckym45   view full review
really great recipe..i used smoked salmon instead of bonito flakes in the center and it worked...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Feb. 1, 2011 by Lilith88   view full review
Your recipe was so simple and great! I LOVE onigiri and have to travel to San Francisco to buy...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 6, 2011 by arnandlor   view full review
we loved these! We put a small square of cucumber in ours! Loved them - I need to learn how to...

 

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