How To Make Onigiri Japanese Rice Balls Ultimate Guide Recipes

ONIGIRI - JAPANESE RICE BALLS

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

HOW TO MAKE RICE BALLS (ONIGIRI)

Steps:

• Combine rice and water in a heavy-bottomed pot with a tight-fitting lid. Soak for 20 to 30 minutes. Cover and bring to a boil over medium heat. Once water is boiling, reduce heat to low and cook until water is completely absorbed, 12 to 13 minutes. Remove from the heat; keep covered and steam for another 10 minutes. Remove lid and cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
• Wet your hands and form small amounts of rice into triangle shapes if possible, or round balls. Wrap each onigiri with a strip of nori. Season with salt and garnish with sesame seeds and seaweed flakes.

JAPANESE RICE BALLS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Cut each nori sheet (if using) into 8 or 9 strips and put about a 1/2 cup of steamed rice in a rice bowl.
• Wet your hands with water so that rice won't stick.
• Rub some salt on your wet hands.
• Place steamed rice in your hand and form into a triangle, making sure it is dense and thick.
• Put your favorite filling, such as umeboshi or grilled salmon, on rice and push the filling into rice lightly.
• Hold rice between palms.
• Form rice into a round, a triangle, or a cylinder by pressing lightly with both palms, securing filling in the middle. Roll rice ball in your hands a few times, pressing lightly.
• Wrap rice ball with a strip or two of nori (if using), or sprinkle some sesame seeds on them (if using).

HOW TO MAKE JAPANESE RICE BALLS (ONIGIRI)

Steps:

• Pour rice into a bowl and rinse under running water. Give it a good scrubbing with your hands; rinse off the starch and drain.
• Place rice in a small pot with water and salt. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and turn the burner to high. Cook for 2 minutes, then reduce heat to low and cook for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let sit with the lid on to fully absorb the moisture for 10 minutes. Transfer rice to a cutting board to cool slightly.
• Season flaked salmon with soy sauce.
• Flatten cooled rice into a rectangle and divide into 6 portions. Place a portion of salmon on top of each section of rice. Wet your hands and pick up a section of rice. Gently cup the rice around the filling; keep cupping until filling is completely covered and you've formed a ball. Mold the rice ball into a triangle shape by placing the bottom on one palm and flattening the back with your fingers. Bend the other hand and press the rice into a triangle on your palm, flattening the front side if needed. Place a strip of nori on the bottom of the onigiri to make it easier to pick up.
• Repeat to make remaining rice balls, wetting your hands as necessary to prevent the rice from sticking.

HOW TO MAKE ONIGIRI (JAPANESE RICE BALLS) | ULTIMATE GUIDE

Steps:

• First rinse 3 cups of short grain rice and then add it into the rice cooker. Fill with water until the 3 mark line* and allow the rice to cook. In the meantime, cut up some nori sheets (refer to information and photos above).
• Once the rice is finished cooking, let it rest for 5-10 minutes in the rice cooker. In the meantime, set up your work station. You should have a small bowl of salt, water, furikake and your fillings ready to be used. As well, keep a tray or container close by to place your finished rice balls on.
• Open the rice cooker than gently mix the rice and cover with a damp cloth. Bring it over to your work station.
• Filled Onigiri: Place some rice into a medium size bowl and sprinkle some salt over. Mix with the rice paddle. Place a small scoop of rice (just enough to fill the bottom part of the mold) and gently press it in. Make a small indent in the middle and place 1 umeboshi (or 1/2-1 tbsp of some kind of filling) in the indent. Cover with more rice until 3/4 of the way full and then place the lid on top. Gently press down until it's formed into a rice ball. Lightly wet your hands and dab your pointer finger and middle finger in the salt and rub between your hands. Place the rice ball between your hands and cup it (like if you were to hand-mold the onigiri). This just ensures the rice ball is salted throughout for preserving longer. Place onto a tray or container and cover with a damp cloth. Repeat until you make as many as you desire.
• Seasoned Onigiri: Place some rice into a medium size bowl and sprinkle some Furikake or Yukari Shiso in. Mix with the rice paddle. Place a scoop of rice until 3/4 of the way full and then place the lid on top. Gently press down until it's formed into a rice ball. Lightly wet your hands and dab your pointer finger in the salt and rub between your hands. Place the rice ball between your hands and cup it (like if you were to hand-mold the onigiri). Place onto a tray or container and cover with a damp cloth. Repeat until you make as many as you desire.
• Filled Onigiri: Place some rice into a medium size bowl and sprinkle some salt over. Mix with the rice paddle. Wet your hands and dab your pointer finger and middle finger in the salt, rub between your hands. Place a scoop of rice in the middle of your hand (around 1/3 - 1/2 cup) and gently press it in your palm. Make a small indent in the middle and add 1 pitted umeboshi or 1/2-1 tbsp of filling. With the hand holding the rice ball, curl your hand more and slowly cover the filling with rice from the side. Shape it into a ball or rounded triangle by gently pressing between your two hands. Place onto a tray or container and cover with a damp cloth. Repeat until you make as many as you desire.
• Seasoned Onigiri: Place some rice into a medium size bowl and sprinkle some Furikake or Yukari Shiso in. Mix with the rice paddle. Wet your hands and dab your pointer finger and middle finger in the salt, rub between your hands. Place a scoop of rice (around 1/3 - 1/2 cup) on to your hand and shape into a ball or rounded triangle. Place onto a tray or container and cover with a damp cloth. Repeat until you make as many as you desire.
• If eating immediately, wrap your rice balls with the roasted cut up nori sheets and serve.
• If eating later, wrap your onigiri with some cling wrap or place in a bento box. Place the nori in a separate container to keep them crisp. Wrap the rice balls before eating.