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Onigiri

Fast. Easy. Delicious. Healthy. This Japanese rice balls packed with wholesomeness, definitely makes a great packed lunch and easy to eat on the go.
5 from 10 votes
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Course: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack
Cuisine: Japanese
Author: Linda

Ingredients

Rice

  • Follow the directions for cooking the rice. Note it should be Japanese-style rice so it sticks together easily. However you might want to leave the rice in the pot for about 20 to 30 minutes before turning the rice cooker or pot on, so that the rice can become sticky.
  • Let the rice stand for a few minutes for it to cool down before proceeding. As you're waiting make your fillings (if applicable as this is optional).

Fillings

    Spam

    • 1 can spam cut into strips

    Tuna

    • 1 can of chunk light tuna
    • Low sodium soy sauce
    • Sesame seeds

    Baked miso salmon

    • Vegetable oil for coating the aluminum foil
    • ½ cup mirin
    • ½ cup miso paste
    • ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
    • ¼ cup soy sauce
    • 2 tbs peeled and grated fresh ginger from about a 2-inch piece
    • 1 salmon side about 3½ pounds, skin on
    • 2 teaspoons white sesame seeds toasted

    Instructions

    • Spam: place a sauté pan on a burner, turn up the heat, and fry away for 1-2 minutes on each side.
    • Tuna: combine all ingredients and mix well.
    • Baked miso salmon: heat the oven to broil and arrange a rack in the middle. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil and coat the foil with vegetable oil; set aside.
    • Whisk the mirin, miso, brown sugar, soy sauce, and ginger in a medium bowl until combined. Reserve ⅓ cup of the miso mixture in a small bowl; set aside.
    • Rinse the salmon under cold running water, pat dry with paper towels, and place on the baking sheet skin-side down.
    • Brush the salmon with all of the reserved ⅓ cup miso mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
    • Remove the fish from the refrigerator and discard the plastic wrap. Broil the salmon on the baking sheet, rotating once or twice, until it’s just opaque in the center and a golden brown crust has formed, about 10 to 12 minutes.
    • Remove the salmon from the oven, transfer it to a plate. Flake fish with a fork and sprinkle it with sesame seeds.

    How-to-shape:

    • Round 'visible inside' shape onigiri:Place a cutting board or wax paper on the counter and wet your hands with water thoroughly (you can add a pinch of salt to your water). This is to keep the rice from sticking to your hands (although some grains will still stick) and to keep your hands cool from the hot rice. Scoop some rice with a spoon or scooper.
    • Make a deep crater in the rice ball, but don't puncture it to the point that your fingers slip to the other side! This is where your filling is going to go, so just deep enough to place things in.
    • Insert your fillings into the hole and wrap nori (seaweed) around your onigiri.
    • Triangle shape onigiri:Place a cutting board or wax paper on the counter and wet your hands with water thoroughly (you can add a pinch of salt to your water). This is to keep the rice from sticking to your hands (although some grains will still stick) and to keep your hands cool from the hot rice. Scoop some rice with a spoon or scooper.
    • Make a deep crater in the rice ball, but don't puncture it to the point that your fingers slip to the other side! This is where your filling is going to go, so just deep enough to place things in.
    • Insert your fillings into the hole and make sure that you don't overfill it!
    • Fold some rice over the hole/crater so that all fillings are hidden. If you press too lightly, the rice won't stick together and will crumble as you eat it. If you press too hard, the rice will get mushy and soggy. To make a triangle, make an "L" shape with your hand and use that to shape your rice with.
    • Wrap nori (seaweed) around your onigiri. The seaweed keeps your hands rice-free and keeps the rice ball in its shape.