Japanese rice balls or better known as onigiri or omusubi are a staple dish that you will find in most lunchboxes. Onigiri is shaped into rounds or triangles by hand and they are not only delicious to eat but fun to make as well. 

The origins of the present-day onigiri date back to the Hein period when a food dish called “Ton-jiki” was gaining amazing popularity. It was brown rice packed firmly into an egg-shaped shell and was distributed to domestic servants as a token of appreciation during events at imperial or noble households. 

Make Japanese Rice Balls Onigiri at Home Easily! 

If you are a big fan of rice, onigiri recipe is a must-try! It is a humble rice ball filled with various stuffings, wrapped in roasted seaweed to provide the crunch, and is perfect for snacking or a light meal. 

The best thing about this recipe is that it is open to customization and experimentation. Some of the popular fillings in Japan consist of fish roe, small pieces of fried chicken, different veggies, and grilled beef. This is the reason why onigiri enjoys so much fanfare in Japan as you can easily give these rice balls your flavors. 

Here, we have provided you with three different filling options namely miso salmon, spicy tuna, and umeboshi with furikake. However, you can add whatever you love inside each ball, or, simply combine rice with your favorite seasonings to create a flavor-bursting onigiri. 

So, let’s see how you can make onigiri and bring Japanese flavors to your home! 

Onigiri Recipe
Onigiri Recipe

Quick Stats 

Prep time: 10 minutes 

Cooking time: 1 hour 

Servings: 6 serves 

Ingredients 

For The Steamed Rice 

  • 2 cups of short-grain white rice
  • 2 ⅓ cups of water

For The Miso Salmon 

  • 1 tbsp. grapeseed oil
  • 1 can salmon, drained
  • 1 tsp. low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp. miso

For The Spicy Tuna 

  • 1 can tuna, drained
  • 2 tbsp. mayo, preferably Kewpie
  • 1 tsp. shichimi togarashi
  • Pinch kosher salt

For The Umeboshi And Furikake 

  • 1 cup cooked short-grain white rice
  • 1 tbsp. furikake
  • 1 umeboshi, pitted, halved

For Garnishing 

  • Nori
  • Black sesame seeds
  • White sesame seeds

Method to Prepare 

For Steamed Rice

  • Let’s prepare your steamed rice first. Take a large bowl and rinse rice repeatedly until the rice runs clean. It will take around 3 to 5 changes of water.  
  • Once it is done, fill the bowl with fresh water and let the rice soak for around half an hour to a couple of hours. After that, drain them. 
  • If you want soft and tender rice then get a medium pot, put it over medium flame, and bring soaked rice to a boil. 
  • Cover the pot with a lid, reduce the flame to low, and let the rice cook until all water is absorbed, for about 15 minutes. 
  • After 15 minutes, remove the rice from the heat and let them rest for 10 minutes. 

For The Miso Salmon Onigiri Recipe

  • We will start with the miso salmon onigiri. Take a small bowl and combine soy sauce and miso until they are smooth. 
  • Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet over medium flame. 
  • Then, add salmon and cook it until golden on one side, for about 5 minutes. 
  • Flip the fish after 5 minutes and brush half of the miso sauce over it evenly. 
  • Keep cooking until the second side of the salmon is golden. 
  • Flip once again and brush the remaining miso sauce on the fish. 
  • Immediately, remove the fish from the flame and transfer it to a bowl. 
  • Flake and shred the flavored salmon with the help of two forks. 
  • Now, dampen your hands with water and rub slight kosher salt between your palms. 
  • Get around ½ cup of warm cooked rice between your palm and pat into a circle. 
  • Place about 1 tablespoon of miso salmon filling in the middle of the rice, then place about 2 tablespoons of steamed rice on top of the salmon. 
  • Seal the filling by bringing the bottom portion of rice up to meet the top portion. 
  • Loosely shape the rice into a ball, then form a 45° angle with your thumb to give onigiri its traditional shape. 
  • Wrap these rice balls with a sheet of nori and sprinkle with sesame seeds and enjoy! 

For The Spicy Tuna Onigiri Recipe

  • Take a medium bowl and combine all the ingredients until thoroughly mixed. 
  • Follow the same method of making the rice bowl. 
  • Fill one tablespoon of spicy tuna mixture in the middle of the rice and then place two tablespoons of rice on top of that. 
  • Seal the filling by bringing the bottom portion up to meet the top portion.
  • Use your thumb and index finger to give it the authentic look. 
  • Wrap it with a nori sheet and sprinkle sesame seeds. Enjoy! 

For The Umeboshi And Furikake Onigiri Recipe

  • Take a medium-sized bowl and combine rice and furikake. Mix them until well-combined. 
  • Follow the same method to make rice balls. 
  • Now, place a piece of umeboshi (pickled ume fruits) in the middle of the rice ball, then place two tablespoons of rice on top of it. 
  • Then, seal the filling by bringing the bottom portion of rice to meet the top portion. 
  • Use your thumb and index finger to give the rice ball a triangular shape. 
  • Wrap them with nori sheets and sprinkle sesame seeds. 
  • Enjoy! 

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Final Words 

These three onigiri variants will provide you with something unique and delicious for your family. It is effortless to make and delicious to eat. So, try this authentic Japanese rice balls-onigiri recipe and fill your menu with delicious flavors.