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A favourite at izakaya eating places, Yaki Onigiri are Japanese rice balls which might be pan-grilled and glazed in savory soy sauce. With a crispy crust on the skin and tender rice on the within, these rice balls are merely irresistible and simple to make at residence!
![A rectangular plate containing Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Balls).](https://www.justonecookbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Yaki-Onigiri-Grilled-Rice-Ball-3065-II.jpg)
Have you ever ever tried Yaki Onigiri (焼きおにぎり)? These grilled rice balls are a beloved snack and lunchtime enjoyment of Japan, regularly gracing the menus of BBQ events and izakaya institutions.
You probably have an affinity for each rice and grilled meals, you’ll completely take pleasure in yaki onigiri. Image these delectable rice balls gently grilling, their exteriors crisping as much as a golden brown whereas the rice inside stays heat, tender, and irresistibly smooth. A lightweight brush of a savory glaze elevates the flavors, making them a most scrumptious deal with!
![A white fluted plate containing Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Balls).](https://www.justonecookbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Yaki-Onigiri-Grilled-Rice-Ball-3091-I-2.jpg)
What’s Yaki Onigiri?
The time period “yaki” originates from the Japanese phrase for “grilled,” as seen in different in style dishes corresponding to Teriyaki, Yakisoba, Yakiniku, and Yakitori. Alternatively, “onigiri” interprets to “rice balls.” Due to this fact, yaki onigiri fairly actually means grilled rice balls.
Within the conventional preparation of yaki onigiri, rice balls are grilled over charcoal till the rice attains a fascinating browned and crispy texture. Subsequently, they’re brushed with both soy sauce or a miso glaze, permitting the seasoning to caramelize, making a golden crust on the outside.
These days, as most Japanese would not have charcoal or grill of their houses, yaki onigiri is grilled utilizing a frying pan. You’d begin by shaping cooked short-grain white rice into triangular or oval shapes, akin to the common onigiri (my recipe right here), earlier than pan-grilling them in a pan. It’s each bit as easy to make because it sounds!
![An oval plate containing 3 pieces of Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls) placed on a bamboo leaf.](https://www.justonecookbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Onigiri-Japanese-Rice-Balls-2053-II-800x1200.jpg)
![A plate containingn 2 onigiri (Japanese rice balls) garnished with bonito flakes and salmon on top.](https://www.justonecookbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Onigiri-Japanese-Rice-Balls-2083-III-800x1200.jpg)
Learn how to Make Yaki Onigiri at House
The Components You’ll Want
- Japanese short-grain rice (cooked)
- Seasonings: soy sauce, sugar, salt, and sesame oil
- Soy sauce glaze: soy sauce and sesame oil
The Cooking Steps
- Mix the cooked rice and the seasonings. Combine all of it collectively with out making it mushy.
- Make onigiri with seasoned rice. On this recipe, I’ll present you two methods: utilizing an onigiri mildew and plastic wrap. You’ll be able to select both technique.
- In a frying pan lined with parchment paper, place the rice balls and grill on all sides on medium-low warmth till crispy and golden.
- Brush the soy sauce glaze on the rice balls and sear the brushed floor. Watch out to not burn.
- Switch to a plate and revel in whereas scorching!
![A Japanese blue and white plate containing Yaki Onigiri - Japanese Grilled Rice Balls).](https://www.justonecookbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Yaki-Onigiri-Grilled-Rice-Ball-9552-III.jpg)
What’s the Greatest Rice Cooker
To make the proper rice for yaki onigiri, I like to make use of my Zojirushi NP-NWC10XB Rice Cooker. It makes fluffy rice each time, and it’s the greatest Japanese rice cooker I’ve ever used! You will get it on Amazon for $458.29, and it’s properly value it in the event you cook dinner plenty of rice.
Filling or No Filling in Yaki Onigiri
These grilled rice balls will be made with fillings, however sometimes, it’s ready with plain or seasoned rice. I want mine with out filling as I discover filling can generally distract the enjoyment. Then once more, the selection is yours.
As a result of it’s all about simplicity, you need to begin with high quality Japanese short-grain rice. Forming the onigiri will not be one thing too difficult. I’ve shared step-by-step photos and tips about the right way to type the rice balls within the recipe part beneath, so you’ll grasp it very quickly. As soon as you may have the rice balls formed, you simply want to position them on the grill, brush with the sauce and depart them to crisp up.
![A white fluted plate containing Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Balls).](https://www.justonecookbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Yaki-Onigiri-Grilled-Rice-Ball-3108-III.jpg)
The Glaze Variations
Though yaki onigiri is usually glazed with soy sauce or miso (I’ve Miso Yaki Onigiri recipe), you will be artistic with completely different flavors. Listed below are my ideas!
- Eel Sauce. I like my Home made Unagi Sauce, and the savory aroma and style of this caramelized candy soy sauce mix completely with white rice, particularly in the event you prefer it to be on the sweeter aspect.
- Teriyaki Sauce. Undoubtedly make my Home made Teriyaki Sauce for this!
- Negi Miso. My Home made Negi Miso is so scrumptious. I’ll put it contained in the onigiri, too, however you possibly can undoubtedly slather on the skin and sear a bit.
- All Function Miso Sauce. This Home made All Function Miso Sauce goes properly with every part.
![A Japanese blue and white plate containing Yaki Onigiri - Japanese Grilled Rice Balls).](https://www.justonecookbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Yaki-Onigiri-Grilled-Rice-Ball-9528-IV.jpg)
What to Serve with Yaki Onigiri
To be trustworthy, I can simply devour yaki onigiri on their very own, however for a balanced meal, you possibly can pair them with:
![A rectangular plate containing Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Balls).](https://www.justonecookbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Yaki-Onigiri-Grilled-Rice-Ball-3074-I-1.jpg)
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![A rectangular plate containing Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Balls).](https://www.justonecookbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Yaki-Onigiri-Grilled-Rice-Ball-3074-I-1-500x500.jpg)
Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Ball)
A favourite at izakaya eating places, Yaki Onigiri are Japanese rice balls which might be pan-grilled and glazed in savory soy sauce. With a crispy crust on the skin and tender rice on the within, these rice balls are merely irresistible and simple to make at residence!
Components
Stop your display from going darkish
Directions
Earlier than You Begin…
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Japanese short-grain white rice requires a soaking time of 20–half-hour. The rice-to-water ratio is 1 to 1.1 (or 1.2) for short-grain white rice. Please be aware that 2¼ cups (450 g, 3 rice cooker cups) of raw Japanese short-grain rice yield 6⅔ cups (990 g) of cooked white rice. That is sufficient for 9 onigiri rice balls (sometimes 110 g every). Non-compulsory: To make 5–6 rice balls, cook dinner 1½ cups (300 g, 2 rice cooker cups) of raw Japanese short-grain rice in 1⅔ cups water (400 ml) to yield 4⅓ cups (660 g) of cooked white rice.
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Cook dinner the rice; see how with a rice cooker, pot over the range, Immediate Pot, or donabe. To my rice cooker, I added 2½ cups water to 2¼ cups raw Japanese short-grain white rice. As soon as the rice is cooked, collect all of the elements.
To Form the Rice Balls
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With an Onigiri Mildew: Put together a small bowl stuffed with water. Soak the onigiri mildew and lid within the water to moisten so the rice doesn‘t persist with it. Take away the mildew and drain the surplus water.
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Fill the onigiri mildew with the recent seasoned rice all the way in which to the highest edge, ensuring to fill the corners. Cowl with the lid and push down firmly. You need to really feel a slight resistance; if not, it’s possible you’ll need to add a bit extra rice.
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Take away the lid. Flip over the mildew onto a baking sheet or plate lined with parchment paper. Then, push the “button” on the mildew‘s backside to launch your onigiri. Tip: At all times dip your fingers in water earlier than touching the onigiri to forestall the rice from sticking to them.
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Repeat with the remaining rice.
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Now, firmly hand-press the rice balls to maintain them from falling aside whereas grilling. For Yaki Onigiri, you‘ll need to press the rice ball a bit extra tightly than you’ll an everyday onigiri. First, moisten each palms with a little bit of water to forestall the rice from sticking. Then, choose up a rice ball in your left (non-dominant) hand. Place your proper (dominant) hand on prime of the rice in a “mountain” form and gently press the triangle nook. On the identical time, squeeze the fingers and heel of your backside (left) hand to softly press the perimeters flat.Now, rotate the triangle nook you simply pressed towards you (clockwise, in the event you‘re right-handed). The tip of the second nook will now be pointing up. Repeat the above “press and rotate” steps handy press the second triangle nook after which the third, all the time retaining your left hand on the underside and your proper hand on prime. Press and rotate a last 2–3 extra occasions to complete.
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Within the picture beneath, the highest row is hand pressed whereas the underside row will not be.
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For those who don‘t need to contact the rice together with your fingers, you possibly can press the onigiri with plastic wrap. Place a bit of plastic wrap on the working floor, moist your fingers, and place the onigiri within the center.
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Collect the corners of the plastic wrap and twist it a couple of occasions to tighten it across the rice. Kind the rice right into a triangle form in the identical method that I described above.
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With out an Onigiri Mildew: You can also use plastic wrap to form the onigiri as a substitute of utilizing a mildew. Place a bit of plastic movie on the working floor, moist your fingers, and put the rice on prime. Collect the corners of the plastic movie and twist it a couple of occasions to tighten it across the rice.
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Kind the rice right into a triangle form via the plastic in the identical method that I described above for hand-pressing the onigiri. Repeat with the remaining rice. Tip: To form the onigiri together with your fingers the normal approach, see the step-by-step directions and pictures in my Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls) publish.
To Retailer
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Rice will get onerous if you refrigerate it. You’ll be able to individually wrap the Yaki Onigiri in plastic wrap and canopy them with a thick kitchen towel and retailer within the fridge for as much as 2 days. The towel will forestall the rice from getting too chilly and hold the meals cool however not chilly. You can even retailer the Yaki Onigiri which might be individually plastic-wrapped within the freezer for as much as a month. Whenever you‘re able to eat, carry it again to room temperature and reheat in a microwave or frying pan.
Vitamin
Vitamin Info
Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Ball)
Quantity per Serving
% Every day Worth*
* % Every day Values are primarily based on a 2000 calorie eating regimen.
Editor’s Be aware: This publish was initially printed on June 25, 2012. It’s been republished with new photos, extra useful content material, and a revised recipe on September 18, 2023. A brand new video was added to the publish on March 23, 2024.
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