Simple to make, scrumptious, and child pleasant, onigiri (rice balls) have been a favourite meals of mine ever since I used to be a bit lady. That is my model of considered one of Japan’s most beloved snacks – conbini (comfort retailer) tuna mayonnaise onigiri.
Why I Love This Recipe
Onigiri are usually not solely scrumptious, they’re additionally very simple to make! That is a kind of Japanese recipes anybody could make at residence as a result of the components are simple to search out and the steps are simple. They’re additionally versatile – so many alternative fillings to select from except for tuna mayonnaise – and might be frozen for later. From youngsters to adults, this fashionable Japanese snack might be loved by itself or as a part of a meal.
Components
- Rice: For the perfect rice balls I like to recommend utilizing quick grain Japanese rice as a result of the grains are stickier. Medium grain rice from manufacturers like Kokuho Rose and Nishiki can even work however components of the rice balls might come aside when holding them, as a result of the grains are much less sticky.
- Canned tuna: Each canned tuna in water or oil can be utilized. For those who don’t have tuna, flaked salmon or yellowtail can also be good.
- Kewpie Mayonnaise: Kewpie mayonnaise is the popular mayonnaise for this recipe as a result of we’re replicating the tuna mayo rice balls offered in Japan. Kewpie mayonnaise is fruity, barely eggy, and full of umami. It’s far more complicated in taste than common mayonnaise. Nonetheless, in the event you can’t discover it, please go forward and use common mayonnaise, or try my recipe for selfmade kewpie mayonnaise.
- Salt: A pinch of salt is required to convey the flavors collectively.
- Monosodium glutamate (Msg): Elective however extremely beneficial. Msg provides depth of taste and ups the umami degree by 10!
- Nori: Search for pre sliced nori sheets made for onigiri since they’re the proper measurement. In any other case, common nori sheets will do too.
Variations
- Make it spicy: Add a couple of shakes of ichimi togarashi (purple chili pepper) or a squirt of sriracha sauce so as to add some warmth.
- Make it vegan: Use plant primarily based tuna and vegan mayonnaise.
- Add some crunch: Add one finely chopped celery or a inexperienced onion to the filling.
- Make it tacky: That is changing into a well-liked choice in Japan – including finely chopped cheddar cheese or gouda to the filling.
How To Make My Tuna Mayo Onigiri Recipe
Scroll all the way in which to the recipe card for the complete recipe.
- Combine the mayonnaise, seasonings, and canned tuna in a bowl.
- Moist your arms and form the rice balls into triangles.
- Press down the center of every rice ball to create a dent and add a bit tuna filling.
- Cowl the filling with a bit rice and end by wrapping the rice ball with a nori sheet. Get pleasure from!
Professional Ideas
- Use an onigiri mildew to hurry up the method. I can’t stay with out an onigiri mildew since shopping for one! They’re cheap and are the proper measurement for conbini measurement rice balls.
- Salt the surface of the rice ball for further taste. That’s my mom’s trick and one I additionally like to make use of. Merely moist the palm of your arms and sprinkle them with salt. When shaping the onigiri, the rice will naturally take in the salt grains.
Storage and Reheating
Fridge: To avoid wasting the rice balls for later, keep away from wrapping them in nori. As a substitute, wrap every rice ball in plastic wrap and place them in a storage container. Solely use the nori sheet proper earlier than consuming. They are going to maintain within the fridge for 3 days.
Freezer: To freeze the rice balls, wrap every rice ball individually (with out the nori sheet) in plastic wrap and place them in a storage bag or container. They are going to maintain within the freezer for as much as 2 months.
Reheating: To heat up the rice balls, take them out of the storage container however maintain them wrapped in plastic wrap. Microwave them separately for about 30 seconds (as much as 1 minute if they’re taken out of the freezer).
What To Serve With It
Onigiri might be loved for breakfast, as a mid afternoon snack, as a part of a lunch or dinner, or as a late night time meals. It doesn’t matter whenever you eat it, there may be by no means a foul time for it! Personally, I like serve onigiri as a part of a meal. I make a couple of of them – 2 or 3 per individual – and serve them on a plate together with different snacks and sides.
A few of my favorites are:
Different yummy rice recipes you would possibly like: Spicy tuna roll, pickled plum, okaka, and salmon onigiri, California roll, Philadelphia roll, maki roll, inari sushi, vegetarian kimbap.
Continuously Requested Questions
The one different kind of rice that works to make onigiri is Japanese quick grain brown rice. I like to combine 50/50 white rice and brown rice at any time when I’m trying to make them a bit more healthy.
I’ve by no means tried making onigiri utilizing flavored nori sheets however I believe they’d be an issue due to their tremendous crispy texture, which might break when folding. If you want to attempt, I like to recommend resting the nori sheets on the rice for a couple of seconds till they soften, earlier than wrapping them.
It doesn’t matter in the event you use recent or day outdated rice so long as the rice is heat or room temperature. If the rice isn’t recent it ought to nonetheless be moist and on the hotter aspect so the rice grains can stick collectively. However I don’t suggest utilizing rice that’s greater than a day outdated.
Did you want this recipe? Are there modifications you made that you simply want to share? Share your ideas and suggestions within the feedback part under!
- Make the tuna mayo: Combine the tuna, mayonnaise, msg, and salt in a bowl till properly mixed.
- Moist your arms: Maintain a bowl of heat water shut by. Moist your arms to stop the rice from sticking to them.
- Form the rice balls: Scoop between ⅓ to ½ cup of rice into the palm of your hand. Create a small indentation within the heart of the rice by urgent together with your thumb.
- Add the tuna mayo: Add about 1 tablespoon of tuna mayonnaise within the indentation and press gently to assist it set.
- Form the rice ball yet another time: Cowl the realm with the tuna mayo with rice so it’s utterly hidden . Form the rice between your palms into spherical or triangular shapes by urgent. Don’t press too onerous however onerous sufficient that the rice sticks collectively and holds form.
- Wrap with nori and serve: Take a sheet of nori and wrap it across the rice. Place the onigiri on a plate and repeat the steps till all of the rice has been used. Serve instantly.
Notes
To avoid wasting onigiri, don’t wrap the nori across the rice. As a substitute, wrap every rice ball in plastic wrap and save them in a storage container. Refrigerate for up 3 days. Wrap them in nori after warming them up within the microwave for about 30 seconds.
Vitamin
- Serving Dimension: 1 onigiri
- Energy: 207
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 130mg
- Fats: 4.3g
- Saturated Fats: 0.7g
- Unsaturated Fats: 2.4g
- Trans Fats: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35.6g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 5.1g
- Ldl cholesterol: 4.2mg
