What Do You Put Inside An Onigiri?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,
  1. Tuna Mayo (Sea Chicken, シーチキン・ツナマヨネーズ) …
  2. Grilled Salmon Flakes (Yaki-shake/Beni-shake, 焼鮭・紅しゃけ) …
  3. Pickled Plum (Ume, 梅) …
  4. Salted Cod Roe (Tarako, たらこ) …
  5. Dried Bonito Flakes (Okaka, おかか) …
  6. Kelp Simmered in Soy Sauce (Kombu, 昆布) …
  7. Grilled Salmon Cream Cheese (焼サーモンクリームチーズ)

Does onigiri need filling?


Onigiri do not have to have a filling

. If the rice is sushi rice (flavored with sushi vinegar), it is no longer onigiri, it’s sushi.

What should I fill my onigiri with?

  1. Tuna Mayo (Sea Chicken, シーチキン・ツナマヨネーズ) …
  2. Grilled Salmon Flakes (Yaki-shake/Beni-shake, 焼鮭・紅しゃけ) …
  3. Pickled Plum (Ume, 梅) …
  4. Salted Cod Roe (Tarako, たらこ) …
  5. Dried Bonito Flakes (Okaka, おかか) …
  6. Kelp Simmered in Soy Sauce (Kombu, 昆布) …
  7. Grilled Salmon Cream Cheese (焼サーモンクリームチーズ)

How do you pack an onigiri?

If you’re eating the onigiri right away, dig in! If you’re packing them for later,

hold up on wrapping them in nori

. To keep onigiri from getting soggy, wrap the rice balls individually in wax paper or plastic wrap; store the nori separately and wrap it around the onigiri just before eating.

What makes onigiri stick together?

You have to be using a short grain, sticky or sushi rice, it’s the

starch

that really helps it stick. … Another thing make sure you’re handling the rice when it’s warm. Once the rice is cold it’s much harder to form. So you’ll want to start making the onigiri almost right after you’re done cooking it.

Can onigiri be made the night before?

That being said,

you can make them the night before

, but you need to take some measures. There are a few things you can do to have moist (but not wet) rice balls.

Can I use normal rice for onigiri?

Basically

anything that goes well with rice

, is not too wet or oily, and is highly seasoned (read: quite salty) will work. There are several listed in the original onigiri article as well as in the comments. Remember that any filling you use must be well cooked.

What’s the difference between Omusubi and onigiri?


There is no particular difference between the two

, but there are various explanations as to why people call them “onigiri” or “omusubi.”

What does onigiri taste like?

An onigiri is a

savory (salty) compressed ball of rice

. It often has a filling or a coating of something savory, but there are also onigiri made of pre-flavored/mixed rice, as well as plain rice onigiri simply made with salt.

Can you eat onigiri cold?

It’s one of my favorite things to cook at home and eat in general. Unfortunately,

onigiri are served cold at convenience stores

, leading to an important discovery — fat congeals when it’s cold (wow!). … People who eat this: people who want to eat rice bowl toppings inside the rice instead (wow!)

How long does store bought onigiri last?

If your onigiris are made with umeboshi, you can keep them in your fridge for

up to three days

. If the onigiris contain tuna and mayonnaise, they can last for up to one day. In general, any filling with mayo is usually not good for more than a day.

Why is onigiri triangle?

Onigiris actually come in four different shapes but the triangle is the most common. Legend has it that

travellers moulded rice balls into the shape of a mountain as a way of asking for protection from kami (spirits)

, which were believed by Shintoists to live within every element in nature.

What is the best rice for onigiri?

The best rice for making onigiri is

short-grain Japonica “Koshihikari”

. This Japanese rice is available from Japanese/Asian grocery stores and also you can get this rice from major supermarkets in Australia. The brand is Sun rice. Now because this type of rice also used for making sushi, it may be labeled sushi rice.

Why did my onigiri fall apart?

If you are using long grain rice (such as jasmine rice), the onigiri will simply fall apart

because they are not sticky enough

. You can overcook the long grain rice so it will be soft and mushy to form a shape, but it certainly will not taste very good.

Can you microwave onigiri?

Reheating your onigiri is easy.

Simply microwave until warmed through

. Most microwaves have a warming setting. Do leave each onigiri in the plastic wrap while you reheat them otherwise they will dry out.

Can I freeze onigiri?

To freeze, first wrap each individual onigiri in plastic wrap, freeze, then

put them all in a freezer bag

for longer-term storage (sucking the air out of the bag with a straw — think of do-it-yourself FoodSaver vacuum-packing).

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.