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Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Balls)

Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Balls)

Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Balls) are delicious grilled rice balls, perfect for a tasty snack or meal.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 1 onigiri
Calories 124 kcal

Equipment

  • Japanese rice cooker
  • Onigiri Mold
  • basting brush

Ingredients
  

Rice Balls

  • 1.5 cups cooked Japanese short grain rice 320g
  • 4-5 tablespoon soy sauce or mentsuyu or Vegan Japanese Unagi sauce

Instructions
 

  • Allow the cooked rice to cool down to a point where you can handle it with your hands. Be sure not to let it completely cool. Cover the rice cooker bowl with a damp towel as you work to prevent the rice from drying out.
  • Wet your hands with water and rub vinegar between your hands. Dip our pointer finger into some salt and rub between your hands, this will help prevent the rice from sticking to your hands. Take about ¼ heaping cup of rice and shape into a onigiri, either a circle or triangle shape.
  • Lightly oil a pan over medium heat. Grill each side until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Flip them once to prevent the onigiri from breaking.
  • Bring the heat to medium low and generously brush with the sauce. Flip and brush the other side with sauce while the previous side cooks (takes around 15-20 seconds, be sure to not let it burn). Flip once more to grill the other side. Remove from the pan, serve and enjoy!

Notes

For Yaki Onigiri Sauce: In a sauce pan over medium heat, combine 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoon mirin, 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 teaspoon sake (optional), and ¼ teaspoon kombu dashi powder (optional). Whisk until it boils, then simmer for 5-8 minutes. Cool completely.

Nutrition

Serving: 1onigiriCalories: 124kcalCarbohydrates: 23.1gProtein: 3.2gFat: 1.9gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.5gSodium: 693mgFiber: 1.3gSugar: 2.7g
Keyword Grilled Rice Balls, grilled snacks, Japanese rice balls, onigiri, vegetarian, Yaki Onigiri
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