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Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Ball)

Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Ball)

Delicious Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Ball) recipe featuring crispy crust and tender interior, elevated with a savory soy glaze.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 9 rice balls
Calories 207 kcal

Equipment

  • rice cooker
  • baking sheet
  • frying pan
  • onigiri mold
  • plastic wrap

Ingredients
  

For the Steamed Rice

  • 2.25 cups uncooked Japanese short-grain white rice 540 ml for 9 rice balls
  • 2.5 cups water or 1⅔ cups (400 ml) for 2 rice cooker cups

For the Rice Seasoning

  • 3 tablespoon soy sauce or 2 tablespoon for 2 rice cooker cups
  • 1 tablespoon sugar or 2 teaspoon for 2 rice cooker cups
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil or 2 teaspoon for 2 rice cooker cups
  • 0.25 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ⅛ teaspoon for 2 rice cooker cups

For the Glaze

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

Instructions
 

Before You Start

  • Soak the Japanese short-grain white rice for 20–30 minutes before cooking.
  • Cook the rice using preferred method, adding 2.5 cups water to 2.25 cups rice.

To Season the Cooked Rice

  • Combine soy sauce and sugar in a bowl, microwave until hot, then whisk.
  • Add toasted sesame oil and kosher salt, mix together.
  • Transfer hot cooked rice to a bowl and mix with seasoning.

To Shape the Onigiri With a Mold

  • Prepare a small bowl with water, moisten onigiri mold.
  • Fill the mold with hot seasoned rice, cover and press down.
  • Flip mold onto a baking sheet and release onigiri.

To Pan-Grill

  • Combine soy sauce and toasted sesame oil for the glaze.
  • Grill the rice balls on parchment paper on medium-low heat until crispy.
  • Rotate to grill all sides evenly.

To Glaze

  • Once browned, brush the onigiri with glaze and grill the sauce side.

To Store

  • Seal each onigiri in plastic wrap and freeze for up to a month.

Notes

Optional to press onigiri with plastic wrap instead of hands for shaping.

Nutrition

Serving: 1rice ballCalories: 207kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 4gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 420mgPotassium: 38mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gCalcium: 3mgIron: 2mg
Keyword grilled food, Grilled Rice Ball, Japanese rice balls, onigiri, rice recipe, Yaki Onigiri
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