Best Seven Onigiri Recipes (Japanese Rice Balls)

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So much of Japanese cuisine is centered around seafood that it makes sense to see it as a popular filling for onigiri.

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Best 5 Onigiri Recipes (Japanese Rice Balls)

That should include tuna, tuna mayonnaise, cooked salmon, and dried shrimp though can extend to more exotic fillings. You could make onigiri simply with salt or a Japanese seasoning known as katsuobushi.

There is even room for experimentation as you could even create your own vegan variations.

In this guide, we will look at the best seven onigiri recipes for Japanese rice balls. 

Preparing Steamed Sushi Rice

Every onigiri recipe will include the preparation of steamed sushi rice. Ensure that your sushi rice is rinsed thoroughly by measuring out and then washing two cups in a colander and then draining it three times until the water runs clear.

If you are using a stove, place the rice in a pot and add two and a quarter cups of water then cook at a medium heat until the water reaches a boil then simmer for around 20 minutes. 

The process may be a little easier with a rice cooker and you will simply have to follow the instructions set by the manufacturer.

For both methods, once the rice has fully steamed, it can be fluffed up with a rice scooper with two tablespoons each of rice vinegar and furikake.

Be time sensitive with your preparation as you do not want to let the sushi rice dry out which means quickly getting started with your fillings.

Assembling The Onigiri

Once your sushi rice has been steamed and your fillings have been prepared, you are set to assemble your onigiri.

Start with your nori strips and cut them into one-inch by four-inch strips and set them aside. Once the filling is safely encased in the sushi rice, wrap the nori strip around the bottom of each onigiri.

Onigiri Mold

If you have an onigiri mold then it can make assembly so much easier. Wet your fingers and then scoop just enough sushi rice to make around a centimeter-high amount in the mold.

This should be around a quarter cup then add a tablespoon of your filling into the middle and add another quarter cup of rice to top the filling and fill in the borders.

Use the top of the mold to press the onigiri together then remove and smooth out the edges. 

Bowl Method

Wet your fingers for the bowl method and spray your bowl with cooking spray then scoop out a quarter cup of sushi rice.

Place your tablespoon of filling in the middle and scoop another quarter cup of sushi rice to encase it all together. Remove the rice from the bowl and mold the onigiri into the shape of a triangle. 

1. Tuna, Salmon, And Corn Onigiri

For six servings of onigiri, begin by preparing your steamed sushi rice and prepare the fillings. You will need three separate bowls, one for the tuna filling, one for the salmon filling, and another for the corn filling.

In your first bowl, combine a can of drained tuna with two tablespoons of Japanese mayonnaise, half a tablespoon of soy sauce, a teaspoon of spicy tuna gochujang, and a quarter teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper. 

In another bowl, combine half a cup of cooked corn kernels with two tablespoons of Japanese mayonnaise, half a teaspoon of salt, and another quarter teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper.

For the final bowl, combine a can of drained salmon with two tablespoons of Japanese mayonnaise, half a tablespoon of soy sauce, a teaspoon of spicy salmon gochujang, and a quarter teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper.

Assemble the onigiri with a combination of each filling and place on those nori strips.

2. Simple Shio Onigiri

Simple Shio Onigiri does not include a filling, but does make expert use of salt. Prepare an ice bath, a small portion of salt, and cooked sushi rice on your kitchen top.

Wash your hands and then plunge them into the ice bath to prevent the rice from sticking to your hands. 

Rub a couple of pinches of salt across the palms of your hand and then take a handful of rice and quickly press it into a triangle shape.

You should be able to create five or six onigiri from 660g of cooked sushi rice so make sure you have enough nori to wrap each one.

3. Tuna Mayo Onigiri

For a quick and easy snack, create some tuna mayonnaise to be the filling in your onigiri.

Cut two nori sheets into strips and set aside while you prepare the tuna mayonnaise from a drained can of tuna and two tablespoons of mayonnaise. Wet your hands and place a couple of pinches of salt to rub between your palms. 

Pick up some cooked sushi rice and place a pinch of the tuna mayonnaise in the middle before forming into a triangular shape with another handful of sushi rice. Do not forget to wrap each onigiri with a strip of nori.

4. Salmon Onigiri

Fresh fish is a staple ingredient in so much Japanese cooking that it should be no surprise to find it in a piece of onigiri. Grill the salmon fillet and break it into flakes then leave it to cool.

Place the cooked sushi rice in a bowl and make a dent in the middle to add a couple of teaspoons of salmon.

Wet both of your hands and rub a couple of pinches of salt in your palms then shape the rice ensuring that there is a healthy portion of salmon in each onigiri.

5. Okaka Onigiri

Onigiri can be so simple to make, you can even create the rice balls with a simple Japanese seasoning of dried and shaved bonito flakes which are tossed in soy sauce.

Katsuobushi can be readily found and makes a great filling for onigiri so place it in a bowl and season with soy sauce. Add the steamed sushi rice and mix it in well then wet your hands, and rub salt between your palms.

Form triangles of the mixture and you should see flecks of katsuobushi in each onigiri.

6. Vegan Onigiri

Onigiri can easily be a vegan snack and you can try a range of fillings. From lime and avocado to edamame and black sesame seeds to miso paste and chopped walnuts.

Start by preparing a bowl of cooked sushi rice with a small bowl of salt. Decide on your fillings and prepare each one in a separate bowl.

For lime and avocado, finely chop a quarter of a ready avocado and combine it with the juice and fine zest of a single lime. Similarly, combine a quarter cup of edamame with two tablespoons of black sesame seeds in another bowl.

For a final filling, combine a tablespoon of miso paste with two tablespoons of chopped walnuts. Divide the cooked sushi rice between three bowls and create the onigiri with each filling separately then wrap each one with a nori strip as the final touch.

7. Kombu Onigiri

Try a couple of tablespoons of kombu tsukudani to create some truly impressive onigiri. The filling is a type of seaweed that is rich in umami notes and often used to make soup stock known as dashi.

When seasoned with soy sauce and sugar, it can be used as an onigiri filling. Place one or two teaspoons of kombu tsukudani in a dent in the center of a handful of rice and place another handful on top to shake your onigiri accordingly then enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should I Invest In An Onigiri Mold?

Once you commit to regularly eating onigiri, you should invest in an onigiri mold. These are dedicated to making the process easier and can make sure you have your onigiri prepared quickly too.

While it may feel fine to use your hands, if you are creating a batch of onigiri it helps to know that you have a quick way of doing so.

Once the sushi rice has been steamed it can lose its moisture quite quickly so be time sensitive in your preparation with an onigiri mold. 

What Is Onigiri?

Sushi takes a lot of plaudits, yet onigiri remains a prime Japanese snack.

They come in the form of rice balls which are typically triangular-shaped and formed from seasoned sushi rice with a delicious filling. The onigiri is then wrapped in a strip of nori (seaweed) and eaten indulgently.

Final Thoughts

If you are a fan of sushi then creating a batch of onigiri should be rewarding. Whether you use a rice cooker or a pot on the stove, once you know how to cook sushi rice perfectly, you should do it more regularly.

Then you can truly experiment with your fillings and diversify from seafood, to vegan varieties to even more exotic flavors.

The great thing about onigiri is that there are no limits to the fillings, find your favorite ones and then mix it up whenever you desire a tasty snack.

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