Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Balls)

Yaki Onigiri is one of the most popular types of onigiri in Japan. It offers a unique combination of a crispy grilled texture along with the savory taste and aroma of soy sauce, which is not often found in other dishes.

Jump to:

• What is Yaki Onigiri?
• Two ways to make
• Optimal Shapes
• Another variation
• 📋Step-by-step recipe
• Tips on how to make
• Recipe card

What is Yaki Onigiri?

Yaki Onigiri is a type of onigiri that is made by coating rice with mirin and soy sauce during the grilling process. "Yaki" means grilling, and "onigiri" refers to rice balls. By adding extra steps to the regular onigiri-making process, you can create flavorful onigiri with a deliciously crispy and aromatic quality.

To fully enjoy the rich flavor and aroma of the grilled coating, there is typically no need to add any fillings or wrap the onigiri in nori seaweed. Rest assured that the combination of mirin and soy sauce alone is delicious enough without these.

Two ways to make

There are primarily two ways to make this onigiri. One is to simply brush the onigiri with mirin and soy sauce while grilling. The other method involves grilling the onigiri that has already been seasoned with soy sauce, then brushing it with mirin and soy sauce.

The method that I believe is absolutely delicious is the latter one: pre-seasoning with soy sauce. By flavoring the onigiri beforehand, you can enjoy the savory taste not only on the outside but also throughout the inside. Be sure to give it a try with this recipe.

Optimal Shapes

There are various shapes of onigiri, including round, triangular, and barrel shapes. However, when it comes to yaki onigiri, the triangular or barrel shaped ones are highly recommended. This is because the larger grilled surface of these shapes allows heat to penetrate the inside of the onigiri more effectively. In fact, triangular shapes are known to be the most common for yaki onigiri in Japan.

Another variation

There is another variation of this onigiri that is seasoned with miso instead of mirin and soy sauce. The miso-flavored version is just as delicious as the one flavored with soy sauce.

When tasting the miso flavor, there is no need to season the rice in advance. The rich miso flavor complements the taste of the rice inside, so simply coating the onigiri with miso while grilling is enough to make them delicious. After enjoying the regular yaki onigiri with this recipe, make sure to try the miso-flavored version as well.

📋Step-by-step recipe

Ingredients

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Instructions

🕒 Total: 20 mins mins

Step 1
Put cooked rice and soy sauce (for seasoning) in a bowl and mix well.

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Step 2
Take about 3 ounces (85g) of mixed rice in your hands and tightly squeeze each piece into a triangle or barrel shape. After shaping, let them sit for 5-10 minutes to allow the surface to dry slightly.

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Step 3
Mix the coating ingredients (mirin and soy sauce) in another bowl.

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Step 4
Heat oil in a pan and grill the shaped rice balls over low heat until both sides are slightly browned. Once browned, brush the top side of each onigiri with the seasoning mixture from the bowl. Then, flip each onigiri and brush the other side.

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Step 5
Continue grilling until the seasoning mixture has evaporated. Then, turn them over and repeat this process until all the mixture has been used.

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To Store

You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Tips on how to make

• Use Japanese rice or short-grain rice. If you use rice that doesn't stick together well, the onigiri might fall apart while cooking.
• Squeeze the rice tightly when forming onigiri. Shaping the rice firmly will help prevent the onigiri from falling apart while cooking.

Recipe card