I believe Yaki Onigiri is one of the most delicious types of onigiri. It offers a unique combination of a crispy grilled texture and the savory taste and aroma of soy sauce, which you don't often find in other dishes.
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What is Yaki Onigiri?
Yaki Onigiri is a type of onigiri that is made by coating it with soy sauce and mirin during grilling. Yaki means to grill, and onigiri refers to rice balls. By adding extra steps to the regular onigiri-making process, you can easily create flavorful yaki onigiri with a deliciously crispy and aromatic quality.
To fully savor the rich flavor and fragrant aroma of grilled soy sauce, there's typically no need to add fillings or wrap it in nori seaweed. Rest assured that the combination of soy sauce and mirin alone produces a delightful flavor.
Two ways to make
There are two ways to make yaki onigiri. One is to simply brush the onigiri with soy sauce and mirin while grilling. The other method involves grilling the onigiri that is already seasoned with soy sauce and mirin, then brushing it with more.
The method that I find absolutely delicious is the latter one: pre-seasoning with soy sauce and mirin. By marinating the onigiri beforehand, you can enjoy the savory soy sauce flavor not only on the outside but also throughout the inside.
About onigiri shapes
There are various shapes of onigiri, including round, triangular, bale-shaped, and drum-shaped. When it comes to yaki onigiri, the triangular and drum-shaped ones are highly recommended.
This is because the larger grilled surface allows heat to penetrate the inside of the onigiri more effectively. In fact, triangular shapes are the most common for yaki onigiri in Japan.
Another variation
There is another variation of yaki onigiri, which is seasoned with miso instead of soy sauce and mirin. The miso-flavored version is just as delicious as the one flavored with soy sauce.
When you taste the miso flavor, there's no need to season the rice beforehand. 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.
Ingredients
- 12 oz. (340g) cooked Japanese white rice (doesn't need to be freshly cooked)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce (for seasoning)
- ½ Tbsp mirin
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce (for coating)
Step-by-step instructions
🕒 Total 20 mins
Step 1
Put the cooked rice and soy sauce (for seasoning) in a bowl and mix well.
Step 2
Take about 3 ounces (85g) of rice mixed with soy sauce in your hands, and tightly squeeze each piece into a triangle (or drum) shape. After shaping, let them sit for 5-10 minutes to allow the surface to dry out slightly.
Step 3
Mix mirin and soy sauce (for coating) in a bowl.
Step 4
Heat oil in a pan and grill the onigiri over low heat until both sides are browned. Once they're browned, brush the top side of each onigiri with the seasoning mixture from the bowl. Then, flip the onigiri and brush the other side.
Step 5
Continue grilling until the seasoning mixture becomes dry. Then turn them over and repeat the same process until you've used up all of the mixture.
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 making onigiri. Shaping the rice firmly will help prevent the onigiri from falling apart while cooking.
Recipe Card
Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Balls)
Ingredients
- 12 oz. (340g) cooked Japanese white rice (doesn't need to be freshly cooked)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce (for seasoning)
- ½ Tbsp mirin
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce (for coating)
Instructions
- Put the cooked rice and soy sauce (for seasoning) in a bowl and mix well.
- Take about 3 ounces (85g) of rice mixed with soy sauce in your hands, and tightly squeeze each piece into a triangle (or drum) shape. After shaping, let them sit for 5-10 minutes to allow the surface to dry out slightly.
- Mix mirin and soy sauce (for coating) in a bowl.
- Heat oil in a pan and grill the onigiri over low heat until both sides are browned. Once they're browned, brush the top side of each onigiri with the seasoning mixture from the bowl. Then, flip the onigiri and brush the other side.
- Continue grilling until the seasoning mixture becomes dry. Then turn them over and repeat the same process until you've used up all of the mixture.
Notes
- You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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