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 rice with mirin and soy sauce during the grilling process. "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 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 produces a delightful flavor.
Two ways to make
There are primarily two ways to make yaki 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, bale-shaped, and drum-shaped. However, 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 known as the most common for yaki onigiri in Japan.
Another variation
There is another variation of yaki 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 you taste the miso flavor, there is 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. After enjoying the regular yaki onigiri with this recipe, make sure to try the miso-flavored version as well.
Ingredients
- 11.3 oz. (320g) cooked Japanese white rice
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce (for rice seasoning)
Coatings:
- ½ Tbsp mirin
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
Step-by-step instructions
🕒 Total 20 mins
Step 1
Put the cooked rice and soy sauce (for rice 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 slightly.
Step 3
Mix the coatings (mirin and soy sauce) in another bowl.
Step 4
Heat oil in a pan and grill the onigiri (shaped rice balls) over low heat until both sides are 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.
Step 5
Continue grilling until the seasoning mixture has evaporated. Then, turn them over and repeat this process until you have 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
- 11.3 oz. (320g) cooked Japanese white rice
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce (for rice seasoning)
Coatings:
- ½ Tbsp mirin
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
Instructions
- Put the cooked rice and soy sauce (for rice 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 slightly.
- Mix the coatings (mirin and soy sauce) in another bowl.
- Heat oil in a pan and grill the onigiri (shaped rice balls) over low heat until both sides are 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.
- Continue grilling until the seasoning mixture has evaporated. Then, turn them over and repeat this process until you have used up all of the mixture.
Notes
- You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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