How to make Rice Balls (Onigiri)

How to make Rice Balls (Onigiri)

Published on December 17 2015
Posted by: Keat & Kyle
Segment: food
32 views
Keat and Kyle makes Japanese Rice Balls, also known as Onigiri.

Onigiri are an easy, fun, and simple snack that you can make at home.

(Okay, it's our first video, and we tried to make it educational. Apparently, we made it almost too scripted. Note to us: don't make as educational videos)

First, here are the ingredientsfor 6-8 rice balls
2 cups of short grain rice (not the medium or long grain - look in the "Asian" section of your supermarket)
1 sheet of nori
3 cups of water
3 meatballs (filling is up to you. We use meatballs in this video)
Toasted sesame seeds (optional)
Your favorite spicy sauce (optional)

And the equipment:Rice cooker (or pot)
Onigiri shapers (or your hands)
Plastic wrap
Cooking spray

So, let's get started!


First things first, wash the rice! Washing the rice gets a lot of the storage starch off, and makes for better rice. Wash it until the water is mostly clear.

Next, place the rice, water, and meatballs in the rice cooker and cook it (or if you don't have a rice cooker, put the water in a big pot and boil, then put in the rice and meatballs and cover and simmer for 18-20 minutes).

While the rice is cooking, go ahead and prep your shapers; place plastic wrap around each side of the wrapper and spray the insides with cooking spray. Also, cut your sheet of nori into 6-8 strips.

When the rice is done, (allow to sit for about 30 minutes, then) scoop a bit into each side of the rice shaper. Cut the meatballs in half and place half inside one side of the shaper. Now compress the two sides together with just enough force to keep it together - don't press too hard.

After a few seconds (or you believe it is ready), open one side of the shaper, place half of a nori strip halfway up the rice ball, and roll the rice ball out into the nori strip.

Repeat for the rest of the rice and fillings.

Finally, when you are done shaping them, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and your favorite spicy sauce.

Enjoy, and have fun in the kitchen!

Let us know if you try this, and show us your photos! Try out different fillings (we recommend tuna salad, pickled plum (if you have it), chicken, or even fruit bits) and experiment with them.