Japanese rice balls (yaki onigiri) from the yakiyaki grill pan
Yaki Onigiri rice balls are served in Japan as a snack or as a side dish to soups and stews. The crispy texture of the grilled rice ball and the salty taste of soy sauce, which is often used for seasoning, are very popular, making Yaki Onigiri a delicious addition to many Japanese cuisine dishes.
Onigiri, the slightly more well-known form of Japanese rice balls, are typically filled with ingredients like pickled vegetables, fish, or meat, and are shaped with rice into a triangle or a ball. They can also be served with a wrapping of nori sheets (dried seaweed) or another type of leafy vegetable. Onigiri can be eaten cold or at room temperature and are a popular type of finger food or snack in Japan.
Yaki Onigiri, on the other hand, are made from the same ingredients as Onigiri, but they are grilled or pan-fried until crispy and lightly browned. In contrast to Onigiri, Yaki Onigiri is often made without filling and shaped into a ball.
Which rice is best for this recipe?
For Japanese rice balls, typically special Japanese sushi rice is used. This sticky rice is also referred to as Koshihikari rice and is very popular in Japan. It has a short, round grain shape and sticks well together, making it ideal for shaping rice balls. Koshihikari rice is available in Asian grocery stores; another short-grain rice alternative would be Arborio or Calrose rice, which are also suitable for this dish.
Fry Japanese rice balls properly
A cast-iron pan is known for its high heat retention capacity and for evenly distributing heat across its cast-iron surface. These features make it ideal for searing foods such as rice balls, ensuring they are uniformly and crisply cooked. The high heat retention capacity of the cast-iron pan also ensures that the pan remains hot even when cold rice balls are added.
By using the finely ridged and uneven surface of the Yakiyaki pan in our recipe, the rice balls, incidentally, acquire a delightful texture!
Recipe for Japanese rice balls (yaki onigiri) from the yakiyaki grill pan
2 cups
cooked sushi rice
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a large handful of small shrimps without bowls
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half a bunch of spring onions
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1 small piece
of ginger
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4 tablespoon
sesame oil
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100ml - about 8 tablespoon
soy sauce
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50 ml - about 4 tablespoon
rice vinegar
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1 teaspoon
Salt
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