Yaki Onigiri
Grilled rice balls brushed with soy until crisp.
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Join HomecookedIngredients
- 500 g Japanese short-grain rice
- 3 tbsp Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu)
- ½ tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Mirin (optional)
- 1 tbsp Toasted sesame oil (optional)
Method
- Rinse the rice in cold water until it runs nearly clear. Drain.
- Combine the rice with the same volume of fresh water in a heavy saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil.
- Drop the heat to its lowest setting and cook 12 minutes. Don't lift the lid.
- Pull the pot off the heat. Rest 10 minutes, lid on.
- Press the freshly cooked warm rice into firm triangles with wet, salted hands.
- Whisk the soy, mirin, and sesame oil into a glaze.
- Griddle the rice balls, brushing with glaze, until crisp and caramelised.
- Serve hot.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.
About Yaki Onigiri
Yaki Onigiri are Japanese grilled rice balls, a beloved way of turning plain short-grain rice into something crisp, caramelized, and deeply savory. The rice balls are pressed into firm triangles and then griddled while being brushed with a soy glaze, so the outside develops a lacquered, golden crust while the inside stays soft and warm. The contrast of a crackling, umami-rich shell against tender rice is the entire appeal, and the mirin in the glaze adds a gentle sweetness that helps it caramelize. It's humble street-stall and home food, often made to use up leftover rice.
Getting there depends on the rice itself, which is rinsed until the water runs clear, cooked covered without lifting the lid, and rested so the grains are properly steamed and sticky enough to hold their shape. Pressing with wet, salted hands seasons the surface and prevents sticking, and the griddling should go slowly enough for a real crust to form. Served hot off the grill, yaki onigiri make a satisfying vegan snack or side, good with tea, as part of a bento, or simply eaten out of hand while still crisp at the edges.
Yaki Onigiri: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Yaki Onigiri?
One serving of Yaki Onigiri has about 329 calories, with 6g of protein, 68g of carbs, 3g of fat and 0g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact portions and brands.
Is Yaki Onigiri gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu). You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Yaki Onigiri?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out mirin, toasted sesame oil — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Yaki Onigiri make?
This recipe makes 6 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.