おにぎり (Onigiri)
Onigiri means rice ball.
Onigiri is a traditional Japanese food that compacts the rice and forms it
into triangular or round shape, then wrapped it up with nori (seaweed).
Today, I am going to show you how I make Onigiri.
First of all, you need to have the correct type of rice! Crucially important!
Sushi rice that actually sticks together. This is my recommended brand.
Available at Asian Markets on Fairview if you are in Boise Area.
I noticed that a lot of Westerners don't wash the rice before cooking!
Rinse and wash the rice provides a better taste.
Why?
Don't ask me about measurements. I am a measure-free cook.
I highly rely on my instinct and feel~~
Add some salt into the water for cooking the rice.
Why?
I read it somewhere long ago, it seasons the rice and brings out the flavor better.
Just a little bit of salt but not too much.
"Rice without salt, is like cooking pasta without salt."
Use the magic button of a rice cooker then wait for it to be cooked!
Pictures above just show how I store the rice in the freezer.
Why in the freezer instead of refrigerator?
The frozen ice formed will keep the rice moist and fresh when you reheat it in the microware.
I do 2 mins or 2.30minutes for heating the rice up.
Courtesy: Got this idea from a Japanese friend
These unique Japanese rice seasoning is one of the biggest contributors
to the tastiness of an onigiri.
Pick your favor and mix it well with your defrosted rice.
Next, get a plastic wrap out.
The size of it depends on how much rice you have.
Transfer the rice to the plastic wrap and add fillings.
For this one, I added chicken and ranch.
Then, grab all four corners of the plastic wrap and make sure the
wrap covers every single part of the rice (so your hand won't get sticky)
Also, make sure the fillings stay in the center of the rice ball.
Cup the rice ball with palm as shown in the picture.
This is how I make the triangular shape
Once you are done compacting and forming the shape,
unwrap the rice ball. Cut a stripe of seaweed.
Place the seaweed on the rice ball and...
Tada! Rice ball done!
Rewrap the plastic wrap if you want to carry it to somewhere.
If you have nothing else better to do in life like me,
you may also give some identity or life to your rice ball.
The best thing about Onigiri is it is very convenience to bring it to everywhere.
You don't have to reheat it to eat it.
Can be served both hot and cold.
Plus, no utensil is needed to eat it.
An onigiri basically equal to a bowl of rice.
Since it is compacted, it doesn't look like a lot but it fills up your stomach well.
Alternative filling option:
For the filling of an onigiri, you can be really creative about it.
The pictures above show the teriyaki beef that I cooked.
Some other fillings you may use are tuna, stir fried veggie, sausages,
bacon, fresh uncooked veggie like cucumber/carrot/bell pepers....
Just another happy onigiri I made.
Below are some other ideas from the internet for you all:
If you're really bored out of your mind and looking for something to do,
you may try something like these:
I might try it sometimes. haha
Now go be creative and make some onigiri!
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