Yaki Onigiri (Japanese Grilled Rice Balls)

Yaki Onigiri (Japanese Grilled Rice Balls)

5 from 1 vote

Yaki onigiri are delicious, crispy grilled Japanese rice balls brushed with miso and soy sauce and fried in butter. With just a few typical Japanese pantry items, you can whip up this tasty snack in no time! They're perfect for bentos too!

Prep Time10

Cook Time5

Total Time15

Course Bento, Lunch, Snacks

Cuisine Japanese

Servings rice balls

Calories 221

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 5

Total Time: 15

Course: Bento, Lunch, Snacks

Cuisine: Japanese

Servings: rice balls

Calories: 221

Equipment

Ingredients

▢ 700 g cooked Japanese short-grain rice
▢ 1 tbsp white sesame seeds
▢ 1 tbsp soy sauce
▢ 1 tbsp unsalted butter

Instructions

First, cook your rice. Use short grain white rice, preferably Japanese sushi rice or something similar. You need the rice to be sticky so that it holds it shape. I recommend using a rice cooker or see my post how to make Japanese rice on stove.
Once the rice is cooked, mix in 1 tbsp white sesame seeds and divide it into 6.
Shape 6 rice balls. I recommend using an onigiri mold so that you can pack it more tightly without breaking it. (Check out this post for 3 ways to shape onigiri) Then
Place the rice balls on a plate and allow to air dry for approx 10 minutes, turning halfway through so they can dry on both sides.
Mix the sauce ingredients (2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp mirin, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1 tsp yellow miso paste (awase miso), 1 tsp garlic paste) in a small bowl.
Once 10 minutes have passed, brush the sauce over one side of each rice ball.
Pour 1 tbsp soy sauce into a small bowl and brush it over the edges.
Heat a frying pan on medium and add 1 tbsp unsalted butter. Once it has melted, place the onigiri in the pan with the sauce side facing down. Brush the other side with the sauce and fry on each side for approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until nicely browned.
Enjoy!

Notes

I recommend shaping the onigiri with a plastic mold so that you can pack it tightly without breaking it. Plastic molds are available here on Amazon. (Affiliate link)

If you grill the onigiri instead of using a pan, you can melt the butter and add it to the sauce.

Wrap leftovers with plastic wrap and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month. Microwave to defrost. Keep in mind that reheating makes it more likely for the onigiri to fall apart.

Nutrition