4.6 from 66 votes
Yaki Onigiri 焼きおにぎり
Yaki Onigiri are grilled Japanese rice balls shaped into triangles or other forms, coated with miso or soy sauce flavors before grilling to develop a crispy, savory crust. The rice is cooked and shaped warm, then brushed with flavorful sauces and grilled until the exterior crisps while remaining soft inside, garnished with chives and sesame seeds or everything bagel seasoning.
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings:
6
rice
Calories:
249 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Japanese
Ingredients
Onigiri
- 2 cups short grain rice 1, uncooked
- 2 cups water
Miso Flavour
- 1 tbsp miso paste
- 2 tsp mirin
- 2 tsp sake
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1.5 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp chive to garnish, finely chopped
- 1 tsp sesame seeds to garnish
Soy Sauce Flavour
- 1.5 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1.5 tbsp everything bagel seasoning *2
- 1.5 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Cook the rice by following the instructions as per your rice cooker. *1
- While the rice is being cooked, put all the miso paste ingredients together in a bowl and mix well.
- Divide the cooked rice into 6 equal portions.
- Shape and squish the rice in a piece of cling wrap into a triangle shape. *3
Cup of Yum
Miso Flavour
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat and add butter.
- Grill the Onigiri for about 1 minute on each side and coat with the butter.
- Brush the miso paste over each side of the rice balls and grill each side until crispy. *4
- Serve with the garnishes.
Soy Sauce Flavour
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat and coat the skillet with vegetable oil.
- Grill the Onigiri for about 1 minute on each side.
- Brush the soy sauce over each side of the rice balls every time it is turned over (turn a few times).
- Grill each side until crispy. Turn the heat off and serve on a plate.
- Top the grilled rice balls with 1/2 tbsp each of butter.
- Garnish with rice seasonings to serve.
Notes
- If you don’t have a rice cooker, cook the rice using a stovetop method referenced in the original instructions.
- Shape the rice warm for better cohesion; shaping cooled rice is more difficult and may result in falling apart during grilling.
- Apply firm pressure when shaping rice balls to hold them together during grilling.
- Be careful when grilling miso-coated onigiri to avoid burning due to sugar in the miso sauce.
- Butter added during grilling helps create a crispy, golden crust and improves flavor.
- Use garnishes like chives, sesame seeds, or everything bagel seasoning to add texture and visual appeal.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1rice balls
Calories
249kcal
(12%)
Carbohydrates
50g
(17%)
Protein
4g
(8%)
Fat
2g
(3%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Cholesterol
5mg
(2%)
Sodium
79mg
(3%)
Potassium
70mg
(1%)
Fiber
0g
(0%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
60IU
(1%)
Calcium
17mg
(2%)
Iron
0.5mg
(3%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 rice
Amount Per Serving
Calories 249
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1rice balls | |
| Calories | 249kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 50g | 17% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 2g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 5mg | 2% |
| Sodium | 79mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 70mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 60IU | 1% |
| Calcium | 17mg | 2% |
| Iron | 0.5mg | 3% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.