Main Page
Festive table
Rice balls with shrimp in Japanese

Japanese Shrimp Onigiri (Rice Balls)

A remarkably tasty traditional Japanese dish! Onigiri — rice balls — are a classic of Japanese cuisine. In purpose, an onigiri is a lot like a sandwich. It's eaten cold and most often away from home: at work, at school, or on a trip. But I like to flip that on its head — so after coming across this straightforward recipe in one of my favorite magazines, I decided to make it for friends who'd come over to visit. The method for shaping the rice balls is so simple that even a child could manage it. Well, let's get started!

Valeria

Recipe author

Composition / ingredients

Servings:

Rice

0.5

Nori (4 strips)

Rice vinegar

Shrimp (peeled — a small handful)

100

Table salt

0.2

Translation table of volumetric measures

Nutrients and energy value of the composition of the recipe

By weight of the composition:

Proteins 24 % 13 g

Fats 2 % 1 g

Carbohydrates 74 % 40 g

216 kcal

GI: 0 / 100 / 0

Cooking method

Step 1:

Step 1:
Step 2:

Step 2:
Step 3:

Step 3:
Step 4:

Step 4:
Step 5:

Step 5:
Step 6:

Step 6:
Step 7:

Step 7:

To start, rinse the rice about 10 times — during that time it'll take on plenty of moisture. Put half a cup of the rinsed rice in a small saucepan, add one cup of water, and set it over high heat (uncovered). The moment the rice just begins to boil, turn the heat down to the lowest setting and cook for another 10–15 minutes. Then take it off the stove and lay a clean kitchen towel between the lid and the rice. Let the rice rest like this for another 10 minutes. Once the rice has cooled a bit, stir in the rice vinegar. Wet your hands with water and rub a pinch of salt between your palms so the rice won't stick to them. Now start shaping the rice balls. First, form the rice into a ball, pressing firmly so it holds together. Then gently make a hollow in the ball with your fingers and fill it with shrimp. Close the ball up with another spoonful of rice, press it well again, and shape it however you like — I made oval onigiri, for example. Then wrap it with a short strip of nori. And the snack is basically ready. For the filling you can use any of the ingredients traditionally found in sushi and rolls: salmon, mussels, eel, and much more. I'm sure your guests will love this dish. My friends have already fallen for its wonderful flavor and often drop by to have some!