Umeboshi & Roasted Sesame Seed Onigiri Recipe
When I think of Japan I think of onigiri. They are the go to food in Japan. Made at home, sold in corner stores and eaten as a snack, for lunch, and on a picinic. I love the ones that are seasoned with furikake which you can buy in packets at Asian food stores. The ones I loved were Goma Shio (black sesame seed and salt) or Yukari (purple perilla called shiso in Japan and salt). Unfortunately I've been unable to find gluten-free ones. But it is quite simple to make your own mixture. Here is a easy and tasty seasoned onigiri. It is one of my favourites.
Here are the ingredients you need. Japanese plain cooked rice also called sushi rice, umeboshi (pickled plums), roasted sesame seeds and salt.
Remove the seed from the onigiri and mash with a fork.
Mix the cooked rice, umeboshi and sesame seeds gently together.
Divide the mixture in half.
Get a bowl of water and wet your hands, sprinkle some salt on your hands then scoop up some of the rice mixture and shape into a ball and then cup the ball of rice in one hand and use the fingers of your other hand to shape the rice into a triangle with gently pressure.
Umeboshi and Roasted Sesame Seed Furikake Onigiri Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 umeboshi, seeded and mashed
- 1 Tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- 1 cup cooked, short-grain rice
- salt
Directions
- Cook your rice. Use sushi rice for onigiri, it needs to be the sticky type of rice to hold together.
- Prepare your umeboshi by removing the seed and mashing the plum.
- Put your warm rice, mashed plum and sesame seeds in a bowl and mix gently so as not to mash the rice grains.
- In the bowl compact the rice with a spoon and split in half.
- Put a small bowl of water next to your work station to wet your hands with from time to time.
- Wet your hands with water and sprinkle on a pinch of salt. Grab half the rice and gently squish into a ball.
- Now to make the traditional triangular onigiri shape you need to cup one hand with the rice ball in it and press each of the three sides with your other hands index and middle finger. You will need to push on three sides of the ball and flip it to get the shape.
- When you have the shape you want put on a plate.
- You can use an onigiri mold if you like or plastic wrap and make into a rice ball.
What is your favourite onigiri flavour?
