Nutrient-Rich! Super Simple Onigirazu Recipe
Beginner-Friendly! Make a Satisfying Meal: Japanese Onigirazu
Hello everyone! Today, I’ll show you how to easily and deliciously make ‘Onigirazu,’ a popular convenient Japanese meal, right at home. Onigirazu is a special rice ball made by placing rice and various fillings on a sheet of nori seaweed, then folding the four corners of the nori to create a square shape. Unlike traditional onigiri that requires shaping rice by hand, this is incredibly simple to make, perfect for busy mornings or picnic lunches! It offers a different charm than convenience store triangular rice balls, and because it’s securely wrapped in seaweed, it has the advantage of being neat and easy to eat without getting your hands messy. Most importantly, compared to onigiri, you can utilize a much wider variety of fillings, allowing you to ensure a balanced nutritional intake. Feel free to add ingredients like eggs, sausages, tonkatsu, steak, bulgogi, or fresh vegetables to create your own unique Onigirazu!
Main Ingredients
- 1 sheet Roasted Nori Seaweed
- 3 leaves Romaine Lettuce
- 1 Egg
- 1 Grilled Sausage
- 1 bowl Cooked Rice
- Mayonnaise, to taste
- Salt, to taste
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
1. Wash the romaine lettuce thoroughly and pat it completely dry. Slice the grilled sausage in half lengthwise, or into pieces that match the size of your other ingredients, and pan-fry until golden brown. Lightly grilling the sausage enhances its flavor.
Step 2
2. Lightly season the egg with salt and cook it to your preference – either soft-boiled or hard-boiled. Prepare the cooked rice; you can mix in a little salt and mayonnaise with the rice to make it more flavorful and easier to handle.
Step 3
3. Lay a large piece of plastic wrap flat. Place the roasted nori seaweed sheet on top of the plastic wrap, ensuring it’s centered.
Step 4
4. Spread the cooked rice thinly and evenly over the nori. It’s easier to fold if you spread the rice over the central area rather than covering the entire sheet. Arrange the prepared romaine lettuce leaves attractively over the rice.
Step 5
5. Drizzle mayonnaise in a zigzag pattern over the romaine lettuce. Feel free to substitute with other sauces like teriyaki sauce or sriracha mayo for a different flavor profile.
Step 6
6. Place the fried egg on top, followed by the grilled sausage slices you prepared earlier.
Step 7
7. Now, cover the fillings with the remaining cooked rice. Adjust the amount of rice based on the size of the nori and the quantity of your fillings.
Step 8
8. Use the four corners of the plastic wrap to carefully enclose the nori and fillings. Imagine wrapping a gift: bring up the four corners of the nori over the rice and overlap them, then tightly wrap with the plastic wrap to form a square shape. Press firmly to shape the Onigirazu so that the nori securely holds the rice and ingredients together.
Step 9
9. To serve, cut the Onigirazu in half with a knife while it’s still wrapped in plastic wrap. This helps prevent the fillings from scattering and presents a beautiful cross-section. Enjoy it immediately or pack it in a lunchbox for an outing!
