Miso Yaki Onigiri – This Simple Miso Grilled Onigiri Is Hard to Stop Eating
Ingredients
400 g cooked Japanese rice (about 2 cups)
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp miso
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tbsp mirin
1 tsp soy sauce
Instructions
- 1
Make the miso glaze
In a small bowl, mix the miso, sugar, mirin and soy sauce until smooth.
- 2
Shape the onigiri
Lightly wet your hands with water first so the rice doesn’t stick. Divide the rice into 6 portions and shape into triangles. Press firmly so the onigiri hold their shape, but don’t press too hard. I often use cling wrap to shape the onigiri, so I don’t have to touch the rice and it is easier to shape. I used cling wrap for this recipe as well.
- 3
Cook the onigiri
Heat the sesame oil in a frying pan over medium-low heat. Place the onigiri in the pan and cook slowly until the surface becomes lightly golden and crisp.
- 4
Add the miso glaze
Once the onigiri are lightly golden on all sides, spread the miso glaze on the surface. Turn them over and cook until the miso is caramelised and slightly crisp. After adding the miso glaze, the onigiri can burn easily. Keep the heat low and cook slowly so the miso becomes nicely caramelised.
Tomoka's Note
This time, I used Japanese rice and cooked it in a donabe, a Japanese clay pot. The rice turned out soft and fluffy, which works really well for yaki onigiri. Sushi rice from the supermarket works well too.
When shaping the onigiri, try not to press too hard so the inside stays soft. Many people in Japan make onigiri by hand, but I like using cling wrap. It is easy to use and very common at home in Japan. I like to add a little more miso glaze and cook them a bit longer until they become more crisp. A little bit of char also adds a nice flavour. You can also shape them into small balls instead of triangles. I made them this way once, and my kids really enjoyed them. For this recipe, I used soy sauce and white miso from the Spiral brand, which I often find at IGA. If you are looking for these ingredients in Australia, you can read my guide here: Where to Buy Japanese Ingredients in Australia I hope you enjoy making these at home as much as I do.