Onigiri

I will be happy to share with you an onigiri recipe adding an Italian touch. Onigiri are Japanese rice balls that can be filled or flavored in various ways. Here is a classic recipe with a small Italian twist:

Ingredients

• 2 cups of sushi rice or short-grain rice
• 2 and a half cups of water
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• Filling of your choice (can be a piece of mozzarella or sun-dried tomatoes to adapt it to the Italian style)
• Nori (dried seaweed), cut into strips
• Rice vinegar (optional)

Preparation

1. Rinse the rice until the water becomes almost transparent, to remove excess starch. This will help the rice not become too sticky.
2. Put the rinsed rice and water in a pot and let it rest for 30 minutes.
3. Bring the rice to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook covered for 20 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let rest, still covered, for another 10 minutes.
4. If you like, you can season the rice with rice vinegar mixed with a bit of salt and sugar, for a more authentic flavor.
5. Wet your hands in water with a pinch of salt to prevent the rice from sticking, and take about half a cup of rice.
6. Open the rice on your hand and place some of the chosen filling in the center, then cover it with another layer of rice.
7. Shape the rice into a triangle, a circle or a ball, squeezing it lightly with both hands.
8. Wrap the base of the onigiri with a strip of nori so you can hold it without the rice sticking to your hands.
9. Serve the onigiri as a snack or as part of a meal.

Trivia

Onigiri are very popular in Japan as takeout food or for picnics. In Italy, you might want to try making an onigirazu, which is a version similar to onigiri, but resembling a sandwich, with Italian ingredients inside, such as cooked ham, arugula and parmesan.

I hope you enjoy preparing and savoring this version of onigiri!