5 Insider Secrets to Elevate Your Onigiri Game Beyond a Japanese Restaurant Chef

Onigiri is an incredibly simple and popular dish in Japan. Today, Chi will share 5 quick and delicious onigiri-making secrets from a 3-star Japanese restaurant chef!

Usually, Chi rarely finds Japanese restaurants that offer onigiri on their menus like Sashimi BBQ Garden, but when tried here, the onigiri was absolutely delightful! The rice was sticky, and the salmon filling was flavorful and just right!

Onigiri is a common, easy-to-eat dish, perfect for office ladies or kids to bring to school.

With just a few nods and winks, Chi managed to run into the head chef of Sashimi BBQ Garden. Thanks to some expert advice from him on making delicious and convenient rice balls, Chi is now ready to share these tips with everyone, especially working women and parents with school-going children who need to pack lunches. Take note and give it a try!

Let Chi pass on some 'tricks' learned from the head chef at Sashimi BBQ Garden!

No need to stick to the traditional shape for rice balls

Traditional rice ball making involves shaping rice firmly into triangles, stuffing them, and then decorating them with a strip of seaweed. This method is intricate and somewhat time-consuming. If you're short on time, try using a whole sheet of seaweed, spread the rice, place the filling, and fold the seaweed corners over to wrap it up.

Traditional Shape of Rice Balls

But you can do it this way for speed

Considerations for the rice ball filling

When making rice balls, the most common filling is egg and cold meat.

If you're using egg filling, make sure it's cooked, even if you prefer runny yolks. However, if your workplace has a fridge or microwave for reheating, you can leave the eggs slightly undercooked.

Eggs and cold meat should be prepared before adding to the rice balls

Similarly, if you store rice in the fridge, try making rice balls with salad filling instead of raw or boiled vegetables, and use salmon or tuna filling instead of eggs or meat. This ensures that the rice balls will be much more fragrant, soft, flavorful, and delicious!

If possible, try rice balls with salad filling

I absolutely love the salmon-filled rice balls from Sashimi BBQ Garden. The fragrant and firm fish meat is not only delicious but also nutritious, especially recommended for those who enjoy raw food. It's not just tasty but also good for the brain!

Salmon filling, whether raw or cooked, is an excellent option!

Pre-cook the cold meat before adding it to the filling to ensure safety. Let me tell you, smoked meat filling is a favorite among elementary and high school kids. If you're making rice balls for your child's lunch, this is the filling to go for.

Katsu Rice Balls - A trick from the head chef at Sashimi BBQ Garden to... get your kids to eat rice

Katsu rice balls are stuffed with various meats (pork, chicken, beef, shrimp, fish, etc.) that are fried. Apart from the fried meat filling, katsu rice balls are also aromatic and flavorful due to the sauce made with meat and the mayonnaise accompanying seafood. Children always prefer katsu rice balls over those filled with eggs or regular meat. As for women watching their figure, it's best to indulge in this sparingly!

Katsu rice balls with fried meat filling and rich sauce are a favorite among children

You can also fry/coat the rice balls with sauce on the outside like this

Make use of leftovers

Last night's leftover rice, vegetables, fish, meat,... all well-preserved leftovers are suitable ingredients for your rice balls, so don't rush to discard them!

Make use of last night's food to save yourself the hassle of preparing in the morning

Hear the head chef reveal the secrets of food safety for rice balls

Firstly, make sure to wait for the filling and rice to cool before wrapping them up.

If you want to cut the rice balls into small pieces, wait a while for the water in the rice to be absorbed by the seaweed layer outside before cutting. This will make it easier to cut.

The rice should be sprinkled/squeezed with a bit of salt and seasoning for aroma and flavor. You can also roll the outside in roasted sesame seeds for extra fragrance and nutrition.

You can use food wrap to cover the outside of the rice balls (after the rice has cooled) as a very convenient way to maintain hygiene and make eating much easier.

Using food wrap helps maintain hygiene and makes eating more convenient

Wishing you success with the rice ball recipe from the head chef of Sashimi BBQ Garden! Apart from rice balls, if you've ever visited Sashimi BBQ Garden, you've surely been impressed by their sushi and expertly seasoned grilled dishes, right? Later on, I'll gradually share with you the secrets of making sushi and marinating grilled items from Sashimi BBQ Garden!

On weekends, families around 2B Nguyen Thi Thap area often gather at Sashimi BBQ Garden to treat themselves. After a week of just rice balls, packed lunches, and busy schedules with work and studies, the lush greenery and traditional Japanese-style ambiance of Sashimi BBQ Garden with its charming wooden huts and fresh air will make your family feel like they're having a Japanese picnic right in the heart of Hanoi!

This weekend, moms, don't just treat your husband, kids, and yourself to rice balls. Why not plan a family date with Sashimi BBQ Garden's super affordable hotpot and BBQ buffet, along with sushi and sashimi? After all, the restaurant is currently offering special discounts for diners who book in advance through PasGo.