Onigiri

Japanese food · rice · portable snack · hand food

Shape and wrap. Onigiri are made from sticky white rice pressed into triangular or cylindrical shapes, then wrapped in crispy nori seaweed that you can peel away with your fingers.

Tasty fillings inside. Traditional onigiri have salty or sour fillings like salted salmon, pickled plums, dried seaweed, or bonito flakes that flavor the whole rice ball from the center outward.

Perfect lunch pack. Because onigiri fit perfectly in your hand and don't need utensils, families have been packing them for journeys, school, and work since ancient times.

Modern varieties. Today you can find onigiri filled with all sorts of ingredients, from sweet fillings like plum paste to modern flavors like spicy mayo and cheese.

Rice ball skill. Making onigiri by hand takes practice and a gentle touch so the rice stays fluffy instead of getting squished into a hard brick.