Description
Homemade traditional Japanese spicy tuna onigiri offers a delightful handheld rice experience with complex flavors. Crisp nori wraps around seasoned sushi rice and spicy tuna, creating perfect portable lunch companions for hungry travelers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 104 grams (3.7 oz) canned tuna, drained
- 240 grams (1.5 rice cooker cups or 8.5 oz) sushi rice, uncooked
- ½ tbsp Japanese mayo (or regular mayo)
- 1 tsp sriracha sauce
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ or 2 sheets nori (based on personal preference)
- ½ tsp black sesame seeds (optional for garnish)
- Water to moisten hands and rice paddle
Instructions
- Rice Preparation: Rinse sushi rice under cold water until clear, then cook according to package instructions using a rice cooker or pot. Transfer to a large bowl, mix with salt, and let cool to room temperature.
- Tuna Filling Creation: Combine drained tuna with Japanese mayonnaise and sriracha sauce in a mixing bowl, blending thoroughly to create a spicy, creamy mixture.
- Onigiri Assembly: Lay plastic wrap on a clean surface and dampen a rice paddle. Divide cooled rice into equal portions. Place one portion on the wrap, forming a circular layer. Position a spoonful of spicy tuna mixture in the center.
- Shaping Technique: Gather plastic wrap edges, twisting gently to encase the filling completely. Compress into a compact ball, then flatten into a disc. Use fingers to mold into a triangular shape with crisp edges.
- Finishing Touches: Carefully wrap nori strips around the base of each rice triangle. For added visual and textural dimension, sprinkle black sesame seeds over the surface of the onigiri.
Notes
- Master Rice Washing: Rinse sushi rice meticulously until water runs crystal clear, ensuring perfect starch removal for optimal texture and consistency.
- Perfect Rice Cooling Technique: Allow rice to cool naturally at room temperature, preventing moisture buildup and maintaining ideal sticky rice structure.
- Strategic Filling Placement: Center the spicy tuna mixture precisely to create a balanced, flavorful core that distributes evenly when biting into the onigiri.
- Nori Wrapping Pro Tip: Cut nori strips carefully to create a neat, secure base that enhances grip and prevents rice from falling apart while eating.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 30mg