The Best Miso Butter Grilled Rice Balls Recipe for Busy Weeknights

Miso butter converts ordinary grilled rice balls into a culinary sensation that tantalizes taste buds with unexpected depth and richness.

Crispy exterior shells give way to tender, smoky interiors packed with umami-laden goodness.

Japanese home cooks have long celebrated these delectable morsels as comfort food with serious gourmet potential.

Grilling introduces incredible caramelization that elevates simple ingredients into something magical and memorable.

Salt, fermented soybean paste, and creamy butter create a harmonious blend that dances across your palate with remarkable complexity.

Each bite promises a symphony of textures and bold, sophisticated flavors that challenge traditional expectations.

The technique requires minimal ingredients but delivers maximum satisfaction.

What You’ll Love About Miso Butter Grilled Rice Balls

• Unlock Umami Magic: Experience a flavor explosion with the perfect blend of miso and butter, creating a rich, savory taste that dances on your palate.
• Quick and Easy Comfort: Whip up these grilled rice balls in just minutes, making them an ideal solution for busy weeknights or spontaneous snack cravings.
• Crispy Exterior, Soft Interior: Enjoy the delightful contrast of a golden, crunchy outside and a tender, warm rice center that delivers pure textural satisfaction.
• Versatile Flavor Playground: Experiment with two mouthwatering variations – miso butter or soy sauce – giving you the freedom to customize your culinary adventure.

Ingredients for Miso Butter Grilled Rice Balls

• Japanese Short-Grain Rice: Perfect sticky texture for shaping rice balls, ideal for traditional onigiri style.

• Miso Paste: Provides deep umami and fermented flavor, choose white or yellow miso for milder taste.
• Mirin: Sweet rice wine that balances miso's saltiness, adds glossy finish to rice balls.
• Sake: Enhances overall flavor complexity, traditional Japanese cooking alcohol.
• Sugar: Helps caramelize miso glaze, creates a slight sweetness.
• Butter: Adds rich, golden color and creates crispy exterior when grilling.

• Soy Sauce: Classic Japanese seasoning, provides salty and savory depth to rice balls.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures even grilling and prevents sticking, neutral flavor profile.

• Chives: Fresh, mild onion-like herb for bright green color and light flavor.
• Sesame Seeds: Adds nutty crunch and traditional Japanese garnish element.
• Everything Bagel Seasoning: Provides complex, herbal, and salty topping variation.

• Cling Wrap: Helps shape rice into perfect triangles without sticking to hands.

Grilling Miso Butter Rice Balls at Home

Step 1: Prepare Rice

Cook rice according to your rice cooker’s instructions until perfectly fluffy and tender.

Step 2: Create Miso Glaze

• Miso paste
• Mirin
• Sake
• Sugar

Mix until smooth and well combined.

Step 3: Shape Rice Balls

Divide cooked rice into 6 equal portions.

Use cling wrap to help shape each portion into a neat triangle.

Step 4: Grill Miso Butter Rice Balls

Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat.

Add butter to the skillet.

Grill rice balls for 1 minute per side.

Brush with prepared miso mixture.

Continue grilling until edges become crispy and golden brown.

Step 5: Alternative Soy Sauce Variation

Heat skillet with vegetable oil.

Grill rice balls similarly to miso version.

Brush with soy sauce each time you turn the rice balls.

Grill until crispy and beautifully caramelized.

Step 6: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle with fresh chopped chives.

Add sesame seeds or Everything Bagel seasoning.

Serve immediately while hot and crispy.

Top Tips for Miso Butter Grilled Rice Balls

• Master Rice Shaping: Use damp cling wrap to prevent rice from sticking and create perfectly compact triangular onigiri without messy hands.
• Butter Browning Technique: Use a cast iron skillet for even heat distribution and achieve a golden, crispy exterior that locks in delicious miso or soy sauce flavors.
• Flavor Layering Trick: Brush miso or soy sauce mixture multiple times during grilling to build deep, complex taste profiles that penetrate the rice balls.
• Temperature Control: Maintain medium heat to ensure crispy edges without burning the delicate rice surface, allowing gradual caramelization.
• Garnish Enhancement: Sprinkle sesame seeds, chives, or Everything Bagel seasoning right before serving to add texture, color, and an extra flavor punch.

How to Store and Warm Up Grilled Rice Balls

• Refrigerate: Store leftover rice balls in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep them refrigerated for up to 3 days. Wrap each rice ball individually in plastic wrap to prevent drying out and maintain moisture.
• Reheat: Warm rice balls in a skillet over medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes per side. Add a small pat of butter or drizzle of oil to help crisp up the exterior. Alternatively, use an air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes to restore their original crispy texture. Avoid using a microwave, which can make the rice balls soggy and lose their delightful crunch.
• Freeze: For longer storage, place rice balls in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers.

Serving Ideas for Miso Butter Grilled Rice Balls

• Pair with Crisp Sake: A chilled junmai daiginjo sake perfectly complements the umami-rich miso butter rice balls, balancing the savory flavors with its clean, smooth profile.
• Match with Bright Cucumber Salad: Create a refreshing side dish with thinly sliced cucumbers, rice vinegar, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds to cut through the richness of the grilled rice.
• Serve alongside Miso Soup: A light, warming miso soup with soft tofu and wakame seaweed enhances the Japanese-inspired flavor profile of the rice balls, creating a harmonious meal experience.
• Complement with Pickled Vegetables: Quick pickled daikon radish or quick cucumber pickles add a tangy, crisp contrast to the buttery, grilled rice balls, providing a palate-cleansing element.

Miso Grilled Rice Ball Variations

• Spicy Chili Miso Rice Balls: Blend sriracha or gochujang into the miso mixture for a fiery kick. The added heat transforms the traditional recipe into a zesty street food-style snack.
• Herb-Infused Rice Balls: Fold chopped fresh herbs like cilantro, basil, or dill into the rice before shaping. These green-flecked rice balls offer a fresh, aromatic dimension to the classic grilled treat.
• Vegetable Stuffed Rice Balls: Create a center pocket in each rice ball and fill with finely chopped sautéed vegetables like mushrooms, green onions, or roasted bell peppers. The hidden vegetable filling adds a delightful surprise when biting into the crispy exterior.
• Seaweed Wrapped Rice Balls: After grilling, wrap each rice ball in a small strip of nori seaweed. This adds a distinctly oceanic flavor and provides an extra layer of umami complexity to the dish.

Miso Butter Grilled Rice Balls Recipe

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4.7 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Japanese miso butter grilled rice balls blend savory umami flavors with crispy exterior textures. Grilled to golden perfection, these compact delights offer a delectable snack that will transport you straight to Tokyo’s street food scene.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups uncooked short grain rice
• 2 cups water

Miso Butter Elements:

• 1 tablespoon (1 tbsp) miso
• 2 teaspoons (2 tsp) mirin
• 2 teaspoons (2 tsp) sake
• 2 teaspoons (2 tsp) sugar
• 1.5 tablespoons (1.5 tbsp) butter

Garnish and Seasoning:

• 1 teaspoon (1 tsp) finely chopped chives
• 1 teaspoon (1 tsp) sesame seeds
• 1.5 tablespoons (1.5 tbsp) vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon (1 tbsp) soy sauce
• 1.5 tablespoons (1.5 tbsp) Everything Bagel seasoning
• 1.5 tablespoons (1.5 tbsp) butter

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Instructions

1. Prepare sushi or short-grain rice according to rice cooker instructions, ensuring the grains are sticky and cohesive.
2. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together miso paste, mirin, sake, and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes smooth and well-integrated.
3. Allow cooked rice to cool slightly until comfortable to handle, then use plastic wrap to form 6 compact triangular-shaped rice balls, ensuring each is tightly compressed.
4. For miso variation, warm a cast iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat and melt unsalted butter until it becomes golden and fragrant.
5. Carefully place rice triangles into the buttered skillet, grilling each side for approximately 60-90 seconds until a crisp, golden-brown crust develops.
6. Generously brush the grilling rice balls with prepared miso glaze, rotating and continuing to cook until exterior becomes deeply caramelized and crispy.
7. Alternatively, for soy sauce variation, heat vegetable oil in a separate skillet and follow identical grilling technique, brushing with soy sauce during each rotation.
8. Once rice balls achieve desired crispness and color, transfer to serving plate and garnish with finely chopped chives, toasted sesame seeds, or everything bagel seasoning.
9. Serve immediately while rice balls remain warm and exterior maintains a delightful crunch.

Notes

• Prepare rice in advance to ensure proper cooling and easier shaping for grilled rice balls.
• Select sticky short-grain rice for best texture and structural integrity when forming triangles.
• Use plastic wrap when molding rice to prevent sticking and create clean, uniform shapes.
• Grill rice balls on medium heat to achieve golden crispy exterior without burning.
• Brush miso or soy sauce mixture gradually during grilling to develop deep, caramelized flavor layers.
• Experiment with different toppings like chives, sesame seeds, or Everything Bagel seasoning for added texture and visual appeal.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Dinner
• Method: Grilling
• Cuisine: Japanese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 380 kcal
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 420 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg