Abura Miso Onigiri (Rice Balls)

Onigiri

Abura Miso

Onigiri or rice balls are a common snack in Japan.  You can add many things to your onigiri such as tuna salad, smoked salmon, ume boshi (pickled plums)...the list goes on and on.  In Okinawa, people also put abura miso in their onigiri.  I grew up eating this snack, and my kids love it too.  It's very simple to make.  Making the onigiri is fairly simple too but can be a bit messy with the sticky rice.  You can cheat and buy onigiri molds at an Asian food store.  They are nice and convenient and cut down on a lot of the mess.  

1 cup miso paste ..you can use red(aka-miso) or white (shiro-miso) or a mixture of both...aka-miso has a stronger, saltier flavor.

1 cup sugar

2 slices of sanmai niku OR bacon (turkey or pork)... OR 1 small can tuna fish, drained

Japanese sticky rice (kokuho rose and nishiki are both good brands)

1. In a saucepan over med. heat add miso paste and sugar.  Heat and stir until sugar is completely dissolved.

2. Chop up sanmai niku/bacon and add to abura miso (or tuna fish) ...stir to blend

3. Add a small amount of rice to a bowl...add about a tbsp of abura miso in the center....add a little more rice on top

4. Scoop up rice with your hands and form into a ball (really looks more like a triangle) ...make sure if you are using your hands, to wet them slightly first before forming the onigiri so the rice doesn't stick.  

*If using an onigiri mold, add half of rice to mold...add abura miso...more rice and press mold then pop out the onigiri