In today’s fast-paced world, we’re always on the lookout for quick, delicious, and healthy meal options. Enter the air fryer: a miraculous kitchen gadget that has revolutionized cooking, making it faster, healthier, and more convenient. Among the countless recipes that have been adapted for the air fryer, Yaki Onigiri holds a special place. This traditional Japanese grilled rice ball gets a modern twist with the air fryer, making it an irresistible snack or side dish. Let’s dive into how you can make Air Fryer Yaki Onigiri at home.
Ingredients:
To start, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 300 grams Cooked Rice: It’s essential to use hot rice for this recipe. If your rice is a day old, warm it up before molding. Cold rice won’t hold its shape well.
- 1 tbsp Sugar: This will balance the savory flavors.
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce: For that quintessential umami taste.
- 1 tbsp Mirin: Adds a subtle sweetness and complexity.
- 1 tbsp Sake: Enhances the overall flavor.
- Water: Keep a small bowl of water handy to wet your hands. This prevents the rice from sticking to your hands.
- 1 slice Mozzarella Cheese (Optional): For a deliciously gooey center.
Directions:
Now, let’s get to the fun part – making the Yaki Onigiri:
- Preparation: First, gather all your ingredients. This will make the process smooth and enjoyable.
- Shaping Onigiri: Wet your hands with water to prevent the rice from sticking. Take about 100g of cooked hot rice and mold it into a triangle shape. You can do this with your hands or use an onigiri mold for a more uniform shape. Aim to make 3 onigiris.
- Cooking: Place the onigiri in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 15 minutes, flipping once at the halfway point to ensure even cooking.
- Glazing: Mix the sugar, soy sauce, mirin, and sake in a bowl. After the initial 15 minutes of air frying, coat both sides of each onigiri with this soy sauce mixture and air fry for an additional 2 minutes.
- Repeating: Repeat the coating and frying process two more times, totaling 6 minutes. Adjust the frequency or duration if the onigiri gets too charred. Note: You don’t have to use up all the sauce mixture.
- Serving: Your Yaki Onigiri should have some charred areas, giving it a delightful texture and flavor. Serve hot and enjoy immediately!
Nutritional Info and Serving Size:
This recipe serves 3, with each serving containing approximately 320 kcal. The total preparation time is about 10 minutes, and the cooking time is 23 minutes, bringing the total time to 33 minutes.
Optional Twist:
For those who love a cheesy twist, add a slice of mozzarella cheese in the center of each onigiri before air frying. As the onigiri cooks, the cheese melts, creating a delightful cheesy pull that’s sure to impress.
Conclusion:
The Air Fryer Yaki Onigiri is a perfect example of how traditional recipes can be adapted to fit our modern lifestyles without compromising on flavor. It’s a simple, quick, and incredibly tasty dish that pays homage to its Japanese roots while embracing the convenience of modern cooking methods. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or new to the kitchen, this recipe is sure to become a favorite. Give it a try and enjoy a taste of Japan at home!
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Air Fryer Yaki Onigiri
- Total Time: 33 minutes
- Yield: 3 1x
Description
The art of making Yaki Onigiri transcends simple rice ball formation, especially when brought to life through the use of an air fryer. This method not only simplifies the process but also introduces a delightful crunch to the rice’s exterior, complemented by the rich, savory blend of soy sauce, mirin, and sake. The optional addition of a mozzarella center adds a modern twist to the traditional Japanese snack, creating an unexpected yet delightful cheesy pull that melts in your mouth.
Ingredients
300 gram Cooked rice (Use hot rice. If it is a day old, then heat it up before molding. If the rice is cold, it will not hold its shape)
1 tbsp Sugar
2 tbsp Soy Sauce
1 tbsp Mirin
1 tbsp Sake
Water (small bowl of water to wet hands when shaping onigiri so the rice does not stick to hands)
1 slice Mozzarella cheese (this is optional but you can put it in the center of onigiri for a cheesy pull)
Instructions
Gather all your ingredients.
Wet your hands before touching the rice to prevent sticking.
Take about 100g of cooked hot rice and mold into an onigiri triangle (you can use your hands or an onigiri mold).
Make 3 onigiris.
Place them in the air fryer.
Air fry at 400F for 15 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
Then coat both sides in the soy sauce mixture and air fry for 2 more minutes.
Repeat the coating and frying process 2 more times for a total of 6 minutes (adjust the number of times or minutes if it gets too charred. You don’t have to use up all the sauce mixture).
Yaki onigiri should have some charred areas.
Serve hot and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: 320