7 things you need to do when you come visit Japan
If you are considering or already decided upon visiting Japan, here is a list of what you should not miss out on when you come and visit.
Yaki-Onigiri (焼きおにぎり)
Yaki-Onigiri
(焼きおにぎり)
Similar to Onigiri, Yaki-Onigiri（焼きおにぎり）is a ball made out of rice. While Onigiri can be eaten by itself, Onigiri often has some ingredients inside. Yaki-Onigiri on the other hand, will not have anything inside of it but the Onigiri is either coated with or drenched in Soy Sauce which is then grilled on a pan. By cooking it such a manner, it will give the Onigiri the rich smokey aroma of Soy Sauce while in terms of texture, the outer part will be nice and crispy but the inside will remain fluffy. Check out our recipe which will enable you to cook authentic Yaki-Onigiri at home.
Table of Contents
A little bit about the dish
Yaki-Onigiri is said to have been originated in the Ishikawa prefecture. Surprisingly, Yaki-Onigiri is said to date way back a description of Yaki-Onigiri can be found in a very famous historic literature called the Fudoki (風土紀) which dates back to the 8th century. Considering how the dish has been around for centuries, you can imagine that it is because it tastes very good. While Yaki-Onigiri is not meant to be a main dish, it is a very versatile side dish which can be eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The average Onigiri is a ball made out of rice which may or may not have some kind of condiment or protein inside. While it may be a very good dish for picnics and packed lunch, it is not a very classy dish. However, Yaki-Onigiri is somewhat more classier than the average Yaki-Onigiri (while we would not say that it is classy…). Yaki-Onigiri does not have anything inside but is rather a dish in which you enjoy the flavor, aroma and the texture which come from soaking the rice with Soy Sauce and cooking it on a pan. It is truly a delicious dish and plus, just like the Onigiri, it is very portable so you can easily take it with you for your lunch or on a picnic.
List of Ingredients you will need
(Serving for 4 people)
・Japanese Sticky Rice … 10.5 ounces (300 grams)
・Dashi…1 Teaspoon
・Soy Sauce …2 Tablespoon
・Mirin …1 Teaspoon
・Sesame Oil …1 Teaspoon
(Serving for 4 people)
・Japanese Sticky Rice …
10.5 ounces (300 grams)
・Dashi…1 Teaspoon
・Soy Sauce …2 Tablespoon
・Mirin …1 Teaspoon
・Sesame Oil …1 Teaspoon
Recipe
1. Mix the Dashi, Soy Sauce, Mirin and the Sesame Oil into a bowl.
2. Put the ready cooked rice into the bowl and mix thoroughly so the rice soaks up the condiments evenly.
3. Divide the rice into 4 and shape each one into a triangle shape.
4. Put the Yaki-Onigiri into a preheated oven. (Make sure you use cooking paper when you cook it in the oven to prevent it from sticking)
5. Cook each side for 5-6 minutes until it is nice and crispy. Once it gets to that state, its ready to be consumed!
Tip: Just like the Onigiri, the rice will not become a triangle/ball shape unless Japanese sticky rice is used so we recommend that you do not try it with your normal bag of rice!
Other recommended recipes
If this is the kind of dish you like, we have compiled some a list of dishes that you might also like for your next cooking session below.
Oyakodon (親子丼)
Oyakodon (親子丼) made with chicken is a very popular dish in Japan and it is a dish which can be easily made quite cheaply. Oyakodon can mainly refer to 2 things: either the bowl of rice topped off with chicken and eggs or a bowl of rice topped off with raw salmon and salmon roes (The meaning behind the term Oyakodon is explained below).
Tonkatsu (とんかつ)
Tonkatsu literally means pork cutlet in Japanese, which is what it is. What makes it different from other Western cutlet is probably, the soft yet extra crunchy outer coating, the juiciness of the pork and how it is eaten.
Yakitori (焼き鳥)
Yakitori (焼き鳥), meaning “grilled bird” in Japanese, is a dish composed of different kinds of meat and vegetables (not just chicken) that are skewered and cooked on a grill.
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