Easy Japanese Tuna Onigiri Quick Recipe

Craving a taste of Japan but short on time? This amazing 15-minute Easy Japanese Tuna Onigiri recipe is your perfect solution! Fluffy rice packed with a savory tuna filling and wrapped in crisp nori, these rice balls are a delightful snack, lunchbox treat, or quick meal for any occasion.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked short-grain Japanese rice (preferably freshly cooked and warm)
• 1 (5 oz / 142g) can tuna in water or oil, well drained
• 2-3 tablespoons Japanese mayonnaise (like Kewpie)
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• Pinch of salt (for seasoning hands)
• 2 sheets nori seaweed, cut into strips or small rectangles

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, combine the well-drained tuna, mayonnaise, and soy sauce. Mix thoroughly until the tuna is well coated and creamy.
2. Prepare your shaping station: have a small bowl of water and a pinch of salt ready. Wet your hands thoroughly with water to prevent the rice from sticking, then sprinkle a tiny pinch of salt onto your palms.
3. Take about 1/2 cup of warm cooked rice and gently form it into a loose ball in one palm.
4. Create a small indentation in the center of the rice ball with your thumb.
5. Spoon about 1-2 teaspoons of the prepared tuna mixture into the indentation.
6. Take another small amount of rice (about 1-2 tablespoons) and place it over the tuna filling, gently covering it.
7. Using both hands, carefully press and shape the rice into your desired form (triangle, sphere, or cylinder), ensuring the filling is completely enclosed. Avoid pressing too hard, as this can make the rice dense.
8. Wrap a strip of nori seaweed around the base or side of the onigiri.
9. Repeat the process with the remaining rice and tuna filling.
10. Serve immediately or pack in airtight containers for a delicious grab-and-go meal.