17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (2024)

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction

by Shannon

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (1)

We already know that onigiri are awesome – they’re cute, delicious, and make the perfect addition to any bento box. But did you know that, just by making or eating your own onigiri, you could help feed children in need? “Change the World with Onigiri #OnigiriAction” is an annual campaign run by Table For Two that is giving you the power to make a difference in a child’s life. How? It couldn’t be any simpler:

  1. Take a picture of your onigiri (either homemade or store-bought).
  2. Post your picture to social media (AKA Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook) with the hashtag #OnigiriAction, OR upload your photo to the campaign website.

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (2)

That’s it! Every time a photo is posted, Table for Two’s partner organizations will donate 5 meals to children in need. That’s right – ONE onigiri can feed FIVE children. (Now that’s some math I can get behind!) In honor of this amazing campaign, I’ve compiled 17 must try onigiri recipesto help inspire YOU to participate in #OnigiriAction and make a difference too! From traditional onigiri to ultra cute to vegan, I guarantee you there’s an onigiri soulmate just waiting for you in the list below 😉

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (3)

Classic Onigiri

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (4)

Chicken & Spicy Mayo Onigiri – from Pickled Plum

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (5)

Tenmusu (Tempura Shrimp) Onigiri – from Just One Cookbook

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (6)

Mentaiko Mayo Yaki Onigiri – from Chopstick Chronicles

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (7)

Umeboshi (Pickled Plum) Onigiri – from Love & Olive Oil

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (8)

Honey + Bacon Onigiri – from My Name is Yeh

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (9)

Watermelon Onigiri

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (10)

Miso Beef Onigiri – from The Missing Lokness

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (11)

Purple Mini Onigiri Rice Balls – from Shiso Delicious

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (12)

Ebi Tempura Rice Balls – from Iam a Food Blog

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (13)

Crab Stuffed Onigiri – from Surf and Sunshine

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (14)

Spicy Salmon Onigiri – from Two Red Bowls

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (15)

Japanese Yam & Kabocha Squash Onigiri – from Sweet Potato Soul

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Scaredy-Cat Onigiri – from Thirsty for Tea

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (17)

Vegan Sushi Bowl – from The Little Plantation

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (18)

Pumpkin Spice Onigiri

17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (19)

Yaki (Grilled) Onigiri – from Just One Cookbook

72,696 onigiri photos have already been posted – let’s increase that number with #OnigiriAction!

“Change the World with Onigiri #OnigiriAction” runs from October 15 – November 15. To learn more about this wonderful campaign, visit Table for Two’s website.

If you are interested in making a donation to the campaign, you can donate here.

Still want more Onigiri?

Subscribe to Love At First Bento for Monthly Onigiri recipes delivered straight to your inbox!

And don’t forget to follow our Onigiri Pinterest board for even more delicious rice ball recipes!

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Comments (12)

  • 17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (23)

    Marie October 28, 2017

    Love all of these! Especially the pumpkin spice one

    Reply

  • 17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (25)

    Patti Elliott October 28, 2017

    Beautiful photos, and they all look delicious!! Love love love this post! I will be trying these real soon!!

    Reply

    • 17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (26)

      Shannon October 29, 2017

      Thank you Patti, so glad you enjoyed this post! I hope you do end up trying some of these amazing recipes!

      Reply

  • 17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (27)

    Kimberly/TheLittlePlantation October 29, 2017

    Thank you soooo much for including me in this round up.
    They are all soo adorable (and mega tasty I bet). Love Molly and Sara’s interpretations so, so much.
    Proud to be included here.
    wishing you a fab Sunday
    K

    Reply

    • 17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (28)

      Shannon October 29, 2017

      Of course Kimberly, it was my pleasure to include your gorgeous photo/recipe in this roundup! 😀 <3 And yes, sooo much yummy in one place (I wanted onigiri so bad after writing this post, hehe :P). I'm definitely going to be giving Sara's onigiri a try, I love those cute little purple rice balls too!

      Thanks as always for the thoughtful comment Kimberly! <3

      Reply

  • 17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (29)

    Lokness @ The Missing Lokness November 3, 2017

    What an excellent round-up! They all sound so delicious! I need a few of them for lunch right now. Thanks very much for including my recipe too! ?

    Reply

    • 17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (30)

      Shannon November 4, 2017

      No problem, I’m so glad I was able to include your delicious miso beef onigiri! 🙂 And totally agreed – I wanted to eat every single one of these after writing this post 😛

      Reply

  • 17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (31)

    Joyce November 22, 2017

    Ahh! I love onigiri! I actually have never tried making it before! The first time I ever had one was at convenience store in jtown San Fran and oddly, it was amaaazing! I am so loving this post, now I can try making this at home again and recreate that yumminess again! This is very awesome that you are working with table for two to feed hungry children. You have such a kind soul. 🙂

    Reply

    • 17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (32)

      Shannon November 23, 2017

      Thank you so much for the lovely comment Joyce! Onigiri really are the best (although I may be a little biased 😉 )! I really hope you do try your hand at making some; especially if you have a mold, they’re actually so easy to make, and the taste of freshly made onigiri can’t be beat. I look forward to hearing from you if you do try any of these recipes out! 😀

      Reply

  • 17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (33)

    Alexandra Martin August 14, 2020

    Love your selection! They look tasty and so cute!

    Reply

    • 17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (34)

      Shannon September 9, 2020

      Thank you so much!

      Reply

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17 Must Try Onigiri Recipes + #OnigiriAction - Love At First Bento (2024)

FAQs

What does onigiri mean in English? ›

Onigiri (お握り or 御握り), also known as omusubi (お結び), nigirimeshi (握り飯), or rice ball, is a Japanese food made from white rice formed into triangular or cylindrical shapes and often wrapped in nori.

What is this Japanese snack that made from cooked rice shape into a ball and are commonly wrapped in nori seaweed? ›

onigiri, popular Japanese snack consisting of a ball or cone of rice, often with a filling and wrapped in nori (seaweed). Onigiri takes its name from the Japanese word nigiru, meaning “to grasp” or “to squeeze,” so called because it is pressed by hand into a ball.

What is the best flavor of onigiri? ›

Tuna Mayo

Tuna mayo is one of the most popular fillings. It is simply canned tuna mixed with mayonnaise. Although it's simple, the flavours go so well with the plain rice and seaweed. It's also very easy to make, the ingredients are easily accessible, and they're perfect for a kid's lunch box.

Why does Zoro call it onigiri? ›

The pun in the name is that onigiri is also the name of a Japanese rice snack, while an oni is a type of ogre/demon in Japanese folklore. This was first seen used to finish Cabaji and the first technique he used against Dracule Mihawk.

Why is it called Devil onigiri? ›

One that has become popular in recent years is the “Devil's Onigiri”. It may be hard to imagine the taste just by the name, but it's named after the fact that it's so delicious, people tend to overeat it. The package has a cute character that looks slightly different from the stereotypical devil printed on it.

Are rice balls healthy? ›

Cheesy rice balls are excellent appetizers with a healthy, nutritious twist. They hit all the marks: crispy, cheesy, nutritive, and flavorful!

What is onigiri called in Korean? ›

The commercialization of Jumeok-bap began in earnest in 1990, when Japanese cuisine gradually spread to Korea and onigiri were popularized. Although it did not receive special attention in the early years, it gained popularity as an inexpensive, easy-to-prepare food during the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Do I eat onigiri with my hands? ›

Yes, it is common for Japanese people to eat rice balls, known as onigiri, with their bare hands. Eating onigiri by hand is a traditional and practical way of consuming them.

Can onigiri be eaten cold? ›

Even stored this way, your onigiri will taste best within 24 hours, as the rice will begin to dry out. While onigiri are classically served at room temperature, you can also serve them chilled, or slightly warmed in a microwave or toaster oven.

What can I use instead of rice for onigiri? ›

For sushi or onigiri, if you really can't acquire short grain rice, you could make do with Calrose or similar medium grain rice. Calrose is reasonably flavorful, after cooking is soft and sticky, and is not so very different in texture from Japanese short grain rice.

Is onigiri dinner or snack? ›

You can enjoy onigiri warm or at room temperature, so they're perfect in your lunchbox or as a portable snack on the go. You can even plate them up as a tasty appetizer!

How long can onigiri last in fridge? ›

If you use tuna with mayonnaise or any filling with mayonnaise in it, do not keep more than a day to be safe. If you use traditional fillings, especially umeboshi (pickled salty plums) they will last a lot longer, but no more than a couple of days.

Can you make onigiri with normal rice? ›

For onigiri that holds its shape well, it's important to use short-grain Japonica rice, such as “sushi” rice, a category that includes Calrose and Koshihikari rice and, as Sho notes, simply refers to varieties of rice preferred in Japan.

What does onigiri mean in kanji? ›

Japanese (Kanji) Phrasebook. onigiri (rice ball)

What kind of food is onigiri? ›

Onigiri (おにぎり) are Japanese rice balls made of steamed rice that you compress into a triangular, ball, or cylinder shape and are usually wrapped in a nori seaweed sheet. You can flavor them lightly with just salt or add a variety of fillings.

Are sushi and onigiri the same? ›

Nigiri is a type of sushi that combines a pillow of vinegared rice with a topping of raw or cooked seafood. These two ingredients are all that's needed to create a perfect match of flavors and textures.

Why do people eat onigiri? ›

It was during the Kamakura period (1185–1333) that rice balls became commonly eaten by the people. Because they were highly portable, that they could be held by hand and eaten anywhere; it is said that samurai liked using them as field rations.

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