How To Make Onigirazu 3 Ways (Rice Sandwiches)

Onigirazu is the perfect lunch or snack for anyone who loves the delicious taste of sushi rolls but wants a more portable and convenient option! Learn how to make it in 3 ways!

Onigirazu is a Japanese rice sandwich that consists of layers of rice filled with various ingredients, all wrapped in nori seaweed.

Whether you're on the go, at work, or simply craving a delicious snack, Onigirazu is a perfect choice that is sure to satisfy your cravings and keep you energized throughout the day. Give it a try today!

This recipe is for you if:
• You are sushi lovers.
• You want to make sushi sandwiches.
• You are looking for easy onigirazu recipe.
• You are looking for variations of onigirazu.

Let me walk you through the ingredients and the instructions. If you want to check the recipe, jump to the recipe. Let's get started!

Jump to:

• About this recipe
• What is Onigirazu?
• 📋 Ingredients
• 3 Ways to Make Onigirazu
• Where to Buy Japanese Ingredients
• 🔪Instructions
• Helpful Tips
• Storage
• What to serve with
• Variations of The Fillings
• Thanks for stopping by
• 📖 Recipe
• Onigirazu 3 Ways
• 💬 Comments

About this recipe

• Japanese rice sandwich
• Type of Japanese rice ball
• Portable lunch or snack
• Three Onigirazu recipes (Including vegan and vegetarian)

What is Onigirazu?

Onigirazu is a modern version of the traditional Onigiri (rice ball), and the Japanese term "onigirazu" translates to "not shaped like a rice ball."

Unlike Onigiri, onigirazu is not shaped triangular or ball shape. Instead, the ingredients are placed on top of rice, then folded into a square shape before being wrapped in nori.

Just like sandwiches, onigirazu's portability, ease of eating, and versatility in terms of the fillings make it a popular choice for people in Japan who want a quick and satisfying meal on the go.

📋 Ingredients

Here are the ingredients (amounts are in the recipe card below).

• Cooked rice (short-grain rice)
• Nori seaweed
• Fillings of your choice

Check out the following for each ingredient.

Japanese Rice

In Japan, we eat short-grain rice like Koshihikari and sushi rice. This type of rice is sticky and starchy, making it ideal for molding into the desired shape. While white rice is commonly used for onigirazu, you can also use brown rice.

If you don't have a rice cooker, don't worry! You can cook Japanese rice on the stovetop using a pot. See the recipe below for instructions on how to cook Japanese rice.

Nori seaweed

Nori is a type of seaweed that's dried, crispy, and sold in sheets like the picture above.　Get this full-size sheet of nori seaweed (8.3" x 7.5" or 21 x 19 cm) at a grocery store.

Fillings of your choice

You can customize your onigirazu by choosing two or three fillings to create a variety of flavors. In this recipe, I've included three fillings for each version. Check out the details below.

3 Ways to Make Onigirazu

The best thing about Onigirazu is that the filling ideas are endless. You can stuff it with savory dishes like teriyaki chicken or traditional onigiri fillings.

As for my favorite filling, I'd love to share three ideas you might enjoy!

Tuna Mayo Onigirazu

Fillings: Tuna mayo, carrot kinpira, and lettuce

How to prepare the fillings: Open a canned tuna, drain it, and blend it with one tablespoon of mayonnaise and a pinch of salt. Shred a carrot into thin strips, stir-fries with oil, and season with mirin and soy sauce (see kinpira recipe). Rinse the lettuce and shred it into smaller pieces with your hands.

Tamagoyaki Onigirazu (Vegetarian)

Fillings: Tamagoyaki, stir-fried bell pepper, lettuce

How to prepare the fillings: See the tamagoyaki recipe. Slice the green bell pepper into thin strips, stir-fries with sesame oil, and season with shiokombu or soy sauce. Rinse the lettuce and shred it into smaller pieces with your hands.

Mabo Tofu Onigirazu (Vegan)

Fillings: Mabo tofu, nori tsukudani, lettuce

How to prepare the fillings: See the vegan mabo tofu recipe. Nori tsukudani is nori seaweed paste; you can buy it at a Japanese grocery store. Rinse the lettuce and shred it into smaller pieces with your hands.

Where to Buy Japanese Ingredients

If you live in the US, you can find Japanese ingredients in the list below.

• Japanese market: Mitsuwa Marketplace, Marukai
• Asian market
• Whole Foods Market
• Health food stores
• Online stores: Instacart, Walmart, Amazon

🔪Instructions

Now, it's time to assemble onigirazu! Click here to watch the recipe video.

First, collect the onigirazu fillings of your choice, nori sheets, and rice.

1. Place a sheet of plastic wrap on a clean work surface, then place a nori sheet on top of the plastic wrap, shiny side facing down.
2. Spread a layer of rice evenly on the center of the nori sheet, creating a 10cm (4 inches) square or smaller.
3. Add your fillings one by one on top of the rice.
4. Place another layer of rice on top of the fillings, ensuring the filling is covered with rice.
5. Fold the corners of the nori over the filling to make a square shape.
6. Wrap the onigirazu tightly with plastic wrap.

Let it sit for a few minutes, and cut it in half with a slightly moistened sharp knife.

By the way, the Onigirazu on the left is regular-sized, while the one on the right is larger. You can adjust the amount of rice and filling to create your desired size and ratio.

Let's look at the inside! Enjoy these colorful Onigirazu sandwiches for lunch or as a snack!

Helpful Tips

1. Use short-grain sushi rice - Sushi rice has the perfect consistency and stickiness to hold the Onigirazu together.
2. Use a moist filling - To keep the Onigirazu from falling apart, use a moist filling. Dry fillings can make the Onigirazu crumbly and hard to hold together.
3. Use onigirazu mold - By using a square container as a mold, you can ensure that your Onigirazu has a consistent shape and size. After filling the container with rice and your filling, flip it over onto a sheet of nori and then wrap it.
4. Wrap tightly - To ensure the Onigirazu stays together, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Apply pressure to the Onigirazu as you cover it to help it hold its shape.
5. Let it sit - After wrapping the Onigirazu, let it sit for a few minutes before cutting it. This will give the rice time to settle and make it easier to cut it in half.

Storage

To store onigirazu, you should first wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. This will help keep the filling inside and prevent the rice from drying.

Store the wrapped onigirazu in an airtight container, and keep them in the fridge for a few days.

What to serve with

Since onigirazu already includes a flavorful filling, a simple way to serve it is with miso soup and a side salad to make a well-balanced and healthy meal!

• Onigirazu of your choice
• Daikon miso soup
• Tofu seaweed salad

Variations of The Fillings

So now you know that onigirazu is a delicious and portable meal that can be customized with different fillings! Here are some more ideas for you to try!

1. Salmon flakes, grilled shiitake mushrooms, lettuce
2. Tamagoyaki
3. Fish sausage, carrot kinpira, boiled spinach
4. Potato salad, carrot salad, lettuce
5. Boiled eggs, avocado, lettuce
6. Grilled salmon, goma ae, lettuce

Thanks for stopping by

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog♡ If you've tried this recipe (or any other recipe on the blog), please give it a star rating below!

Also, feel free to leave comments if you have any questions. I love hearing from you!

Chef JA Cooks is a Japanese food blog that shares simple and healthy Japanese home cooking recipes, including vegan and vegetarian. From traditional Japanese recipes to modern recipes with step-by-step instructions.

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📖 Recipe