What are onigiri?

Onigiri is cooked rice that is shaped into triangles, balls, or spheres. Often, Onigiri contains a filling inside, such as e.g.

However, there are also Onigiri where the rice is evenly mixed and flavored with ingredients.

Around the outside or on top, you can find toppings such as

It is a type of snack, a meal in between, that can be eaten with the hand. Onigiri rice balls are available in many convenience stores in Japan.

The rice balls are made from the same type of rice as sushi. Unlike sushi, however, onigiri are not seasoned with rice vinegar.

A strip or a sheet of nori seaweed on the outside ensures that the rice does not stick to the palm of the hand.

With Onigiri, you can let your imagination run wild. There are not only different shapes but also rice balls decorated as faces or animals.