6 Practical Japanese Onigiri Recipes That Can Be Ideas for Children's Lunch Boxes

Kapanlagi.com - Japanese onigiri has become an inseparable part of Japanese culinary culture for centuries. Not only popular in the land of sakura, this rice-based food has also captured the hearts of many people around the world, including Indonesia.

In addition to its attractive appearance, onigiri offers a variety of fillings and is relatively easy to make. For parents looking for different school lunch inspiration for their little ones, onigiri can be a perfect choice.

Come on, check out some healthy Japanese onigiri recipes that will definitely make kids excited when they open their lunch boxes. Let's check it out, KLovers!

1. Onigiri Tuna Mayo

Illustration (credit: pexels.com)

Onigiri tuna mayo is a Japanese rice ball shaped like a triangle filled with tuna mixed with Japanese mayonnaise. It has a creamy and savory taste, making it perfect for lunch or a snack. This Japanese onigiri is one of the most popular variants in Japan. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

- 2 bowls of warm Japanese rice

- 1 can of tuna

- 3 tablespoons of Japanese mayonnaise

- 1 teaspoon of soy sauce

- Nori (seaweed)

- Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Drain the canned tuna, crush it, and mix it with mayonnaise and soy sauce.

2. Wet your hands with salt water.

3. Take a handful of rice and make a hollow in the center.

4. Fill it with the tuna mayo mixture.

5. Cover it with rice and shape it into a triangle.

6. Wrap the bottom with nori and serve.

2. Onigiri Umeboshi

Illustration (credit: pixabay.com)

Japanese onigiri filled with traditional Japanese salty plum that provides a fresh sour and salty taste. Umeboshi is believed to aid digestion and increase appetite. Very popular as a school snack. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

- 2 bowls of warm Japanese rice

- 4-5 umeboshi (salty plums)

- Nori

- Salt to taste

- Sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions:

1. Remove the pit from the umeboshi, finely chop

2. Wet your hands with salted water

3. Take a handful of rice, make a hole in the center

4. Add the chopped umeboshi

5. Cover with rice and shape into a triangle

6. Sprinkle sesame seeds and wrap with nori

7. Then you can serve it

3. Teriyaki Salmon Onigiri

Illustration (credit: pexels.com)

Japanese onigiri filled with salmon cooked in teriyaki sauce, resulting in a delicious sweet and savory flavor. The protein from the salmon makes this onigiri more filling and highly nutritious. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

- 2 bowls of warm Japanese rice

- 200g salmon fillet

- 4 tablespoons teriyaki sauce

- 1 tablespoon mirin

- Nori

- Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Grill the salmon with teriyaki sauce and mirin until cooked

2. Flake the salmon

3. Wet your hands with salted water

4. Take a handful of rice, make a hollow

5. Fill with teriyaki salmon

6. Shape into a triangle and wrap with nori

7. Then you can serve it

4. Tempura Ebi Onigiri

A unique combination of rice balls with crispy tempura shrimp pieces. The crispy texture of the tempura adds a new dimension to the classic onigiri. Perfect for seafood lovers. Here’s how to make this unique onigiri:

Ingredients:

- 2 bowls of warm Japanese rice

- 4 tempura shrimp, chopped small

- Tempura sauce

- Nori

- Japanese mayonnaise

- Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Cut the tempura shrimp into small pieces

2. Mix with a little tempura sauce and mayonnaise

3. Wet your hands with salt water

4. Shape the rice with the tempura shrimp filling

5. Form into triangles

6. Wrap with nori and serve

5. Tamago Onigiri

Japanese onigiri filled with soft sweet Japanese omelet (tamago). The combination of sweet eggs with rice creates a balanced harmony of flavors. Very popular with children. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

- 2 bowls of warm Japanese rice

- 3 eggs

- 2 tbsp mirin

- 1 tbsp sugar

- Nori

- Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Make the tamago by beating the eggs, mirin, and sugar

2. Cook into a thin omelet, roll it up, and cut

3. Wet your hands with salt water

4. Shape the rice with the tamago filling

5. Form into triangles

6. Wrap with nori and serve

6. Kombu Onigiri

A vegetarian version of Japanese onigiri filled with kombu seaweed boiled in soy sauce. It has an umami flavor and is suitable for vegetarians. Kombu is rich in minerals and iron. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

- 2 bowls of warm Japanese rice

- 50g kombu

- 3 tablespoons of Japanese soy sauce

- 1 tablespoon of mirin

- Nori

- Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Boil the kombu with soy sauce and mirin until soft

2. Cut the kombu into small pieces

3. Wet your hands with salted water

4. Shape the rice with the kombu filling

5. Form into triangles

6. Wrap with nori and serve

Those are some Japanese onigiri recipes that you can make at home. After reading this article, KLovers must try making it right away, because if not now, when?

(kpl/dhm)