Yuta Katsuyama of the virtual restaurant Onigiri Shuttle Kororin wants to clear something up: Though sushi chefs may season their rice with vinegar, the rice for Japan’s iconic onigiri — a whole genre of crisp, triangular handheld snacks — is best left plain. This neutral quality provides a blank canvas for unlimited flavor combinations, like the version here, which gets its umami-packed oomph courtesy of a sauce made from negi (green onion), awase (a combination of red and white miso), ginger paste, and mirin (sweet rice wine). All ingredients are available at H Mart.
Yuta Katsuyama’s Negi Miso Onigiri
Makes:4 onigiri
Active time:40 minutes
Total time:40 minutes
| 4 cups | Steamed Japanese short-grain rice, cooled until it can be handled |
| 1¼ tsp. | Sesame oil |
| 2 Tbsp. | Awase miso paste (Katsuyama recommends Marukome brand) |
| 1 | Green onion (green part only), thinly sliced |
| ¾ tsp. | Ginger paste |
| ¼ tsp. | Sugar |
| 1½ Tbsp. | Mirin |
| ½ tsp. | Sesame seeds |
| ¼ | Soy sauce |
| 4 | Nori sheets |
| Shichimi togarashi |
In a large bowl, mix rice and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. To make the negi miso paste, combine the remaining sesame oil, miso, green onion, ginger paste, sugar, mirin, sesame seeds, and soy sauce in a small bowl.
Oil a large nonstick skillet and heat over medium. Put a quarter of the rice into your palm and form it into a triangle approximately 3 inches high. (Reduce sticking by using plastic wrap to help shape the rice.) Repeat to make three more onigiri. Spread a quarter of the miso paste over the top of each.
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Place onigiri in the skillet, miso side up, and cook until rice turns golden, about 4 minutes. Flip onigiri onto one edge and cook until lightly browned; repeat on other two edges. Turn onigiri miso side down and cook until paste darkens and crisps, about 1 minute. Remove from heat, wrap with nori, and sprinkle with shichimi togarashi to taste.