Yaki Onigiri in Air Fryer (Japanese grilled rice ball) 焼きおにぎり

Yaki onigiri is a type of onigiri covered in a sweet savory sauce and traditionally grilled over charcoal. It has a crispy outer layer and a charred soy sauce flavor that makes it a crowd favorite in any occasion. This post is all about how to make the easiest and tastiest yaki onigiri (Japanese grilled rice ball) in an air fryer.

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup uncooked rice or 1 rice cooker cup
• 3/4 cup filtered water or 1 rice cooker cup – this is to cook the rice. Whichever measuring cup you use, it should be 1:1 ratio of rice to water
• 1 tbsp soy sauce – I use Japanese soy sauce
• 1/2 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tbsp dashi powder – dashi powder is a kelp and bonito flavor concentrate that adds umami to the rice balls. This is optional if you don’t want to add it, however you might want to add a little bit more salt.
• Dash of salt to taste – I recommend to taste test the rice before adding salt because it might be enough taste for you. If you omit dashi powder, you might want to add a bit of salt.
• Water (small bowl of water to wet hands when shaping onigiri so the rice does not stick to hands)

Short grain rice for onigiri

Using short or medium grain Japanese rice is crucial in making onigiri. This is because short or medium grain rice is sticky and will keep the onigiri shape. If you use long grain rice such as Jasmine rice, the rice ball will break apart, making it difficult to make onigiri.

Yaki Onigiri in Air Fryer

The word “yaki” in yaki onigiri means grilled and onigiri means rice ball. The grilling process in the yaki onigiri is what distinguishes a yaki onigiri from onigiri. Many restaurants and izakayas in Japan grill yaki onigiri over a charcoal grill which adds a smokey and irresistible flavor to the dish. However, since many homes do not have a grill, one of my favorite ways to make yaki onigiri is in an air fryer.

Temperature and time: I put my onigiri at 400F for 15 minutes and the longer you keep it in, the more it will crisp up. However, it will also cause the onigiri to dry up a bit, so I find that 15 minutes is the sweet spot.

Becuase of the sugar in the sweet soy sauce mixture, yaki onigiri is prone to getting burnt. Make sure to keep an eye on them! I like my yaki onigiri with a little charred pieces that mimic the yaki onigiri made on the grill, however, if you don’t like it too charred, you can air fry for a lesser amount of time.

What if I don’t have an air fryer?

If you don’t have an air fryer that is ok! You can make these in the conventional oven or in a frying pan. The process is similar but here are some tips:

1. For oven, preheat oven to 450F and place onigiri on the rack or a baking sheet. Then put it in the oven for about 15-20 minutes or until desired crispiness
2. For pan, on low to medium heat, oil pan and then place the onigiri. Once one side is done, flip to crisp the other side. This will take about 10-15 minutes on each side or until desired crispiness

How to serve

• Serve just as is – Yaki onigiri can be enjoyed by itself as a snack or a quick meal. It has a sweet savory taste to it so it’s perfectly tasty on its own.
• Put a filling inside – Sometimes, I like to change things up and add mozzarella cheese inside. You would put the cheese in the middle of the rice, then mold it in a triangle. Add whatever filling you like. 
• Serve as a side – Yaki onigiri pairs well with most foods, especially if they go well with rice. I like eating it with protein and veggies to make it a complete meal. 

How to store

You can make these onigiri in advance and keep them in the fridge or freezer. If you are making it in advance, mix all the ingredients in the rice and mold the rice into onigiri. Afterward, you can keep it in the fridge for a few days and heat it in the air fryer when you are ready to eat. If they are in the freezer, you can thaw them first or pop them in the air fryer frozen. You may have to increase the number of minutes in the air fryer.

If you have already air fryed it, you can keep it in the fridge for a few days. To reheat it, pop it in the microwave for about 30 seconds or reheat it in the air fryer for a few minutes until warm.

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