How To Make Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls)
Follow Joshua Weissman's recipes and make both typical onigiri and crispy yaki onigiri at home, with an umami rich pork belly filling.
-p-1080.jpg?width=3840)
Joshua Weissman•
Aug 25, 2025
Ingredients (7)
Directions
Season your pork belly (1 ½ lb) with salt and brown sugar (1 pinch). You can vacuum seal it and cook in a sous vide at 160°F for 8 hours.
Sit on a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack and roast it at 425°F for 15 minutes; then lower the oven temperature to 325°F for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
While your pork (1 ½ lb) is cooking, make sure you have your pre-cooked sushi rice (5 cups) ready by washing it and letting it soak in water for 15 minutes; drain and rinse it until the water comes out clear.
Cook the rice (5 cups) in a rice cooker according to the directions and let it cool just enough to be handled.
Once your belly (1 ½ lb) is cooked, let it cool down and then cut into ½” cubes.
In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Once it’s very hot, sear your pork (1 ½ lb) to get nice golden brown sides without rendering off too much fat.
Once they’re seared nicely, deglaze in the pan with soy sauce (2 Tbsp) and mirin (2 Tbsp). Reduce that by half and add green onions (1 bunch).
To assemble, wet your hands with water and take ½ cup of rice and form it into a thick patty with a small dent in the center. Place some of the meat (1 ½ lb) in the center without overstuffing. Carefully close up the hole with the edges of the rice and gently press your ball together.
Top with sesame seeds.
Yaki Onigiri:
Add enough oil to coat the bottom of a medium-sized pan. Heat the pan over medium-high heat till extremely hot.
Place the balls in the pan and sear until brown and crispy for about 2-3 minutes. Flip and sear the other side.
