What fillings can I use for onigiri (riceball)?

Question

Something thats not raw fish please! I don't like sushi! I was thinking of using black beans =3 but I want other fillings too! Ideas accepted!

Answer 1

1. Spam. Its a Hawaiian favorite.  There are recipes on the net.

2. Umeboshi-plums

3. Takuan-pickled daikon.

4. Canned tuna

5. Cucumbers

Answer 2

You'll find a large assortment of onigiri products in any JAPANESE or Asian Market, located in the seaweed section.  Japanese markets will have a better variety, if you can find one that's close to you.  They even have onigiri molds available for sale too.

Onigiri doesn't usually contain raw fish.

Look for any type of "furukaki".  It's an assorted seaweed mixture that comes in a jar or in envelopes. Some are mixes of seaweed and bonita shavings w/sesame seeds; some are seaweed and sesame seeds, etc.....you mix this with your cooked rice (short grain with a touch of rice vinegar]) and form your rice balls into a shape of a triangle.  This is one version.  

Then there is another version of onigiri that's plain rice, and it contains the following variety of fillings in the center:

ume or umeboshi (sour preserved plum....remove the pit)

cooked salmon

(check out the other answerer's [James T] response re: spam, cucumber........he's right, those are also great fillings too)

There's also the option of adding & wrapping the onigiri with a sheet of seaweed.  The Japanese markets will even have a seaweed onigiri kit.  It contains instructions with forming your rice ball triangle.  Then you place the ball on top of a plastic wrapped single sheet of seaweed. When you're ready to eat it, the plastic wrap has "tear off" instructions of which you remove to expose the seaweed sheet.  Then the sheet is adhered onto the rice ball (key to good onigiri with the seaweed sheet, is that the seaweed sheet should be crisp and crunchy to the bite, as you bite into it with the rice).

Make it all the time, and it's yummy!

Hope this helps, and that it's not TMI!

Answer 3

Interesting! I was just talked about onigiri with the sushi chef at my work (I work at sushi restaurant). I love onigiri too! You can add anything you like but what normally they have is, smoked salmon (cooked) with a sprinkle of nori (dried seaweed). If you go to local Asian market, they usually have a nori mixed for onigiri. My suggestion: try Korean seaweed instead, it's saltier and tastier (if you like sesame oil).

Answer 4

I like mung beans not black beans. Some people even use pork or some kind of meat...which I do not like.

Answer 5

ground pork with scallions

some pickled veggies

Answer 6

Look up on line for recipies that will help you decide what you might like then try it out and see what you like best.

Answer 7

OMG...I LOVE onigiri.  My favorite is umeboshi (pickled plum), it's SO tart and delicious!!  You should be able to get it at the Japanese store near you, or at Whole Foods.  If you're more for cooked fish, you can use canned tuna or salmon!  Mix it with what you like (mayo or sourcream and finely chopped veggies) and fill up the onigiri with that!  If your going to try black beans, add a little kick with asian hot sauce and soysauce and mash slightly to make it easier to work with.  Wow, that sounds so good right now....I will have to make those soon!!!  Good luck