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Vegan Onigiri Recipe (Tofu Onigiri | Japanese Rice Ball)

Onigiri recipe, made vegetarian with tofu. Japanese rice ball also known as onigiri is a triangle shaped rice dish usually stuffed with chicken, tuna or any vegetables of choice and wrapped in nori sheets. This vegan onigiri is stuffed with spicy and creamy tofu filling and coated with furikake and sesame seeds. In this blog post, learn how to make onigiri with step by step pictures and video. 
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 4 onigiri
Calories 511 kcal

Equipment

Cooking pot
Frying Pan
Kitchen Gloves
Plastic Wrap

Ingredients
  

For Cooking Rice

  • 1 cup Short grain rice
  • cup Water

Seasoning Sauce (for rice)

  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 tablespoon Vinegar
  • 2 teaspoon Sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Toasted sesame oil

Tofu Filling

  • 2 tablespoon Oil
  • 200 grams Firm or Extra Firm Tofu crumbled
  • 1 tablespoon Ginger peeled & chopped finely
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic peeled & chopped finely
  • 1 no Green chilli pepper chopped finely
  • 1 medium Onion peeled & chopped finely
  • 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoon Vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Black pepper
  • ¼ cup Vegetarian mayo or as needed
  • 4 tablespoon Red chilli sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Red Chilli powder optional
  • 1 tablespoon Toasted sesame seeds

For rolling and coating

  • ¼ cup Furikake Seasoning or as needed
  • ¼ cup Toasted sesame seeds or as needed

Instructions
 

  • Start by cooking rice. Wash rice in multiple changes of water until the rice runs clear. Now add rice in a cooking pot, cover with water and bring it to a full boil. Once it reaches a full boil, mix it once and cover with a lid. Reduce the heat to the lowest possible. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes on low heat. Turn off the heat and let it sit covered for 10 minutes. Now open the lid, gently fluff the rice with a rice paddle or fork. Cover again and let it for 10 minutes. Now the rice will be perfect texture.
  • Make Filling. Heat oil in a pan. Add in crumbled tofu and cook on high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Now add in ginger, garlic, onions, green chillies and toss along with the tofu. Now add in soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and mix well. Let it cook for few minutes. Remove it to a bowl and allow it to cool. Now add in mayo, red chilli powder, red chilli sauce, toasted sesame seeds and mix well. Set aside.
  • Seasoning rice - Mix sugar, salt, vinegar and toasted sesame oil in a bowl until sugar melts. Pour this over the cooked rice and toss gently.
  • Shaping onigiri - Before shaping onigiri, Dip your hands in water or you can use gloves and apply oil before shaping. Take a small portion of rice, shape it into a ball, flatten it gently, place filling in, cover the filling with little cooked rice. Bring the edges together and shape it into a triangle. Use a your fingers to create triangle shape. Roll it in nori or furikake seasoning, toasted sesame seeds and enjoy.

Video

Notes

  • Make sure to use the right rice. Either short grain, sushi rice or any Japanese rice variety.
  • Don’t add too much water when cooking rice, else onigiri may get gummy.
  • Taste and adjust the seasonings in rice and the filling and get the taste right.
  • After shaping onigiri, wrap it with plastic wrap so it stays fresh.
  • You can use any cooked protein in the filling.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Vegan Onigiri Recipe (Tofu Onigiri | Japanese Rice Ball)
Serving Size
 
1 servings
Amount per Serving
Calories
511
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
28
g
43
%
Saturated Fat
 
3
g
19
%
Trans Fat
 
0.03
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
7
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
8
g
Sodium
 
1674
mg
73
%
Potassium
 
406
mg
12
%
Carbohydrates
 
56
g
19
%
Fiber
 
6
g
25
%
Sugar
 
5
g
6
%
Protein
 
11
g
22
%
Vitamin A
 
2525
IU
51
%
Vitamin C
 
3
mg
4
%
Calcium
 
173
mg
17
%
Iron
 
6
mg
33
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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