Sushi Fried Rice Balls Recipes

Steps:

• Tightly pack the sushi rice into a square 8x8-inch cake pan lined with plastic wrap. Chill for 2 to 3 hours in the refrigerator or 30 minutes in the freezer.
• Heat 1/2 cup oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cut the rice into thick, rectangular shapes, about 2 to 3 inches in length and 1 inch in width. Carefully move the pieces to the hot oil and fry until they reach a deep golden brown color, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels.
• Combine diced tuna with mayonnaise, Sriracha, soy sauce, sesame oil, and lime juice in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed.
• To assemble, place fried sushi rice on a serving platter. Top with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the spicy tuna mixture. Layer a few slices of avocado on top of each piece. Garnish with a thin drizzle of Sriracha, a jalapeño slice, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Steps:

• Prepare the filling, if using: Add the shiitakes to a medium saucepan and top with cold water by a couple of inches. Stir to combine. Heat over medium-low just until bubbles start to break the surface. Cover and set aside to rehydrate for about 30 minutes. Once the mushrooms are tender, transfer them to a cutting board and thinly slice. (Save the mushroom stock for another use.) Toss sliced mushrooms with chile flakes, then transfer to a jar or lidded container. Top with soy sauce, mirin and rice vinegar. Cover and refrigerate. Let pickle at least 2 hours to develop flavor. They're even better after a few days and will keep refrigerated for up to 6 months.
• After the mushrooms have pickled (if using), prepare the rice: Add the rice to a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Rinse the grains to remove any excess starch, and cover rice with cold water by 1 or 2 inches. Swish them around with outstretched fingers, then drain the rice, repeating the process three or four times until the water goes from milky to just slightly cloudy.
• Pour 1 3/4 cups/420 milliliters water into the rinsed, drained rice, and give the rice a stir to distribute evenly. If time permits, let the rice soak for 15 to 30 minutes, which will help the grains cook even more evenly.
• Heat the rice over high and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Once the mixture comes to a boil, cover it with the lid and reduce the heat to low or medium-low. You want a low heat that is still high enough to hear the rice bubbling. You should be able to see some steam escaping from the lid; turn the heat up slightly if necessary. Set a timer for 15 minutes and let it cook, undisturbed. (No peeking, or you'll lose precious moisture!)
• After 15 minutes, turn off the heat and gently fluff the rice using chopsticks or a fork. Put the lid back on and let sit for another 5 to 10 minutes to finish cooking in the residual heat. Tip the rice onto a baking sheet to cool slightly.
• While the rice cooks, prepare the miso sauce, if making hot, glazed yaki onigiri: In a small bowl, whisk together the miso, sesame oil, mirin, sugar, sake and rice vinegar until smooth and sugar has dissolved.
• Once the rice has cooled enough to be handled comfortably, brush a baking sheet lightly with neutral oil, so the onigiri don't stick, and prepare a bowl of water for rinsing your hand to prevent the rice from sticking. Form your onigiri. If using Japanese onigiri mold, press about 1/3 cup cooked rice in the bottom, press an indentation in the center to stuff with about 2 teaspoons of finely chopped filling, then top with another 1/3 cup layer of rice, pressing down with the top piece of your rice mold. Transfer onigiri to the greased baking sheet.
• If working by hand, you'll want to grab a large handful of rice, compress the rice into a ball in the palm of your hand, then press the sides to form a triangular shape, flattening it into a triangular patty. (This shaping process requires some finesse, but you can also form rounded balls and simply compress them into pucks.) Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, rinsing your hands as needed.
• If stuffing with mushrooms or other fillings, you'll need only a few finely chopped tablespoons: 1 to 3 teaspoons per onigiri, depending on the size of your rice rolls. Compress the first handful of rice in your palm. Add the filling to the center and fold the rice up the sides. (You want to make sure the filling is just in the center portion. If the rice doesn't create a seal, the onigiri will fall apart.) Top with another layer of rice and compress on all sides to form onigiri in the desired shape.
• Garnish with sesame seeds and wrap with a small rectangle of nori, if using, and serve immediately. (Onigiri can be prepared 1 day in advance, wrapped in plastic and refrigerated, but should come to room temperature before being consumed.)
• If making yaki onigiri, brush the top of the onigiri with miso sauce. Transfer to the oven and broil until the glaze forms a crust that is golden and lightly browned in spots, rotating if necessary, about 5 minutes. Carefully slip a flat spatula underneath to flip yaki onigiri; brush on the other side and broil until glazed on the second side, another 5 minutes. Garnish as you would onigiri.

Steps:

• Prepare filling: Toss crabmeat and avocado together in a bowl and place in the refrigerator to chill until needed.
• Bring water to a boil on the stovetop. Add rice, stir, cover, and remove from heat. Set aside until water is absorbed, about 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
• When the rice is set up and still hot, blend in cream cheese, soy sauce, garlic salt, and pepper until the cream cheese is fully incorporated and no chunks remain.
• Scoop out a golf ball-sized handful of the rice mixture and flatten it into a patty. Add about a heaping teaspoon of the avocado-crab filling into the center. Cup your hand and close the rice around the filling. Roll between your hands if needed to seal and get a good round shape; patch any holes with more rice if needed. Roll in bread crumbs until well coated. Repeat to make remaining balls.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Add 1 to 2 balls to the hot oil at a time. If not fully submerged, let each side of the ball fry until golden brown, about 30 seconds per side. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Continue to fry remaining rice balls.
• Combine mayonnaise and Sriracha for dipping sauce. Serve with rice balls.