Japanese Rice Balls (Onigiri) with Salmon Filling
These Japanese rice balls combine tender short-grain rice with a flaky salmon filling seasoned with soy sauce and salt. Wrapped or accented with crisp nori, they make a portable lunch, satisfying snack, or light meal, and the filling can be shaped into classic onigiri portions for easy serving.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook25 mins
- Serves2
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Japanese Rice Balls (Onigiri) with Salmon Filling, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 52 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 9 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 89 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 65
- Heart Health
- 29
- Metabolic
- 37
- Digestive
- 38
- Inflammatory
- 45
- Performance
- 51
- General Wellness
- 1
Pour rice into a bowl and rinse under running water. Rub it with your hands to remove the starch, then drain.
- 2
Place rice in a small pot with water and salt. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and turn the burner to high. Cook for 2 minutes, then reduce heat to low and cook for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let sit with the lid on to fully absorb the moisture for 10 minutes. Transfer rice to a cutting board to cool slightly.
- 3
Season flaked salmon with soy sauce.
- 4
Flatten cooled rice into a rectangle and divide into 6 portions. Place a portion of salmon on top of each section of rice. Wet your hands and pick up a section of rice. Gently cup the rice around the filling; keep cupping until the filling is completely covered and you have formed a ball. Mold the rice ball into a triangle by placing the bottom on one palm and flattening the back with your fingers. Bend your other hand and press the rice into a triangle on your palm, flattening the front side if needed. Place a strip of nori on the bottom of the onigiri to make it easier to pick up.
- 5
Repeat to make the remaining rice balls, wetting your hands as necessary to prevent the rice from sticking.
- Calories 369.58 kcal Moderate 18%
- Protein 18.17 g Good Source 36%
- Carbohydrate 64.75 g 24%
- Total Fat 2.54 g Low Source 3%
- Saturated Fat 0.52 g Low Source 3%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 30.63 mg Moderate 10%
- Sodium 235.52 mg Moderate 10%
- Dietary Fiber 4.58 g Moderate 16%
- Total Sugars 5.1 g --
- Added Sugars 4.97 g Moderate 10%
- Calcium 8.67 mg Low Source 1%
- Iron 0.36 mg Low Source 2%
- Potassium 220.63 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin A 10.95 mcg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin C 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Fish 🐟
- Soy 🌱
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
About This Recipe
Japanese Rice Balls (Onigiri) with Salmon Filling is a Japanese lunch recipe made with 6 ingredients. It takes about 45 mins, serves 2, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Nori Seaweed, Salmon, Salt, and Short Grain Rice. Each serving provides about 369.58 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Japanese Rice Balls (Onigiri) with Salmon Filling?
- It is a Japanese recipe made with 6 ingredients, usually served for lunch or snack.
- What is Japanese Rice Balls (Onigiri) with Salmon Filling made of?
- The main ingredients are Nori Seaweed, Salmon, Salt, Short-Grain Rice, Soy Sauce. The full list of 6 is above.
- What goes well with Japanese Rice Balls (Onigiri) with Salmon Filling?
- Explore these Japanese side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Japanese Rice Balls (Onigiri) with Salmon Filling?
- About 45 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 25 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 369.58 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Japanese Rice Balls (Onigiri) with Salmon Filling easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 6 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Japanese Rice Balls (Onigiri) with Salmon Filling healthy?
- Japanese Rice Balls (Onigiri) with Salmon Filling has an easyChef Pro health score of 50/100. Per serving, it provides 369.58 calories and 18.17 g of protein, or 36% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 235.52 mg (10% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 4.97 g (10% of the Daily Value). It contains Fish, Soy, Wheat and Gluten, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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