Onigiri

Onigiri is a common rice snack in Japan and usually comes in triangle or oval shapes. The triangle or oval shapes are molded and pressed together by hand, until it is intact. Onigiri normally has a filling inside and wrapped on the outside by nori (seaweed).

Originally, the filling was made to preserve the rice to keep it from spoiling, especially when this popular snack is packed and brought for picnics and watching sports or viewing nature. Onigiri is made with very hot freshly cooked rice, but even after it has been packed and has cooled, it still makes a very delicious and filling snack.

More common fillings for onigiri are fish like tuna or salmon, seaweed, and pickled fruits or vegetables. Onigiri is good when seasoned with furikake, or a Japanese condiment which has seaweed bits, salty fish flavoring, and other seasonings. Miso is also used to add flavor to the onigiri.