Ikura Onigiri: Japanese Rice Balls with Salmon Roe

October 20, 2024

Ikura Onigiri: Japanese Rice Balls with Salmon Roe

Ikura onigiri are Japanese-style rice balls filled with salmon roe and wrapped with nori. The recipe works because mild short-grain rice provides a simple base for the salty, briny roe. Handle the filling gently and avoid enclosing it in very hot rice.

Chum Salmon Caviar | Coho Salmon Caviar | Red Caviar & Ikura Collection

Ingredients

2 cups Japanese short-grain rice
Water according to the rice package or rice-cooker instructions
Salt for lightly seasoning your hands
About 4 oz salmon roe (ikura)
1–2 sheets nori, cut into strips
Optional: sesame seeds, green onion or a small amount of soy sauce

How to Make Ikura Onigiri

Rinse and cook the short-grain rice according to the package or rice-cooker instructions.
Let the cooked rice cool until it is warm and comfortable to handle.
Keep the ikura refrigerated until you are ready to fill the rice balls.
Wet your hands lightly with salted water and place a portion of rice in your palm.
Create a small indentation and add a spoonful of ikura.
Gently close the rice around the filling and shape it without squeezing hard enough to crush the roe.
Add a strip of nori shortly before serving.

Choosing Salmon Roe

Chum Salmon Caviar is a good choice when you want large eggs and a noticeable pop. Coho Salmon Caviar is another useful option. Taste the actual lot before adding soy sauce because finished roe can vary in salt level and cure.

Important Tips

Use short-grain rice that will hold together when gently shaped.
Do not press the rice ball aggressively; salmon eggs are delicate.
Keep the roe cold until filling.
Add nori near serving time if you prefer it crisp.
Onigiri containing seafood roe should be handled as a perishable food and kept appropriately chilled when not being served.

Do I Need Sushi Vinegar?

No. Onigiri can be made with plain cooked Japanese rice and light salt seasoning. If you prefer a sushi-rice flavor, a small amount of seasoned rice vinegar can be used, but it is not required.

Storage

For the roe itself, follow the instructions for the specific product. Cure and packaging vary, so avoid relying on one universal storage number. See the Salmon Roe Storage Guide for more detail.

More Ways to Serve Ikura

Continue with our Salmon Roe & Ikura Guide or browse the Red Caviar Recipe Hub.

Global Seafoods Experience

Global Seafoods North America has decades of experience handling salmon roe. For onigiri, the practical priorities are simple: keep the roe cold, let the rice cool from hot to warm, and shape gently enough that the eggs remain intact.

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