Learn how to make salmon onigiri with flaky salmon, seasoned rice, and crisp nori. An easy, delicious Japanese treat for any time of day.
Servings 6onigiris
Course Main Course, Snack
Cuisine Japanese
Ingredients
For the Rice
2cupscooked Japanese short-grain ricewarm
½teaspoonsalt
For the Salmon Filling
2salmon fillets
½teaspoonsalt
2tablespoonsmayonnaise
1tablespoonsoy sauce
1tablespoonsriracha
1teaspoonmirin
½teaspoonsesame oil
For Assembly
3sheets noricut in half
Instructions
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Season the salmon fillet with salt and place it in the air fryer basket. Cook for 7-10 minutes, or until the salmon flakes easily with a fork. Transfer to a bowl and let it cool slightly.
Use a fork to flake the salmon into small pieces. Add the mayonnaise, soy sauce, sriracha, mirin, and sesame oil. Mix until well combined and creamy.
Tear off a large piece of plastic wrap, about 12 inches long, and lay it flat on your work surface.
Add about 1/2 cup of warm rice in the center of the plastic wrap. Gently flatten it into a circle about 4 to 5 inches wide. Lightly sprinkle with salt.
Spoon about 1-2 tablespoons of the salmon mixture into the center of the rice. Top with another small handful of rice, about 1/4 cup, completely covering the filling.
Bring all four corners of the plastic wrap together above the rice and twist the plastic wrap to fully enclose the onigiri.
To form a triangle, hold the rice in one hand and use the edge of your other hand to create three sides. Press gently, rotate, and repeat until a neat triangle forms. Avoid squeezing too hard to keep the rice from getting too compressed.
Carefully unwrap the onigiri.
Place a half sheet of nori on your work surface. Set the onigiri in the center of the nori, with one corner of the triangle pointing toward you.
Fold the bottom corners of the nori up along the sides of the onigiri, creating two small triangular flaps that meet near the center.
Next, fold the top portion of the nori down and over the onigiri. Gently press the nori against the rice so it adheres.
The nori should wrap around the sides and back of the onigiri while leaving a small triangle of rice visible at the bottom.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an estimate only. Actual values may vary depending on the specific ingredients, brands, and portion sizes used.