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Onigiri Dumpling Lunch Box

Onigiri Dumpling Lunch Box

The onigiri can be made ahead the day before, wrapped tightly in cling wrap and reheated in the microwave before eating.

Check out the step-by-step photos for making the onigiri using a mold on the previous page.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup short-grain white rice
  • 1 1/4 cup water
  • 20g onigiri seasoning powder (any favourite, I am using this)
  • 12 frozen supermarket dumplings or Japanese gyoza do not thaw; see note
  • 2 cups thinly shredded white “coleslaw” cabbage
  • 2x 10ml half-calorie Japanese sesame dressing placed in a mini sauce bottle 

You also need:

  • onigiri mold – I am using small 6 cm mod which makes 6 onigiris (3 for each lunchbox)

 

Directions:

  1. Cook sushi rice. Rinse rice in a few changes of water until the water runs less cloudy (skip if using pre-washed rice). Rice cooker method: Add rinsed rice and water to a rice cooker and set to cook. OR stovetop method: Add rice and water to a non-stick saucepan. Bring to boil and lower heat to low and simmer, covered until water is just absorbed, about 10 minutes. Turn off the stove. Continue to let the rice steam with the lid covered for at least 10 mins before using.
  2. Make onigiri. Fluff up the rice with a spatula. In a wide bowl, measure 320g cooked rice to a bowl and let it cool down slightly but still warmed. Add onigiri seasoning and stir well with a spatula until the seasoning is evenly distributed. Divide the rice to six portions. Shape the seasoned rice to a triangular shape either by hand or using a onigiri mold. Always moisten your hands and onigiri mold with a small bowl of water at the side to prevent the rice from sticking. Wrap each onigiri tightly in cling wrap.
  3. Cook dumplings (or gyoza). Pan fry or boil the dumplings according to package ingredients.
  4. Prepare lunchboxes. Divide the food among two lunch boxes (I’m using Ikea’s). Pack each lunch box with a bottled sauce. This lunch box keeps well at room temperature for half a day. It can be eaten at room temperature without reheating. To reheat the onigiri, remove the cling wrap and microwave the onigiri on a plate on low heat for less a minute until slightly warmed.

Cooking Note (s):

  1. To pan fry dumplings or gyoza: Grease frying pan with some sesame oil. Arrange dumplings on their flat bottom and cook in the oil without touching them, until the bottom skin is browned and crisp. Add enough water to cover the dumpling at least 1.5 cm. Cover with lid and steam for 3-5 minutes, or until almost all the water is evaporated. Drizzle the remaining sesame oil around the pan, and pan fry the other surfaces of the dumplings briefly until lightly seared throughout.
  2. To boil dumplings or gyoza: Bring water to boil in a saucepan or pot. Add frozen dumplings and cook until they float to the surface of the water, about 3-5 minutes depending on their size.
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3 comments on “Onigiri Dumpling Lunch Box”

  1. So adorable! The rice wedges are so fun to make too.

  2. The dumplings look really plump! Howz skin to filling ratio ? I like 料多多thin-skinned dumplings

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