Foodlingo: onigiri
Regularly, food editor at large Marjan Ippel introduces a new or recently re-emerged term from the food scene here, the so-called foodlingo. No foodie can do without it. After all, ‘what (not) to speak’ is at least as important in food as ‘what (not) to eat’.
This time: onigiri
Also known as omusubi and nigirimeshi. In English: rice ball. Because of the rice and the use of nori (seaweed sheets), onigiri is often confused with sushi, which is also Japanese. But while sushi aims to preserve raw fish by cooking the rice with vinegar, salt and nowadays often sugar as well, with onigiri it is the rice itself that is preserved for taking along.
This is done by filling the rice ball, triangle, cube or oval with umeboshi (pickled Japanese apricot), kombu (seaweed), katsuobushi (dried, fermented and smoked bonito tuna), tarako (salted fish roe) or something else salty or sour that keeps the rice from spoiling.
Blossom watching
And unlike sushi, the rice ball you may encounter in our country in the bento box can really take a beating. In Japan, it has therefore been a popular to-go snack for the annual cherry blossom watching in March for centuries.
Onigiri is the Japanese equivalent of our sandwich.
But also, for example, for visiting stadiums and offices. Hence the endless number of onigiri shops and the extensive supermarket selection in this Japanese equivalent of our sandwich.
These are the tastiest sandwiches to make yourself
Soul food
According to the Japanese, onigiri is real soul food, food from the heart, because traditionally it is prepared at home by mothers and grandmothers with love for the family.
Besides Japan, Hawaii also has an onigiri tradition. The island in the Pacific Ocean, with quite a few residents of Japanese descent, is currently enjoying its culinary fifteen minutes of fame in America with dishes such as poké (we wrote about that here before). But also with the national dish Spam musubi. An onigiri variation with a slice of Spam. That canned cooked pork known here from the classic macaroni with Spam and cheese.
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Hello Kitty
Literally translated, onigiri means ‘to embrace with your hands’. Hot rice is kneaded around a filling until the rice ball feels firm on the outside and soft on the inside. Then a cheerful smiling face is often created with cut-out pieces of nori and sesame seeds – from panda bear to Hello Kitty.
And so the rice ball cheerfully withstands any prolonged stay on a supermarket shelf, in a bag, bento box or office drawer.
Onigiri in NL
Hakata-Senpachi, Amsterdam
Formocha Tea & Comfort Food, Amsterdam
Korean restaurant Gamasot, Rotterdam
Yua makes onigiri for festivals and parties
Text: Marjan Ippel
