Grilled Rice Cakes Food

YAKI ONIGIRI (GRILLED RICE BALL)

Steps:

• Gather all the ingredients. Cook the rice with a rice cooker, a pot over the stove, an instant pot, or a donabe. Let the cooked rice cool a little bit until you can hold rice without burning your hands. Do not let the rice completely cool down.

GRILLED RICE BALLS

Steps:

• For this recipe it's important that you use Japanese short-grain white rice, also sometimes called sushi rice. Brown rice and long-grain rice will not work. Cook the rice according to the package directions along with the salt. While the rice is cooking bring the soy sauce and mirin to a boil over low heat until it's reduced by about half. Take it off the heat and whisk in the butter.
• When the rice is done and cooled down just a bit (it should still be hot), cut off a square piece of plastic wrap and pile 1/4 of the cooked rice in the center. Wrap the plastic around it and use your hands to press it together into 1-inch thick triangle. Make sure they are densely packed together so they won't fall apart on the grill. Repeat with the remaining rice and plastic wrap.
• Preheat the grill to medium.
• Use a pastry brush to baste 1 side of the rice balls with the butter mixture and put them on the grill, buttered side down. Let them grill until browned and crisp on 1 side, about 5 minutes) then brush the tops of the rice balls with the butter mixture. Flip them over using tongs and grill until the second side is crisp. Transfer the rice balls to a serving platter. Brush again with the butter mixture and garnish with chives.

RICE CAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, gently mix everything except the butter. Over medium-high heat, heat the butter in a large frying pan until it is foaming. (A nonstick pan is good for this purpose but cast iron can work well, too.)
• Working in batches if necessary, and adding more butter as needed, use a large spoon or measuring cup to place a scoop of the rice mixture in the pan. Press down with the back of a spatula to form a patty. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden and crisp on the bottom. Gently flip patty and cook another 3 minutes or until golden. Keep warm on a paper-towel-covered plate or pan in a warm oven.