Japanese rice balls - Real Recipes from Mums

These Japanese rice balls are simple yet tasty little snacks that are perfect for the kids lunchbox, finger food or even as a side with some salad for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients (makes 26 Balls)

2 Cups Medium Grain Rice
3 1/2 Cups Water
2 Cubes Chicken or Vegetable Stock
Japanese Rice Seasoning (can be bought at any asian store)
Salt (to taste)

Method

Rinse rice for about 2 minutes. Dissolve stock into a little hot water and add to the water for boiling rice. Boil the rice as per packet instructions. The stock will help to flavour the rice.
Give the rice a quick rinse under hot water and transfer to a bowl. Add the Rice seasoning and some salt to taste. While the rice is still hot, using a butter knife fold the seasoning and salt though. Do not mush it.
Wearing gloves as this can get messy and as the rice is still quite hot, roll rice into bite size balls. Store in a container or wrap separately in plastic wrap and freeze.

Notes

There are many seasoning flavours that you can buy. They can come in packets or small jars. Please note that the seasoning is quite strong and so you don't want to use too much. Medium rice is the best to use for this recipe. You want the rice to stick together. Using short grain rice will just become mushy and long grain rice won't stick together.

65 Comments

- - mom486197 said
  - 08 Jul 2024
    9:42 am
Fun idea but I am sure it is fiddly to make and quite messy.

- - ~Loui~ said
  - 31 May 2024
    11:56 pm
MMmmm, this seems like a lot of effort for fairly simple flavoured rice.

- - Mumof4 said
  - 31 May 2024
    2:54 pm
Love the idea of serving rice this way!

- - TraceyGail said
  - 29 May 2024
    10:46 am
I’m going to make these today. One little grandson has Milk and Dairy allergies but LOVES rice. He will love that I make something for him.

- - mom461384 said
  - 01 May 2022
    7:46 pm
I made these in primary school as a child. I could not for the life of me remember what they were called. You have just shown me!!! Have been searching for many many years

- - mom485263 said
  - 26 Apr 2022
    11:06 pm
Look forward to trying this for my daughters lunch box

- - Frankiielot said
  - 30 Oct 2021
    11:26 pm
This would be perfect for my toddler. All she likes these days is rice and two minute noodles.
So shocking but we had two other couples over today and their toddlers also only love rice and two minute noodles!
I will have to pass this recipe onto both of them.

- - mom348878 said
  - 24 Jan 2021
    8:18 am
I’d wrap this yummy recipe in seaweed to reduce falling apart in hopeless at keeping anything rice together.
- Ellen replied
  
  30 Jan 2024 , 5:27 am
  Yes I would be afraid this falls apart in the lunchbox too !
- - Ellen said
  - 21 Jan 2021
    8:22 am
I would be afraid this comes apart in the lunchbox creating a huge mess
- mom468034 replied
  
  22 Jan 2022 , 8:44 am
  same here! Seeing how sgajen and bashed their lunch bixes get, this is v likely!
- - ThisIsMe said
  - 29 Jan 2020
    12:11 pm
This is a great idea! I wonder if my kids would eat them though cos they are cold!

- - Jbuttxx said
  - 01 Jan 2020
    6:36 am
What a simple recipie. Love this idea

- - maddisonmelkie@gmail.com said
  - 04 Dec 2017
    8:25 pm
I reslly enjoy rice this would go down a treat

- - Nas01 said
  - 25 Apr 2017
    8:01 pm
What a great idea. Thanks for sharing

- - SweetSprouts said
  - 18 Jan 2017
    9:38 pm
These sound amazingly easy and yummy, would probably be a nice idea if served when having stir fried veges in sauce, in centre of table, help yourself style.

- - mom183717 said
  - 01 Jul 2016
    8:32 pm
My son loves rice these would be perfect

- - mom112217 said
  - 07 Mar 2016
    10:57 pm
Your japanese rice balls would be delicious as party food! Thanks so much!

- - mom165081 said
  - 29 Feb 2016
    10:09 pm
These sound quite interesting as well as child friendly

- - serotonin said
  - 22 Feb 2016
    8:50 pm
What a great idea! Hopefully I can find the rice seasoning as I really want to try these. Thanks for sharing!

- - mom62624 said
  - 27 Jan 2016
    6:25 am
A wonderful recipe idea; thanks for sharing!.

- - Kasey said
  - 30 Dec 2015
    10:31 pm
great recipe thanks for sharing