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A bowl of homemade grilled salmon rice balls with a crispy golden crust, filled with tender cooked salmon, steaming hot and served in a rustic black bowl with dipping sauce and chopsticks in the background.

salmon rice balls

These kid-approved salmon rice balls are the ultimate lunchbox heroes—nutritious, easy to make ahead, endlessly versatile, and irresistibly tasty for even the pickiest eaters.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Appetizer, dinner, lunch, Snack
Cuisine: American, Asian Fusion, Japanese
Keyword: Salmon onigiri, salmon rice balls, Salmon rice balls Baby, Salmon rice balls Japanese, Salmon rice balls near me, Salmon rice balls recipe
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Cooling & Shaping Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 12 rice balls
Calories: 160kcal
Cost: $9

Equipment

  • Rice cooker/pot (For cooking short-grain rice)
  • Rice paddle (Avoid using a metal spoon)
  • Small bowl (For salt water (hand dipping))
  • Plastic wrap (Optional—helps shape and store rice balls)
  • Sharp knife (For cutting nori sheets)

Ingredients

Rice Base:

  • 2 cups Short-grain rice - Japanese-style ,rinsed well
  • 2.5 tablespoon Rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 tablespoon Sesame seeds - Optional ,for mixing or garnish

Salmon Filling:

  • 1 cup Salmon - Fresh ,leftover, or canned
  • 2 tablespoon Mayonnaise - Use Japanese mayo if available
  • 1 teaspoon Soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Green onions - Finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha - Optional ,to taste

Wrapping:

  • 3 sheets Nori - Cut into thirds
  • 1 tablespoon Sesame seeds - Optional ,to roll exterior if unwrapped

Instructions

  • Cook the rice according to package directions in a rice cooker or pot.
  • Mix rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until dissolved.
  • Cool rice slightly, mix with vinegar seasoning, and rest covered.
  • Flake the salmon into small pieces using a fork.
  • Combine salmon with mayonnaise, soy sauce, green onions, and sriracha.
  • Prepare salt water, rinse hands in cold water before shaping.
  • Scoop ⅓ cup of rice and flatten in your palm.
  • Add salmon filling and fold rice around it.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes.Feel free to add more of your favorite toppings.

Nutrition

Serving: 90g | Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 260mg | Potassium: 170mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg