Happy National Rice Ball Day!
So have you tried rice balls?
A rice ball is the Japanese version of peanut butter and jelly. Everyone must’ve brought one in their lunchbox when they were little, and it’s going to be a very interesting topic of what is the best item to put in a rice ball. The choice is unlimited and each topping has huge fans. And now, I’d like to drop a little grenade in this topic: With what do you wrap your rice ball?
A lot of people would answer with roasted seaweed, nori, since it’s an original way of eating rice balls. But I recommend to wrap rice ball with sour plum pickles with perilla leaves:D Tangy rice ball with refreshing herby flavored rice ball…yes, I can hear you say “Mmmmmmm!”
So let’s see the recipe and cook together!
<Today’s Recipe>
Shiso Perilla Rice Ball
<Ingredients>
*May contain Amazon Associate links. By clicking the links, they will take you to the specific Amazon.com product page and you’ll see what ingredients/tools are recommended for making the food of the day. As an Amazon Associate I will receive a very small commission from qualifying purchases.
- 2 large shiso perilla leaves
- Some cooked brown rice
- Some yukari rice seasoning
- Some dried sourplum (Ume-boshi)
<Directions>
- Mix rice and yukari rice seasoning in a mixing bowl.
- Make rice balls. (I use plastic wrap to make the perfect triangle balls:))
- Wrap with perilla leaves. Enjoy!
<Cooking Tips>
So I know some people will say “where can I find shiso perilla leaves?” It’s so rare delicacy you can only find in a specific Asian grocery. Even though I say “Asian” grocery, the one you can find at Korean grocery with the name of “Sesame leaves/perilla” are totally different. I usually seen them at a Japanese grocery store or Vietnamese grocery…well, I know for some people it’s too difficult to find, so if you’re interested in authentic “rice balls,” let’s start with Nori, roasted seaweed and let’s cross fingers for one day you get to try.
Great for picnic, lunchbox or hiking snacks! It’s getting warmer and warmer, so how about going hiking and eating this yummy rice ball in front of the spectacle view?
Happy weekend planning, everyone!
<Other Rice to Make Perfect Rice Balls>
Make a little burnt rice is the key! Takikomi Rice Balls
Want some spicy crunchy one? Grilled Bibimbap Rice Balls
Don’t forget something to drink! Hoji Tea
Enjoy home cooking and your own creation of homemade food:)
Tanooki Homemade Cafe 
One of the things I miss most about Japan is running into the nearest famima or Lawson for a simple soy sauce onigiri. I’ve never made them with perilla leaves, now I want to give it a try! 😊
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Ahh you made me so nostalgic about going to “conveni”😂 Yes I used to go to famima or Lawson so much!🙌 Now you’re vegan so maybe you don’t check there anymore, but have you seen dessert corner? Their individual size dessert section is where I can’t resist going (and of course grabbing one (or two🤣))
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Ah yes, I used to get the cookies and cream bread dessert almost every day when I was there hahaha my sister got melon pan, even though we’re vegan and we’re pretty sure there was milk in it 🤣 There are so many wonderful desserts in the convenience stores! Japan is so amazing for that. You can get laundry supplies, a meal, a dessert and a concert ticket all at the same market haha
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OMG that cream bread!! The last time I went back to Japan was over 7 years ago but still my taste buds remember how yummy the sweet cream bread was😊 You’re not in Japan anymore, right? if I remember it correct…It’s not easy to stay vegan in Japan, but hopefully more vegan friendly comes to their market and we all can enjoy travel experience without worrying about our diet👍
Ah true!! We used to tease friends by saying “once you get to work at convenience store, you’re expert for everything”🤣
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It’s so good! Even after seven years you can remember it haha 😊 no, it’s been a few years since I’ve been in Japan and I’m forgetting most of the Japanese I learned 😭 if you’re in the Tokyo area, it was quite easy for vegans, but going out in the country side, you’ll have to do a lot of your own cooking 😅
Haha that’s funny but I bet it’s true, Japan convenience stores really are convenient!
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Oh really! Then you must know much newer version of Japan😂 And I know…language learning is so slow to catch in, too quick to be gone from memory🤣 Hopefully you can go back to Japan after clearing all the COVID situation…soon all those forgotten language will come back to you!👍✨
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Shiso is so under-utilized – another terrific recipe!
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Exactly!! Shiso should be on produce section of all grocery store!🤣 Thank you John😊 Have an amazing day🎵
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All your rice balls look so appetizing and so attractive in their different wraps. Like a bonbon wrapped in pretty paper, only this paper is edible.
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Haha~ I’m glad to hear that! Maybe I should make rice balls to celebrate Christmas this year instead of purchasing chocolate bonbons🤣💕🍬
Thank you dear for warm comment😊
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What a tasty snack! I’ll absolutely have to try making those rice balls. 🤩
Although I think I’ll also be among those who’ll be using nori instead of perilla leaves 😞
But what I’m even more interested in, is the ume-boshi. 😁
I once was offered an ume-boshi candy by a Japanese woman who I met while waiting in the queue to get into an important wine event and I absolutely loved its sour taste! 😋
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Ahhh you tried umeboshi candy!? That’s my fav👀💕 Which one did you try, the one with a kimono-wearing woman in pink package, or the black one says ”男梅”? I prefer ”男梅” because it got more sour flavor that reminds me the real ume-boshi!
And for rice balls wrappings, yeah nori is authentic way so almost 98% of my rice balls were nori-wrapped! And you know, growing perilla to that big is so difficult😂
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Unfortunately, I have no idea which one it was because the woman handed it to me in a plastic container she carried in her bag 😞 I just remember the taste and it was amazing! 🤩🤩🤩
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Ohhh that’s right! Haha, Japanese people love to carry their own original assorted candies😂 Lucky you, she had what you liked👍💕
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Oh, it wasn’t that way around, though. 😁
I was queueing and she suddenly asked me if I fancied a Japanese candy. I answered “sure, why not” and she held the box to offer me one. 😁
I had no idea what I was putting in my mouth this moment. 😁
But I’ve always been adventurous as far as food is concerned. 😁😁
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Haha, I know! I can imagine what it was like because it sounds so familiar with my aunt or some other women in Japan😉 What I meant was…well, let’s say the candy wasn’t not good on your taste, but I bet you can’t spit it out in front of her, right? I was glad to know that you thought the candy was good, so I said she had what you liked👍 (sorry for confusion, when I read my comment again, I’d take it in the way you thought too🤣)
Aaaand, how many years ago was that happened to you? I don’t think people can easily do that under this covid situation, and also, the crime scenes using toxic candy to rob people…I don’t mean to judge people who look nice, but be careful (I’m saying this partially to me too, since I’m also adventurous to food😂🙌💕)
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Ya, you’r right. Nowadays, that would be impossible. It was around 7 or 8 years ago, if I remember it right. 🤔
But I think I read your first comment wrong, sorry. I understood that you meant I asked for the candy 😁
I was very surprised by the taste as I never had anything like it before but I loved it absolutely. 😍
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Yay you know it right😂👍 Umeboshi candy is the best😋💕✨🙌❤️
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