My family really likes the Japanese dish, chicken katsu. Its golden-fried goodness is on regular rotation at our house, and I often make extra to have as lunch the next day. Since deep-fried foods lose their crispness in the refrigerator overnight, I like to make katsudon or these chicken katsu onigirazu with the leftovers instead.
What is an onigirazu?
Short answer: it’s an onigiri — a Japanese rice ball wrapped in dried seaweed and filled with a variety of flavors — that is not molded into the traditional triangle or circle shape. It still has all the yumminess of an onigiri, but holds more rice and a lot more filling so it packs a bigger punch.
It’s portable. It’s nutritious. It’s delicious.
It’s also very easier to make, in my opinion.
My kids love them!
I pack them in my son’s lunch box for school.
We take them to the beach and parks for picnics.
I make them to share at potluck parties or just to enjoy at home.
And now, with this simple tutorial in pictures below, you can make them at home, too. Enjoy! — v.
P.S. Although they can be made with leftover chicken katsu, they are absolutely the best when freshly made.
How to Make Chicken Katsu Onigirazu
{a tutorial in pictures}
ingredients
- chicken katsu (see this recipe)
- shredded cabbage (prep instructions in above recipe)
- steamed white rice
- tonkatsu sauce
- seaweed sushi nori sheets
- spicy karashi mustard (optional; not pictured below)
- clear wrap
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Thank you so much for reading!
What a great idea, V! My mouth is salivating just reading this. I really miss onigiri, but this looks even better! I’ll have to give it a shot one of these nights….do you have another sauce recommendation until the tonkatsu sauce arrives?
Yes, Natalie, I think your family will love it! It is so good with the tonkatsu sauce that I recommend waiting for it. Seriously. BUT, if you cannot, try some dijon mustard and/or this homemade tonkatsu sauce. Miss you guys!