How to Make Onigiri with Fillings & Garnishes

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1. 1Step 1: Rinse the rice thoroughly in a sieve under running water or in a pot, draining and repeating until the water is mostly clear.
2. 2Step 2: Cook the rice using a rice cooker or stovetop method.
3. 3Step 3: Let the rice cool until it is warm but still pliable.
4. 4Step 4: Wet your hands with a small dish of water to prevent the rice from sticking.
5. 5Step 5: Lightly salt your hands to season the onigiri as you shape it.
6. 6Step 6: Form the rice into a triangular, round, or oval shape using your hands or an onigiri mold by filling, pressing, and releasing.
7. 7Step 7: Add a filling of your choice such as umeboshi, pickled vegetables, canned tuna with mayo, salmon, roe, seafood, meat, or veggies.
8. 8Step 8: Optionally garnish with toasted sesame seeds or furikake, incorporating them during shaping by mixing them with the salt water used to wet your hands.
9. 9Step 9: Optionally wrap with nori partially covering one side or fully enclosing the rice, or use shiso leaves.
10. 10Step 10: Optionally pan-fry the formed onigiri to make yaki onigiri, creating a crispy, golden crust.