Go Back
–+ servings
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

5 from 1 vote
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.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Cooling & Shaping Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 12 rice balls
Course: Appetizer, dinner, lunch, Snack
Cuisine: American, Asian Fusion, Japanese
Calories: 160
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

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

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)

Method
 

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

Nutrition

Serving: 90gCalories: 160kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 6gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 260mgPotassium: 170mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 60IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg

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.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!