Onigiri, those delightful Japanese rice balls, pair wonderfully with a variety of side dishes. Miso soup provides a comforting and savory start. Edamame, rich in protein, offers a crunchy, nutritious bite. Chicken teriyaki skewers, with their caramelized glaze, add a touch of sweetness. Agedashi tofu brings a savory, crispy component to the table. Pickled vegetables like plums and radishes add a tangy contrast. For more texture and flavor combinations that complement onigiri, consider cucumber sesame salad, teriyaki salmon, or even Japanese potato salad. Dive into these delicious pairings to enhance your onigiri experience.
Miso Soup
Miso soup is a traditional Japanese dish made from fermented soybean paste, tofu, seaweed, and dashi broth. It is an ideal accompaniment to onigiri, a rice ball dish. This easy and nutritious side dish is rich in umami flavor and enhances any meal. Known for its health benefits and heartwarming quality, miso soup is a staple among Japanese side dishes, making it perfect to pair with rice-based onigiri.
Edamame
Completing the meal with another traditional Japanese favorite, edamame offers a nutritious and flavorful side dish that pairs excellently with onigiri.
These young soybeans, harvested before maturity, are rich in protein, fiber, and essential vitamins. Often served steamed and sprinkled with sea salt, edamame can also be seasoned with garlic, sesame oil, or chili flakes, enhancing their delicious appeal.
Chicken Teriyaki Skewers
Chicken teriyaki skewers, with their tender marinated chicken and caramelized glaze, offer a delectable and visually appealing side dish to complement onigiri.
This Japanese side dish features chicken grilled to perfection, infused with teriyaki sauce, and often accompanied by vegetables like bell peppers and onions.
These skewers provide a delightful blend of flavors and textures, making them a crowd-pleaser at any gathering.
Agedashi Tofu
Agedashi tofu is a beloved Japanese dish. It features deep-fried tofu served in a savory dashi broth, offering a harmonious blend of textures and flavors. This classic side dish in Japanese cuisine highlights crispy tofu, enhanced with grated ginger, green onions, and bonito flakes.
Perfect as an appetizer or paired with onigiri, agedashi tofu adds a comforting and satisfying touch to any meal.
Pickled Vegetables
In addition to agedashi tofu, pickled vegetables serve as a quintessential side dish to complement onigiri, offering a tangy and invigorating contrast to the savory rice ball.
Pickled plums, cucumber salad, yellow radish, and daikon radish are popular choices. These pickles not only enhance flavors but also cleanse the palate, adding a crunchy texture and invigorating acidity to the meal.
Tempura
Tempura, a beloved Japanese dish of deep-fried seafood and vegetables, offers a light and crispy complement to the soft and savory onigiri. This traditional Japanese food, crispy on the outside, includes ingredients like shrimp, sweet potato, and zucchini.
Tempura's crunchy texture makes it the perfect side, adding a flavorful element to your onigiri meal, balancing textures and enhancing the overall dining experience.
Seaweed Salad
Seaweed salad is a traditional Japanese side dish that brings an invigorating and umami-rich flavor. It pairs beautifully with onigiri. The dish features a mix of seaweed types marinated in a savory dressing of soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and sugar. Rich in vitamins and minerals, seaweed salad offers a revitalizing texture and delightful taste, making it an ideal complement to onigiri.
Tamagoyaki
Why not explore the delightful combination of flavors in Tamagoyaki, a traditional Japanese rolled omelette known for its sweet and savory profile?
This Japanese side dish is crafted by layering seasoned eggs, featuring sugar, soy sauce, mirin, and dashi, in a rectangular pan.
The result is a soft, slightly sweet roll, often sliced into bite-sized pieces, perfect for pairing with onigiri.
Gyoza
Gyoza, or Japanese dumplings, offer a savory and umami-packed side dish that pairs excellently with onigiri. These dumplings, filled with ground meat and vegetables, are pan-fried for a crispy bottom and juicy top.
A dipping sauce made from soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chili oil enhances their savory flavor. Gyoza's delightful taste and texture make them a perfect match for onigiri.
Kani Salad
Following the savory richness of gyoza, kani salad offers a rejuvenating contrast with its blend of imitation crab, cucumber, and creamy mayonnaise.
This invigorating Japanese side dish pairs well with onigiri, adding a light, creamy element.
Enhanced with avocado, masago, or sesame seeds, kani salad delivers a delightful mix of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors, making it a perfect companion for rice balls.
Spinach Ohitashi
Spinach Ohitashi is a traditional Japanese side dish that harmoniously combines blanched spinach with soy sauce and bonito flakes to accentuate the vegetable's natural flavors.
This simple yet elegant dish is often served cold or at room temperature, preserving the vibrant green color and nutrients of the Japanese spinach.
It pairs perfectly with onigiri, balancing savory and slightly salty flavors for a satisfying meal.
Cucumber Sesame Salad
Cucumber Sesame Salad is an invigorating Japanese side dish that complements onigiri with its light, crunchy texture and savory sesame dressing. Made with thinly sliced Japanese cucumber, this easy side dish offers a revitalizing taste.
The combination of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil creates a flavorful dressing, while sesame seeds add a nutty touch, making it a perfect pairing.
Teriyaki Salmon
Teriyaki salmon, with its rich and savory glaze, offers a delectable complement to onigiri, enhancing the meal with its perfectly balanced flavors and textures.
Made from soy sauce and mirin, the caramelized sauce forms a delicious coating on the tender salmon.
This dish is easy to prepare and pairs wonderfully with onigiri, providing a harmonious blend of protein and carbohydrates.
Japanese Potato Salad
How does Japanese potato salad, with its creamy texture and flavorful ingredients, serve as a popular and invigorating side dish to onigiri?
This delightful salad features boiled potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, eggs, and mayonnaise, creating a revitalizing accompaniment.
The tangy kick from vinegar and mustard balances perfectly with onigiri, making it a satisfying and harmonious addition to any meal or snack.
What Side Dishes Pair Well with Onigiri?
When it comes to onigiri, the best side dishes for parmesan crisps include options like miso soup, edamame, pickled vegetables, and cucumber salad. These light and refreshing sides complement the flavors of the onigiri and add a delightful variety to your meal.
Wakame Salad
Wakame salad, with its rich nutritional profile and invigorating flavor, serves as an excellent companion to onigiri.
This traditional Japanese side dish, made from seaweed, is seasoned with sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame seeds.
Its light and crunchy texture contrasts beautifully with the soft rice balls, while the umami flavor of the seaweed enhances the overall dining experience.