An onigiri is a Japanese rice snack that is available at seemingly every turn throughout Japan. It is usually packed with a core of salted or pickled fish, and wrapped in edible seaweed. As delicious as that may be, the wrapping of triangular onigiris confounds many first-time visitors to Japan —who often destroy the contents on their first attempt. Follow these steps to open and enjoy this delicious treat.
Instructions
1. Take stock of your onigiri. On triangular wrapping, the front of the package should have the numbers 1, 2, and 3 printed on each corner. Take hold of the onigiri with one hand, between your thumb and forefinger.
2. Pull from the corner labeled 1, down the body of the onigiri. The wrapping should tear in a thin strip.
3. Continue tearing around the bottom of the onigiri, and up the other side, until the strip is completely removed. Your wrapping should now be in two equal halves.
4. Take hold of the corner labeled 2, while holding the body of the onigiri with the other hand. Pull firmly away from the onigiri, so that the plastic wrapping slides off. There is plastic on either side of the seaweed, so the trick is to remove the plastic cleanly without displacing the seaweed.
5. Switch hands and repeat the previous step for the final corner. Hold the seaweed in place thumb and forefingers so that it doesn’t come loose or crumble.
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