Onigirazu with Okra & Smoked Tofu

This Japanese sandwich made with seaweed and sushi rice has a lot of potentials to become the superfood of tomorrow. What's interesting is firstly originated from the Japanese manga "Cooking Papa." In the comic book, Papa is the guy working for a corporation but a secretly amazing cook that lies to his colleagues telling them that all the outstanding food that he brings to work is made by his loving wife but she, in fact, is useless in the kitchen :)

Onigirazu is super fun to make this and I love the delicate flavours that come through together!

Easy to make Onigirazu with Okra & Smoked Tofu

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Ingredients for 4 sandwiches:

• 8 Sushi Nori Seaweed Square Sheets

• 350g (12.3oz) of Sushi Rice cooked and seasoned

• 8 Ladyfingers - Okra, blanched in hot water for 1 minute

• 100g smoked tofu, pan-fried and glazed with soy sauce

• Mixed salad leaves (beetroot, spinach)

• 1 Avocado sliced (optional)

• 1 small carrot sliced into matchsticks

• Red or yellow pepper cut into matchsticks

• Japanese mayo

• Soy sauce

• Nigella seeds for garnish

Equipment:

• Plastic Wrap (Cling Film)

• Metal ring (11.5cm in diameter and 5cm tall) (4,5 inch /2 inches) to assemble.

Instructions:

1. Place a square of seaweed at the top of the wooden board and place the metal ring in the middle.

2. Place a layer of rice at the bottom of the seaweed (use a small amount of water on your fingers to prevent the rice from sticking)

3. Place the layers of your fillings like in the pictures below, you can mirror arrange them as well. I also like to add extra sauce inside (sweet chilli or soy sauce)

4. Once all fillings are in place, push them down with your fingers to compress, use cling film to help.

4. Slowly remove the ring and fold the bottom seaweed upwards and stick to the sides of your Onigirazu.

5. Fill the gaps with extra seaweed. Wrap in the cling film tightly and cut in the middle.

6. Enjoy with a drizzle of Japanese Mayonaise!

Onigirazu with Okra and Tofu

Insight:

• I found it easier to work with seaweed that was soggier. Take a few sheets out of the packet and leave them on the counter overnight.

• Grease the ring with a little bit of olive oil, this will help you to remove it more easily.