[Akita Prefecture] What are the popular onigiri ingredients? Introducing limited edition convenience store rice balls

In the 2020 Convenience Store Onigiri Popularity Survey released by the Onigiri Association in commemoration of "Onigiri Day" on June 18, 2020, all four companies surveyed - 7-Eleven, Family Mart, Ministop, and Lawson - ranked in the top three. It contained tuna mayonnaise and salmon rice balls.

In this article, we will introduce in detail everything from the ingredients used in Akita Prefecture's standard onigiri to the limited edition onigiri that are popular at convenience stores.

Reference: General Incorporated Association Onigiri Association “2020 Convenience Store Rice Ball Popularity Survey”

Akita prefecture's standard rice ball No. 1 "Bodakko"

In Akita Prefecture, it has become a popular onigiri ingredient.Bodakko"is.

Bodakko means salted salmon fillet in Akita dialect.I've heard that the origin comes from the peony color of salted salmon, or because it resembles the color of boar meat, but I don't know for sure.

According to the FY2018 Fisheries White Paper released by the Fisheries Agency in 2018, the consumption of salmon in Akita Prefecture was 4,343g per household in 1989, the highest in the country, and in 2018 it was 2,939g, making the prefecture a huge lover of salmon. You can see the gender.

Additionally, according to the results of the 2016 National Health and Nutrition Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in 2016, the national average daily salt intake is 10.8g for men and 9.2g for women, while the average for Akita Prefecture is 11.6g for men. , 9.6g for women.

For these reasons, bodakko, a salty-seasoned salmon dish, is often eaten as a breakfast side dish in Akita Prefecture, but it is no wonder that it is also popular as an ingredient for rice balls.

As of December 2021, we have summarized in a table whether or not four major convenience stores carry Bodakko Onigiri.

Convenience store name

Product name

Limited area

Seven-Eleven

Not available

―

family mart

Not available

―

ministop

Not available

―

Lawson

Hand-rolled rice ball bodakko

Akita prefecture only

Unfortunately, it was not available at stores other than Lawson, but it has been sold at other companies in the past, so let's look forward to the future.

Reference: Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare “2016 National Health and Nutrition Survey Report”

Reference: Fisheries Agency “2018 Fisheries White Paper: Situation of Seafood Consumption”

Akita prefecture's standard rice ball part 2 "Sujiko"

Another popular onigiri ingredient in Akita Prefecture isSujikoProbably.

Sujiko is often confused with salmon roe, but sujiko is salmon or trout eggs that are immature and pickled in salt without being loosened, while salmon roe is mature eggs that are loosened and pickled in soy sauce or miso.

Sujiko is pickled at a salt concentration of 4 to 7%, but because the salt concentration is higher than the 5.3g of salt per one pickled pickle (100g), it is often eaten by Akita residents who like salty foods. I agree.

As of December 2021, we have summarized in a table whether or not four major convenience stores carry Shikono Onigiri.

Convenience store name

Product name

Limited area

Seven-Eleven

Two-stage aged salted suji roe

Akita prefecture, Aomori prefecture, Iwate prefecture

family mart

Directly wound muscle

Tohoku 6 prefectures

ministop

Not available

―

Lawson

Hand-rolled rice ball Sujiko

Tohoku 6 prefectures

Convenience stores that carry them take great care in making sujiko rice balls, so if you see them, be sure to buy them.

Akita prefecture's classic onigiri part 3: Miso-yaki onigiri

Miso-grilled rice balls are also popular in Akita Prefecture, although they are not used as ingredients in rice balls.

According to a survey conducted by J Town Net in 2017 regarding the seasonings used to season grilled rice balls, 73.7% of respondents preferred soy sauce and 18.5% preferred miso, with the opinions of miso being concentrated in the Tohoku region.

Miso is also used in grilled onigiri in Akita Prefecture, but since it uses sugar, we will introduce the recipe.

Ingredients (for 1 person)

  • Rice (1 cup)
  • Miso (2 tablespoons)
  • Sugar (1 teaspoon)

How to make

① Cook the rice and make onigiri (make them small enough to fit in the fish fryer)

② Mix miso and sugar and spread on the surface of the rice ball.

③ Arrange the onigiri in the fish fryer and fry to your desired doneness, being careful not to burn them.

The reason why sugar is used is because in Akita Prefecture, sugar is considered a luxury item, and it also serves as a secret ingredient.

Why not try making ``Akita Prefecture-style'' grilled rice balls?

Reference: J Town Net “Survey Survey on Main Seasonings Used to Season Grilled Rice Balls”

summary

We learned that the most popular onigiri ingredients in Akita Prefecture are bodakko, sujiko, and miso-yaki onigiri, as the salty seasoning is preferred.

Be sure to try out the delicious rice balls from Akita, a rice-producing region, with a variety of toppings.

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