Recipe Cuisine: Japanese
Theme: Meat-Free Marvels
Vegan Tuna Onigiri & Unagi Nigiri
By: Jesse Jacobson
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked Obento sushi rice
- 2 cups water
- ¼ cup Obento rice wine vinegar
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 can chickpeas (drained)
- ¼ cup vegan mayonnaise
- 1 Obento nori sheet (finely chopped)
- ¼ cup red onion (finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 15 capers (finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tbsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp white vinegar
- ½ cup Obento soy sauce
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup Obento mirin
- Vegan Unagi or Eggplant
Product used in recipe
- OBENTO - MIRIN SEASONING
Method
- Prepare Sushi RiceRinse rice until water runs clear.Combine rice + water in pot or rice cooker.Cook, then allow to steam 10 minutes with lid on.Mix vinegar, sugar, oil, and salt until dissolved.Fold gently into warm rice.Allow rice to cool until safe to handle (slightly warm is ideal).
- Make Chickpea TunaAdd chickpeas to bowl.Mash until flaky but not smooth.Add Mayo, Nori, Onion, Lemon, Capers, Garlic, Yeast, Soy Sauce, Dijon and Vinegar.Mix thoroughly.Taste and adjust:More soy sauce = saltinessMore lemon = freshnessMore mayo = creaminess
- Assemble OnigiriWet hands to prevent sticking.Place ~¼ cup rice in palm.Create small dent in centre.Add 1–2 tbsp chickpea tuna.Cover with more rice.Shape into triangle or ball.Wrap base with strip of nori if desired.Optional: roll one edge in red shiso furikake
- Make Unagi SauceCombine:½ cup soy sauce½ cup white sugar½ cup mirinSimmer on medium heat.Stir occasionally until thickened (5–10 min).Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Prepare Unagi/Eggplant Slice Unagi or eggplant lengthwise into thin strips.Pan fry in oil until soft and slightly golden.Brush generously with unagi sauce.Continue cooking until caramelized.Optional: lightly torch for smokiness.
- Assemble Nigiri Form small oval of sushi rice (~2 tbsp).Place glazed eggplant strip on top.Brush again with sauce.Optional: secure with thin nori strip.
