Umeboshi Onigiri

Japan · East Asia

Short description: This rice ball uses a sour-salty pickled plum as the filling or side accent, giving plain rice a sharp center.
Ingredients: Short-grain rice shaped with salted pickled plum, nori, salt, and sometimes sesame seeds.
Cultural note: Its portability makes it a common lunch-box and convenience-food choice, while the pickled plum helps cut through the rice.
Common misconception: The rice is usually plain salted rice rather than vinegared sushi rice.

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