When the power comes on for just a few hours, you want to use that time productively and make something more delicious than a regular sandwich. Onigiri—hearty rice with tuna and cream cheese wrapped in a sheet of nori—is the perfect option for this. According to Styler editor Yulia Shikanova, this dish is easy to assemble from ingredients you usually already have in the kitchen, and if you manage to use an air fryer, you can add a crispy breading. The recipe is designed for conditions when electricity is limited, but a basic stove or air fryer is available.

Why Onigiri Is a Practical Choice

Onigiri is a traditional Japanese snack: small rice triangles, squares, or balls with a filling inside. Their main advantage is convenience: they are easy to take on the road or to work, and their shape keeps the filling securely inside. Round-grain or medium-grain polished rice, which has the necessary stickiness and holds its shape, is suitable for the base; long-grain crumbly varieties are not suitable for this. Unlike sushi rice, vinegar seasoning with sugar is not added to the onigiri base—only salt is used, which allows the flavor of the filling to emerge better.

Preparing the Rice and Filling

First, the rice is rinsed and boiled until tender in salted water. While it cools slightly, the filling is prepared: the tuna is mashed with a fork, mayonnaise and black pepper are added, and other favorite spices can be added as desired. Then, cream cheese is added to the still-warm rice and mixed well. According to the recipe author, this specific method makes the rice sticky and helps the portions hold their shape. To prevent the rice from sticking to your hands during shaping, place a small bowl of clean water nearby and periodically moisten your palms in it.

Shaping and Wrapping with Nori

When the rice and filling are ready, take a sheet of nori, place a portion of rice on it, and shape it into the desired form. Place the tuna filling in the center, cover it with another layer of rice, and wrap it in the nori. The shape can vary—triangles, squares, or circles; in the author's version, they turned out square. This approach allows you to assemble the snack quickly and without complicated tools, which is important when cooking time is limited.

Crispy Breading in the Air Fryer

If you want to make the dish hot with a crispy crust, the pieces can be additionally breaded. An egg is beaten, each piece is dipped in it, and then rolled in panko breadcrumbs, pressing them firmly with your fingers so the breading holds. Place the finished onigiri in the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes at 180 degrees. The result is a hearty snack with a soft rice base, tender tuna filling, and a crispy shell.

Allergens and Composition

The dish contains fish, dairy products, eggs, and wheat (gluten). Additional allergens may depend on the specific composition of the mayonnaise and panko, so if you have food intolerances, you should check the labels. The recipe was published in Styler, an entertaining lifestyle project by RBC-Ukraine that writes about trends, tips, and recipes; the advertiser bears responsibility for the accuracy and content of promotional materials, and value judgments, according to the legislation of Ukraine, are not subject to refutation.