Tenmusu (Shrimp Tempura Rice Balls)
Recreate Nagoya’s iconic Tenmusu snack—cute miniature rice balls stuffed with savory-glazed crispy shrimp tempura.
Notes
Tenmusu is a legendary Nagoya specialty: miniature triangle onigiri rice balls wrapped in crispy nori, hiding a whole golden, savory-glazed shrimp tempura inside with its tail playfully peeking out from the top.
Ingredients (Makes 4 Tenmusu)
- 4 pieces cooked crispy Shrimp Tempura (fresh or reheated until crunchy)
- 2.5 cups freshly cooked hot Japanese short-grain rice
- Glaze Sauce: 2 tbsp Dashi stock, 1 tbsp Soy sauce, 1 tbsp Mirin, 1 tsp Sugar
- 2 sheets Nori seaweed (cut into 4 long vertical strips) & Salt for shaping
Instructions
- Make savory dip sauce: Simmer dashi, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar in a small pan for 1 minute until a rich dipping sauce forms. Set aside.
- Glaze tempura: Dip each hot crispy shrimp tempura completely into the savory dashi-soy glaze so it soaks up flavor.
- Shape rice ball: Wet your hands, rub a small pinch of salt over your palms. Take about 1/2 cup of hot rice. Make a small hole, place the glazed shrimp inside diagonally, keeping the tail pointing upwards outside the rice line.
- Form triangle: Gently shape the rice around the shrimp into a tight, neat triangle block, letting the tempura tail stick proudly out from the top point.
- Wrap nori collar: Wrap a long strip of crispy nori seaweed vertically around the base of the triangle, securing it like a collar. Serve warm for an authentic Nagoya treat!
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