Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls)

Ingredients

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• 4 cups uncooked short-grain white rice
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• 5 ½ cups water, divided
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• ¼ teaspoon salt
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• ¼ cup bonito shavings (dry fish flakes)
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• 2 sheets nori (dry seaweed), cut into 1/2-inch strips
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• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
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Instructions

1. 1
   Wash rice in a mesh strainer until water runs clear. Combine washed rice and 4 1/2 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low; cover, and simmer rice until water is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Let rice rest for 15 minutes to continue to steam and become tender. Allow cooked rice to cool.
2. 2
   Combine remaining 1 cup water with salt in a small bowl; use to dampen hands before handling rice. Divide cooked rice into 8 equal portions. Use one portion of rice for each onigiri.
3. 3
   Divide one portion of rice in two. Create a dimple in rice and fill with a heaping teaspoon of bonito flakes. Cover with remaining portion of rice and press lightly to enclose filling inside rice ball. Gently press rice to shape into a triangle; wrap with a strip of nori and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Repeat with remaining portions of rice.