Rice ball
A rice ball may be any kind of food item made from rice that has been shaped, condensed, or otherwise combined into a ball shape. Rice balls exist in many different cultures in which rice is eaten, and are particularly prevalent in Asia.
History
Rice Balls were made and developed independently around the same time in both southern Italy as well as Japan. These two cultures developed two of the most distinctive rice balls, Arancini and Onigiri, respectively. However, historians do not know the exact dates that they were created and the true first creator of rice balls is disputable. And so, the argument continues. These days, rice balls are enjoyed everywhere, especially in the United States, where Italian immigrants have popularized their version of the dish and adapted recipes for American culture.
Types of rice balls by region
Types of rice ball include:
- Onigiri, (お握り), a Japanese rice ball made from white rice formed into triangular or oval shapes.
- Pinda, rice balls offered to ancestors during Hindu funeral rites and ancestor worship.
- Arancini, an Italian fried rice ball coated with breadcrumbs.
- Tangyuan (汤圆), a Chinese rice ball made from glutinous rice flour.
- Zongzi, a Chinese rice ball with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves.
- Omo tuo, a Ghanaian staple food that is more smooth and soft due to its higher volume of water, usually eaten with peanut soup.