Crispy Rice Squares
Astonishingly Simple, yet, Insanely Versatile
These beautifully textured delicacies offer up prime real estate as a base for a wide array of toppings! Anything from succulent Wagyu steak to a dollop of spicy tuna, succulent seared salmon to crunchy chicken, or even a colorful medley of your favorite vegetables. You can also savor them just as they are, sprinkled with a dash of sea salt and accompanied by a flavorful dipping sauce.
There are countless ways to relish these crispy rice squares, but what's even more surprising is how effortless they actually are to make.
If you can cook rice, you can create these crispy rice squares.
The process is simple. Start by cooking your rice – I prefer jasmine rice due to its distinct fragrance which lends an extra layer of flavor to the final product. Follow the cooking instructions specific to your package of rice.
Once the rice is cooked, mix some rice wine vinegar with sugar and salt (or just grab some “seasoned” rice wine vinegar).
Let the rice cool down slightly before gently folding this mixture into your rice to give it that sticky texture and a balance of acidic and sweet flavors characteristic of sushi rice.
For the next step, I recommend using a loaf pan lined with parchment paper.
Allow the rice to cool further until it's malleable enough to shape. Press the rice down as firmly as possible into the loaf pan to create a compact base. You can use another piece of parchment paper and a box of kosher salt as a weight to press it down.
Once the rice is tightly packed in your pan, refrigerate it for about 3 hours. This should be ample time for everything to set and solidify, ready to be cut. Use the parchment paper to liberate the rice onto a cutting board and slice into squares (Fine! Or rectangles!)
The next step is to give the squares that irresistible golden crispness. You can bake them, air fry them, or, my personal favorite, lightly deep fry them until GBD - Golden, Browned, and Delicious.
The possibilities are endless.
Top your glistening, crackling, crispy rice squares with spicy tuna, a dollop of Kewpie Mayo, Hoisin, sesame seeds, and scallions for an out of this world bite. Or perhaps you'd prefer sautéed portobello mushrooms with a thin slice of Wagyu steak, tri-tip, or any type of fish. The possibilities are endless.
Creating these versatile and delicious crispy rice squares is such an easy task, you'll find yourself wanting to try it today. They're not just incredible to taste, but also fun to experiment with. Enjoy the process and the final result!
