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Kawaii Cat Rice Bowl (vegan)

This colorful and easy to make Kawaii Rice Bowl will slowly take over your kitchen! A healthy meal perfect for meal prep. The kitty Onigiri - Japanese rice balls - turn this rice bowl into the most adorable meal, making it extra kid friendly. However young and old alike, will love this nutritious and wholesome rice bowl!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Japanese, Vegan
Servings: 4 bowls

Equipment

  • "Omusubi Nyan" Rice Ball Kit; rice cooker, or medium sized cooking pot; 4 bowls or bento lunchboxes; food brush to decorate rice balls

Ingredients

Rice

  • 3 cups Japanese short grain rice
  • 3 cups water
  • ¼ cup rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoons cane sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Topping for your Bowl

  • 4 dashes soy sauce, or tamari
  • 2 ripe avocados, sliced
  • 1 can of drained chickpeas (15 oz / 425g)
  • 4 handfuls of cherry tomatoes one handful for each bowl
  • 2 medium sized carrots, thinly sliced
  • 1 head large lettuce, washed and coarsely chopped
  • 4 handfuls handfuls of fresh parsley one handful for each bowl
  • white sesame seeds for garnish
  • dried seaweed and some more soy sauce for decorating the cat shaped rice balls
  • 2 cooked sweet potatoes, cubed

Instructions

  • Rinse and wash rice until water comes out clear. If you have the time let rice soak in water for an hour.
  • Cook rice in rice cooker. If you don't have a rice cooker, follow package instructions to cook on stovetop. Or use recipe instructions: place rice and fresh water in a pot over medium-high heat. Bring it just to a boil and reduce heat to low. Cover the pot, and simmer for 15 minutes. Turn off heat and let rice rest covered, for an additional 10 minutes.
  • While your rice is cooking, prepare rice seasoning. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Heat mixture while stirring just until the sugar dissolves (do not let it boil). Remove from heat and set aside until your rice is cooked.
  • Once your rice is cooked, stir gently with a rice paddle or (wooden) spatula. Pour your vinegar mixture over the rice while you stir, trying to evenly season the rice. Alternatively spread your rice out over a cookie sheet and pour the vinegar mixture evenly over the rice. Turn gently with your rice paddle or wooden spatula.
  • Evenly divide the rice into 5 parts. Place one part in each of your bowls (or lunchbox) and top with a bed of lettuce. The 5th part is for the cat rice balls.
  • While the rice is still warm, but not hot, press a couple tablespoons into the cat shaped rice ball mold. Following the instructions of the rice ball kit it will turn into a cat shaped ball in seconds. To keep rice from sticking to your hands lightly water them. Using a food brush give the rice balls cat-like fur markings with some soy sauce. Use the seaweed cutter of the kit to cut out face features like eyes, whiskers and ears. Gently press those onto the rice balls to create the faces. A pair of food tweezers can help you with that. Set shaped rice balls onto parchment to cool down and stick together even more.
  • Divide all vegetables evenly onto the bowls. Once assembled, top each bowl with cat shaped rice ball to make your bowl kawaii. Drizzle with soy sauce or other sauces shortly before eating.