Vegan Kimchi Cream Cheese Stuffed Rice Balls

Ingredients

Dashi Simmered Rice

• 4 cups sushi rice (short-grain rice)
• 4-5 cups water
• 2-4 pieces of dried kombu (Japanese kelp)
• 2 tablespoons mirin
• 2 tablespoons sake
• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil

Kimchi Cream Cheese Mix

• 8 ounces vegan cream cheese (any brand will work- kite hill, daiya, tofutti, etc.)
• 1/2 cup or more depending on your taste of kimchi (I used mother-in-law brand vegan napa cabbage variety)

Breading

• 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup unflavored soy or nut milk

Sriracha Cashew Dipping Sauce

• 1/2 cup raw cashews soaked in water for an hour, drained and rinsed
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 cup chopped scallions
• Kosher salt to taste
• Sriracha sauce to taste

 

Directions

1. Rinse the rice in water and drain.

2. In a rice cooker or pot add the rice, water (up to the 2 cup line if using a rice cooker), mirin, sake, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Stir to combine. Add the kombu on top and if using a rice cooker select the white rice function.

3. If not using a rice cooker, bring the liquid to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until the rice has absorbed all the liquid. Scoop out the rice onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and let cool.

4. Chop up the kimchi and mix with cream cheese in a small bowl. Taste and adjust how spicy you would like it to be.

5. In the palm of your hand, spread out a small amount of rice. place a teaspoon of the kimchi cream cheese mixture into the center of the rice and form a ball around the kimchi cream cheese mixture. Place onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and repeat until all the rice is used up.

6. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

7. Pour the panko breadcrumbs into a gallon zip lock bag. Pour the soy milk into a small bowl.

8. Lightly dip each rice ball into the soy milk and then into the bag with panko. When you have 4-6 rice balls in the panko bag, seal it up and shake to coat. Place each coated rice ball back onto your parchment lined sheet pan. Repeat until all are finished.

9. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately with dipping sauce.

Dipping Sauce
1. In a blender, place the cashews, water, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, and garlic powder.

2. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes or until completely smooth. Add more water if the consistency is too thick. Scoop the mixture out into a small bowl.

3.Mix in the chopped scallions and season to taste with the sriracha sauce and salt.