Fillings for rice balls?

[Daelyn]

Greetings fellow experimenters!
I've been dabbling into Japanese cooking (with a cookbook, mostly), and finally think I've got the hang of making rice balls... now I'd like some more ideas on what to fill them with.
So far I've used:
terriyaki chicken
beef cooked with worchestershire and mirin
diced zuccinni and onions
eggs cooked with soy & sugar
peas and carrots

Anyone have any ideas for more fillings? I'm looking for things that would taste alright with the nori seaweed that you wrap around the balls, (it make them easier to hold)
...though, if you know of something else to wrap them with that's edible, I'm all ears.

[Ciani]

chives and soy sauce
smoked salmon and cream cheese
that japanese seasoning that is basically sesame seeds and nori
japanese plum
roasted red pepper
tuna and spicy mayo

I can't remember what else. Sometimes I just throw random stuff inside mine.

[Galleywench]

Daelyn the history behind the rice balls was to use whatever the home cook had on hand to use up leftover rice, similar to the arborio rice balls in Italian cuisine...so you can pretty much throw anything in them.

You might try a few sweet ones to throw a curve into the menu (try fruits steeped in infused sake) or fuse with another cuisine ( a mango chicken). Pretty much anything goes, try it...if it works you'll know to make it again and if it doesn't work you'll know better for next time.

[The Doxie with Moxie]

When I lived on Long Island there was this one awesome deli that sold gigantic rice balls, they had around a 7 inch diameter. They filled them with a groundbeef and peas mixture that was seasoned very lightly. The filling did not taste like an italian meatball, it was just light and pleasant. The riceballs were then rolled in an egg wash and seasoned bread crumbs. They lightly browned the riceballs all over and then baked them. I don't know if it sounds good but they were delicious.

[Cruisewench]

When I worked at my local Italian-run Pizza shop the owner made rice balls similar to the one's that Doxie was talking about. Hers were stuffed with spagetti sauce, hamburger, and peas....then covered in the rice....dipped in an egg wash, rolled in seasoned breadcrumbs, then deep fried.

[Daelyn]

oooh... baked sounds tasty...
and so does the chives/soy...
Thanks, ladies! ^_^

[Morrigan Lynnea]

My ultimate favorite made by a friend of mine: cooked, minced shiitake mushrooms in plum sauce....delish!