Craving sushi lately? Same. But since it’s not that easy to get take-out sushi these days, let’s make it at home! Making sushi rolls yourself is actually kind of fun if you have some time (and are in a good mood ;). But…
…full disclosure: most nights, I’m much more likely to turn these rolls into a sushi bowl. While the rolls give you the full sushi experience, you can still satisfy sushi cravings by throwing all the ingredients together and calling it a day. Learn how to turn this recipe into a sushi bowl here.
Do I Need a Sushi Mat to Make Sushi?
Short answer? No. You don’t need a sushi mat to make sushi. Though it makes it easier to roll the roll tightly (I do have one and use it) you can simply use parchment paper (like this) or a flat surface and your hands. Rolling sushi – mat or not – takes some practice and I’ve long accepted that the rolls won’t turn out perfectly. As long as it tastes good, I’m ok.
Sushi Filling Options
The sushi filling options are endless! If you eat seafood, cooked shrimp is my favorite at-home sushi protein because it’s easy to make and less expensive than sushi-grade fish.
To keep it vegan, some of my favorite filling ingredients are mango, cooked tofu, shredded carrots, red pepper, and even greens for a sushi-salad situation.
Whichever fillings you choose, just make sure to slice them thinly so that everything fits in the sushi roll.
Sushi Making Tips
The most important tip is to not overfill the sushi roll; use less rice and less filling than you think to make it easier to roll. It’s also helpful to be near a sink with a dish towel because your hands will get sticky. Here’s the play-by-play.
- Lay a sheet of nori on a flat surface, glossy side down (you can use a sushi mat to make rolling easier, but it isn’t necessary! You can use parchment paper like this or simply a flat surface and your hands). Spread a very thin layer of rice over the nori, making sure it’s not too thick or it will be too difficult to roll.
- Add some of the fillings in a line about 1-inch from the edge of the nori closest to you (see photo above for reference). Wet your fingers with a little water and dampen the exposed nori at the top to help it seal right before rolling.
- Roll the nori and rice horizontally over the filling while applying light pressure to create a tube shape. Continue until it’s all the way rolled up.
- Slice the roll with a very sharp knife into 8-10 pieces and repeat until all rice and fillings are used up.
Simplified Sushi Bowls
My favorite topic! If you’re short on time but want to satisfy sushi cravings, simply turn this recipe into a bowl. You can make the short-grain brown sushi rice as written or even just use plain short-grain brown rice to keep it easy.
In a bowl, top the brown rice with the sliced avocado, cucumbers, and sprouts (or toppings of choice), sprinkle with crumbled nori sheets (or even nori snacks for extra crunch), and serve with the tahini-miso sauce or, the easiest option: gluten-free soy sauce and pickled ginger. Done and done.
Avocado Cucumber Sushi Rolls
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roll
- Cuisine: Japanese
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Avocado cucumber sushi rolls! An easy vegan sushi recipe made with brown rice, avocado, cucumber, sprouts, and an optional tahini-miso sauce.
Ingredients
Rice
- 1 cup short-grain brown rice
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Rolls
- 4 nori sheets
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1 cup sprouts, like alfalfa
Tahini-Miso Sauce (Optional, See Notes)
- 1 tablespoon miso paste
- 2 tablespoons tahini paste
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 small garlic clove
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Make the short-grain brown rice according to package instructions. Once cooked, remove from heat and allow to steam, with the lid on, for 10 minutes. Then add the rice vinegar, maple syrup, and salt, and stir to combine. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, make the tahini-miso sauce, if using. Add all sauce ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth and creamy. If the sauce seems too thick, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time until the sauce reaches a pourable consistency.
- Lay a sheet of nori on a flat surface, glossy side down (you can use a sushi mat to make rolling easier, but it isn’t necessary! You can use parchment paper like this or simply a flat surface and your hands). Spread a very thin layer of rice over the nori, making sure it’s not too thick or it will be too difficult to roll.
- Add one-fourth of the sliced vegetables and sprouts in a line about 1-inch from the edge of the nori closest to you. Wet your fingers with a little water and dampen the exposed nori at the top to help it seal right before rolling.
- Roll the nori and rice horizontally over the vegetables while applying light pressure to create a tube shape. Continue until it’s all the way rolled up.
- Slice the roll with a very sharp knife into 8-10 pieces and repeat until all rice and fillings are used up (makes about four rolls).
- Serve immediately with tahini-miso sauce or gluten-free soy sauce. Best when fresh, though leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Notes
Tahini-miso sauce. The rolls can simply be served with gluten-free soy sauce instead of the tahini-miso sauce!
Short on time? Make the super-simplified version by turning these rolls into a sushi bowl! Use plain short-grain brown rice, top with sliced avocado + cucumbers + sprouts, sprinkle with crumbled nori sheets (or even nori snacks for extra crunch), and serve with gluten-free soy sauce and pickled ginger instead of the tahini-miso sauce. Done and done.
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