Make Your Own Sushi
June 2, 2020
Want a fun dinner night idea? Try our homemade sushi recipe! Mix and match your favorite protein and sauces to add flare to this recipe. This is a great recipe for date nights, family fun, or a dinner with friends!
Although not all of us have sushi kits laying around the house, purchasing a cheap one from amazon is a decision you will not regret! I got mine for $15 and it came with 2 bamboo mats, 5 pairs of reusable chopsticks, a paddle, and spreader. The fun I had making sushi for the first time was way worth the cost of the kit! plus, now I have one and will most definitely be using it again! Of course you can make sushi without the fun tools. I read about someone making it with a towel instead of bamboo!
Unlike the sushi making kit, nori is something that you can’t really make sushi without. I found it at Whole Foods. One package has about 10 sheets which makes 10 rolls, plenty for a party of 5. Nori is a seaweed superfood (and the name of Elle’s cat)! It is rich in calcium, iron, and a variety of vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, and K). A sheet of nori only has about 10 calories!
Sushi rice is short grain white rice. It almost looks round! It is unique because of the way it binds together. This is why using a different type of rice won’t really work for this recipe. Sushi rice is high in starch which also helps it stick.
Vegetable Sushi
A cost effective alternative to going out. This recipe not only provides a filling meal, but also a fun activity for a family or group of friends!
Ingredients
- 4 cups sushi rice
- 4 tbsp rice vinegar
- 3 avocados sliced
- 1 cucumber sliced
- 1 bag Alexia Sweet Potato Fries (15 oz)
- 10 sheets nori found at Whole Foods
Optional
- soy sauce for dipping
- shrimp or "yum yum" sauce for dipping
- Your favorite sushi fillings sushi grade fish (salmon, tuna, white fish), cooked shrimp, tempeh, tofu, etc.
Instructions
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Soak sushi rice in equal parts water for 15 minutes. I cooked 2 cups at a time.
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Place rice and water in a large pot and bring to a boil.
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Once boiling, turn heat to low, cover, and let cook for 20 minutes.
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While the rice cooks, prep your vegetables by slicing the avocado and cucumber and cooking the sweet potato fries as directed on the back of the bag.
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Remove rice from heat and add 4 tbsp of rice vinegar to it. Stir and let sit for 10 more minutes.
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You can also just follow the instructions on the rice package as some brands cook slightly different.
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Once everything is prepped and prepared, get rolling! Start by placing a sheet of nori onto the bamboo mat.
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Add a heaping scoop of rice to the nori and spread it about a quarter inch thick (I've found that a wet wooden spoon works best to spread the very sticky rice). Leave a 2 inch strip of nori on one edge bare.
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Place your desired fillings on the rice. Feel free to customize your roll by adding whatever you think sounds good!
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Wet the bare strip of nori (I use my fingers).
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Tightly roll the sushi, removing the bamboo mat as you go. The wet strip of nori will be the last thing rolled and what keeps everything together.
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Using a good knife, cut the roll into 6-8 pieces.
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Repeat until you run out of ingredients and your stomach is satisfied!
Eleanor Baker MS, RD, LDN
Hi! My name is Eleanor, I have a love for delicious and nutritious dishes, the outdoors, great people, and good times! I am a Registered Dietitian and an enthusiast when it comes to learning about health and how I can help others to feel their best. Learn more about living vibrantly on my site and take your health to the next level with a more individual approach when you meet with me.