Sushi Rice and California Rolls Recipe

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The California roll; my favorite! I’m not a brave sushi goer (no raw fish for me!), but I sure do love my California rolls. I crave these topped with spicy mayo and dipped in a wasabi/soy sauce concoction… mmm. It’s also pretty inexpensive to make sushi at home. With the right tools and this tutorial, you’ll be a pro in no time.

It’s been an exciting week in my kitchen. First selyodka, now sushi and a bunch of other things in between, just wait until next week! ;). I’m just wild like ‘dat. I’m posting this because I’ve received plenty of requests for a sushi tutorial over the years and I think I make a mighty good Cali roll. My husband agrees 🙂

Ingredients for Perfect Sushi Rice:

2 cups Japanese short or medium grain rice (such as Homai or California Calrose)
2 to 2 1/2 cups cold water*
5 Tbsp Sushi Vinegar
(Make your own sushi vinegar by combining the following 3 ingredients and dissolving them together over low heat on the stove, then let the mixture cool):
4 Tbsp Rice vinegar
2 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt (I used sea salt)

*Use 2 cups water for the stovetop rice cooking method and 2 1/2 cups water for the rice maker method.

I called my favorite sushi place and they told me they use Homai (California Calrose) rice to make their sushi. So I trotted over to the store and purchased the same one. It was perfect!

Ingredients for California Roll:

1/2 lb Imitation crab meat (p.s. the “log” shaped crab meat is the easiest to work with)
1 Avocado, ripe but still firm
1/2 medium cucumber, peeled and sliced into long julienne strips
Toasted Nori Seaweed
Toasted sesame seeds
A sushi rolling mat + Plastic wrap to cover the mat. If you don’t have a sushi mat, try using parchment paper instead.

Dips/Sauces for California roll:

Soy sauce (regular or low sodium)
Wasabi paste or wasabi powder
For spicy mayo: Mayonnaise (~1 Tbsp) and Sriracha hot chili sauce (~1 tsp)  or to taste

How to Cook Perfect Sushi Rice (Rice Maker or Stove-top):

1. Wash the rice with cold water until the water runs clear. Drain well. If you have a rice maker (way easier!), follow rice maker instructions (add 2 cups rice and 2 1/2 cups water) (no salt required!) and cook on the white rice setting then skip to step #4

2. For the stove top method: Put drained rice in a heavy sauce-pan and add 2 cups cold water. Cover tightly and set the pan over high heat and bring to a boil. Once it boils, reduce heat to medium and let cook covered until all the water is absorbed (7-8 min). Do not remove the cover to check, but listen for the bubbling to stop.

3. Once you hear a faint hissing sound, reduce the heat to very low and cook another 6 min. Remove from the heat and let stand 15 min covered. This is the basic white rice eaten with Japanese meals.

4. Transfer the hot rice to a large bowl and break it up to get rid of all the hot clumps.

5. Let the rice cool down a little. It should still be very warm when you stir in your sushi vinegar.

Assembling your California Rolls:

1. Wrap your in plastic wrap before using it (this makes it re-useable and you don’t even have to wash it!).

2. Fold the pieces of nori in half to split them.

3. Toast your sesame seeds over medium heat, stirring constantly until golden. Slice up your veggies and crab meat.

4. Spread a generous handful of sushi rice onto the 1/2 sheet of nori. Use your WET FINGER TIPS (keep your hands wet to prevent sticking) to spread the rice evenly over the entire surface of the nori.

5. Flip the rice covered piece of nori over so the rice is facing down (this way, your rice will be on the outside). Place your fillings across the center of your nori lengthwise (don’t overfill or the roll won’t seal).

6. Start rolling using your matt to firmly keep the roll in place. Apply some pressure to make a tight roll. If its not tight enough, it will be difficult to cut. Once the roll is complete, sprinkle the roll with toasted sesame seeds while it is still on the mat so you can turn it easily.

7. Run your sharp knife through a damp paper towel before slicing so the rice won’t stick as much. Cut the roll in half, then line the two halves up and slice into even 1-inch rings. I have found that it slices easier when you slice quickly.

I learned my sushi making skills after reading Mom’s culinary textbook from her college days, a little bit of trial-and-error and picked up some tips (like the wet knife and the plastic wrapped-sushi matt) from Ree Drummond.

Sushi Rice and California Rolls Recipe

4.97 from 60 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

A tutorial on how to make the perfect sushi rice and a recipe for legitimate California rolls 🙂

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Prep Time: 1 hour hr

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Ingredients 

Servings: 9 rolls

Ingredients for Perfect Sushi Rice:

• 2 cups Japanese short or medium grain rice
• 2 1/2 cups cold water
• 5 Tbsp Sushi Vinegar

Make your own sushi vinegar by combining the following 3 ingredients and dissolving them together over low heat on the stove, then let the mixture cool:

• 4 Tbsp Rice vinegar
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp salt, I used sea salt

Ingredients for California Rolls:

• 1/2 lb Imitation crab meat, p.s. the "log" shaped crab meat is the easiest to work with
• 1 Avocado, ripe but still firm
• 1/2 medium cucumber, peeled and sliced into long julienne strips
• Toasted Nori Seaweed
• Toasted sesame seeds
• A sushi rolling mat, $2 at Cost Plus World Market If you don't have a sushi mat, try using parchment paper instead.

For Dips/Sauces:

• Soy sauce, regular or low sodium
• Wasabi paste or wasabi powder
• For spicy mayo: Mayonnaise, ~1 Tbsp and Sriracha hot chili sauce (~1 tsp) or to taste

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Instructions

How to Cook Perfect Sushi Rice (Rice Maker and Stove-top versions): P.S. do not add salt while cooking rice.

• Wash the rice with cold water until the water runs clear. Drain well. If you have a rice maker (way easier!), follow rice maker instructions and cook on the white rice setting then skip to step #4
• Put drained rice in a heavy sauce-pan and add 2 cups cold water. Cover tightly and set the pan over high heat and bring to a boil. Once it boils, reduce heat to medium and let cook covered until all the water is absorbed (7-8 min). Do not remove the cover to check, but listen for the bubbling to stop.
• Once you hear a faint hissing sound, reduce the heat to very low and cook another 6 min. Remove from the heat and let stand 15 min covered. This is the basic white rice eaten with japanese meals.
• Transfer the hot rice to a large bowl and break it up to get rid of all the hot clumps.
• Let the rice cool down until it is just warm, then stir in your cooled sushi vinegar

Assembling your California Rolls:

• Wrap your sushi matt in plastic wrap before using it (this makes it re-useable and you don't even have to wash it!).
• Fold the pieces of nori in half to split them.
• Toast your sesame seeds over medium heat, stirring constantly until golden. Slice up your veggies.
• Spread a generous handful of sushi rice onto the 1/2 sheet of nori. Use your WET FINGER TIPS (keep your hands wet to prevent sticking) to spread the rice evenly over the entire surface of the nori.
• Flip the rice covered piece of nori over so the rice is facing down (this way, your rice will be on the outside). Place your fillings across the center of your rice in the middle of the sheet (don't overfill or the roll won't seal).
• Start rolling away from you using your matt to firmly keep the roll in place. Apply some pressure to make a tight roll. If its not tight enough, it will be difficult to cut. Once the roll is complete, sprinkle the roll with toasted sesame seeds while it is still on the mat so you can turn it easily.
• Run your sharp knife through a damp paper towel before slicing so the rice won't stick as much. Cut the roll in half, then line the two halves up and slice even 1-inch rings. I have found that it slices easier when you slice quickly.

Nutrition Per Serving

224.84kcal Calories42.49g Carbs4.87g Protein3.56g Fat0.56g Saturated Fat2.77mg Cholesterol665.99mg Sodium180.09mg Potassium2.39g Fiber3.97g Sugar50.11IU Vitamin A2.7mg Vitamin C18.94mg Calcium0.5mg Iron

• Full Nutrition Label
• Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Sushi Rice and California Rolls Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

224.84

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

3.56

g

5

%

Saturated Fat

 

0.56

g

4

%

Cholesterol

 

2.77

mg

1

%

Sodium

 

665.99

mg

29

%

Potassium

 

180.09

mg

5

%

Carbohydrates

 

42.49

g

14

%

Fiber

 

2.39

g

10

%

Sugar

 

3.97

g

4

%

Protein

 

4.87

g

10

%

Vitamin A

 

50.11

IU

1

%

Vitamin C

 

2.7

mg

3

%

Calcium

 

18.94

mg

2

%

Iron

 

0.5

mg

3

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: california rolls, Sushi rice

Skill Level: Medium

Cost to Make: $$

Calories: 224.84