Make Sushi at Home in No Time?

Answer 1

Sushi is a delectable, healthy treat that you can make at home at a fraction of the cost of going out to a sushi bar. Once the basic process is understood, there are many possibilities to experiment with ingredients that will rarely be found in a sushi establishment. The most popular form of sushi in the West is the California roll. The recipe is extremely versatile, and the resulting sushi will be completely safe for consumption even by pregnant women.

California Roll Ingredients and Equipment

You will need 2-3 sheets of Nori per roll. The other ingredients include 2 cups of sushi rice, white or black sesame seeds, and the fillings. Traditional fillings for a California roll are imitation crab sticks, cucumber, and avocado. The sticks will already be prepared in the right size, but cucumber and avocado will need to be sliced into thin, long sticks.

The only equipment you will need is a sharp knife and a sheet of wax paper. A bamboo mat is optional, though it will make crafting a proportional roll much easier for first-time, sushi chefs.

Steps to crafting a California Roll

1. Split Nori sheets in half. Lay the halves out on wax paper covering the bamboo mat to make the desired length, but be sure to make them overlap an inch or so.
2. Place a layer of rice on top of the Nori. It should be thin enough to stick evenly.
3. Flip the Nori over, so rice is underneath. Place fillings lengthwise in the middle.
4. Roll it up. This takes practice, but the general rule is to make the roll tighter as you go.
5. Squeeze until the roll sticks together on its own. Cut and serve. For delayed serving, be sure to sprinkle some lemon juice on the avocado to preserve freshness.

Experimenting with the Recipe

Sushi rice is chosen, because it cooks into a very sticky form perfect for holding the roll together. If you can find it, purple rice is just as sticky and will add more flair to the roll. There are other types of sticky rice, generally short-grain varieties, to experiment with. Short-grain, brown rice is the healthiest and has become a popular sushi rice.

You can use any filling you want, however, and some popular choices include pineapple, celery, carrot, and eggplant. Basically anything that can be shaved to a thin size and eaten raw is a fine choice for experimenting!