I was introduced to Sushi when I visited Japan for the first time (some 30 years ago). I saw this interesting looking rice meal in the window of a small restaurant that looked so inviting, and I thought, I must try it. And try I did, along with many other unique Japanese dishes. And on all of my subsequent visits to Japan, I always make plenty of time to enjoy the foods of Japan. Well, why wouldn’t you when it is so tasty and healthy.
To say I fell in love with Japanese food is an understatement. So deeply in love with Sushi I decided I must learn how to make it, so I could enjoy it anytime. It was such a fun day learning to make sushi. The other people in the class were very nice and we all enjoyed our sushi making efforts at the end of the class.
What Do You Need to Make Sushi?
All you need to make Sushi or Maki Sushi (aka ‘hand rolled’ sushi) is a sushi mat, Yakinori seaweed sheets, sushi rice and your favourite fillings. Plus a little soy sauce or wasabi to dip your sushi in.
I’ll just point out here, the difference between Temaki Sushi and Maki Sushi. Maki Sushi is nicely rolled sushi with a sushi mat while Temaki Sushi is rolled by hand without a mat and often looks like a cone. So you have the choice of how you would like to make your sushi.
I say hand rolled sushi, as many do hand roll it. And hand rolling sushi is quite easy though I need a little help to roll my sushi, and use this sushi making kit I bought from Amazon. I like it because it includes the rolling mat and a vegetable peeler which are so useful to make great sushi.
sushi making kit available from Amazon
What Rice Should You Use for Sushi?
The best rice for sushi is a Japanese short-grain white rice. You will see it in the supermarkets label as ‘sushi rice’. The rice has a high starch content for stickiness so your sushi doesn’t fall apart. But you can use other rices if you don’t have this rice available to you while travelling, backpacking or camping. Such as a medium-grain ‘Calrose’ rice.
What Fillings Can You Put in Sushi?
There are plenty of fillings you can use in sushi, popular sushi fillings include:
- Prawns (shrimp), avocado and mayonnaise (my favourite)
- Tuna or salmon, cucumber and mayonnaise
- Teriyaki chicken, carrot and mayonnaise
- Vegetables – carrot sticks, avocado, cucumber
My tips for the perfect sushi filling: combine soft, creamy elements (mayo, avocado) with crunchy ones (carrots, cucumbers) and a fish/meat.
How to make hand rolled Sushi
To make hand rolled sushi, firstly gather your ingredients. Cook the rice and prepare your vegetables by thinly slicing them. Once rice is cooked and cooled, the fun starts. On your seaweed lay a line of rice and make an indent down the middle of the rice as here lays your filling. Put more rice on top of the filling, then roll your seaweed sheet around the rice.
How do you cook sushi rice?
The easiest way to cook sushi rice for sushi is in a rice cooker. I sometimes travel with a rice cooker – read my rice cooker review post. But if you don’t have one, don’t stress as you can cook rice by boiling it. Once cooked, fold in a little rice vinegar, sugar and salt (called sushi-zu) as this flavours the rice and is the perfect flavour for sushi rolls.
Easy Handmade Sushi Recipe
Homemade Sushi Rolls
Ingredients
- Sushi rice (1 cup of uncooked rice can yield 3-5 sushi rolls depending on how big you like them)
- Rice vinegar, sugar and salt
- Seaweed sheets (I find one sheet makes 2-3 generous rolls when cut)
- Fillings - your choice, Teriyaki Chicken, prawns, tuna, cucumber, avocado and mayonnaise
- Soy Sauce and/or Wasabi Sauce
Instructions
- Cook rice, then fold through rice vinegar, sugar and salt.
- Prepare fillings while rice is cooking.
- On your bamboo mat lay your seaweed sheet and place rice making a well for fillings
- Add fillings of your choice and add some rice on top
- Roll sushi and cut to desired size.
- Dip in sauce and enjoy.
Variation to Handmade Sushi Rolls
You don’t necessarily need to roll your sushi. You can put all the ingredients in a cooking dish or serving dish and squash them together! This is how:
1. Cook rice per packet instructions.
2. Mix tuna with mayo and a splash of soy sauce. Or prepare your favourite ingredient.
3. Line a small glass cooking bowl or serving bowl with baking paper or cling film. This stops the ingredients being stuck to your vessel.
4. Add rice to the vessel and press down.
5. Layer on top of rice the tuna mix or your favourite ingredient. Then layer avocado and nori strips on top. Press down.
5. Turn out onto a serving plate. Cut into pieces. Drizzle with soy and devour.
Are You Ready to Make Handmade Sushi?
