How To Make Simple Sushi Rolls

I spent a lot of money buying California rolls at Whole Foods and the sushi counter of my supermarket before I found out how easy they are to make.

Here are the supplies you’ll need: sushi rice, nori sheets, and a bamboo rolling mat (between $1-2). You’ll find all of these in the ethnic foods aisle of the supermarket. Sushi grade rice is important to create the “stickiness” needed for these rolls.

First, prepare the rice: Follow the directions on the back of the rice package (1 1/2 cups of uncooked rice will yield plenty of rice to make 4-6 rolls). While the rice is cooking, combine 6 tablespoons rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 2 teaspoons salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir mixture just until the sugar dissolves (do not boil). Remove from heat and let it cool until ready for use.

When the rice is cooked, pour rice vinegar mixture over rice and fluff using a fork. Rice is the stickiest (and easiest to roll) when it is completely cool. A quick way to do this is to spread it out onto a baking sheet. You can also refrigerate the rice overnight if you want to make sushi rolls the next day.

Prepare the filling. Slice veggies into thin matchsticks. I used cucumbers and carrots in mine, but consider filling yours with avocado, imitation crab meat, etc.

Lay the bamboo mat on a flat surface. Cover with a sheet of plastic wrap allowing a 1-inch overlap from the mat.

Place a nori sheet over plastic wrap with rough side of nori facing up.

With wet hands, grab a handful of rice and place in the center of the nori. Press the rice out towards to edges of the nori sheet, grabbing more rice (and water) as you go.

The rice filling should be 1 cm thick and 1/2-inch from the border.

Sprinkle a bed of sesame seeds over the rice.

Add one more sheet of plastic wrap over the rice coated with sesame seeds, overlapping 1″ on all sides.

Carefully place one hand on top and flip the sheet so the plain side of the nori is facing up. Then remove the top layer of plastic wrap.

Add your desired amount of  ingredients to the center of the nori.

Fold the nori over ingredients and tuck the edge underneath. Continue to roll using firm pressure and peeling back plastic wrap and mat as you go. Dab cold water on the edge of nori to seal the roll.

Slice roll in half and then cut into 6-8 pieces.

Serve with soy sauce.

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Simple Sushi Rolls

Servings 6 servings

Calories 219 kcal

Author Real Mom Nutrition

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups medium-grain sushi rice
• 2 cups water
• 6 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 large cucumber peeled and seeds removed
• 2 large carrots peeled
• Sesame seeds
• 4-6 sheets nori

Instructions

1. Make the rice by following the directions on the back of the rice package.
2. While the rice is cooking, combine rice vinegar, sugar, and 2 teaspoons salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir mixture just until the sugar dissolves; do not boil. Remove from heat and let cool until ready for use.
3. When the rice is cooked, pour rice vinegar mixture over rice and fluff using a fork. Allow rice to cool completely by transferring to a baking sheet.
4. Slice veggies into thin matchsticks.
5. Lay the bamboo mat on a flat surface. Cover with a sheet of plastic wrap allowing a 1-inch overlap from the mat. Place a nori sheet over plastic wrap with rough side of nori facing up.
6. With wet hands, grab a handful of rice and place in the center of the nori. Press the rice out towards to edges of the nori sheet, grabbing more rice (and water) as you go. The rice filling should be 1 cm thick and 1/2-inch from the border.
7. Sprinkle a bed of sesame seeds over the rice.
8. Add one more sheet of plastic wrap over the rice coated with sesame seeds, overlapping 1" on all sides. Carefully place one hand on top and flip the sheet so the plain side of the nori is facing up. Then remove the top layer of plastic wrap.
9. Add your desired amount of ingredients to the center of the nori.

10. Fold the nori over the ingredients and tuck the edge underneath. Continue to roll using firm pressure and peeling back plastic wrap and mat as you go. Dab cold water on the edge of nori to seal roll. Repeat with remaining nori until you run out of ingredients!

11. Slice roll in half and then cut into 6-8 pieces. Serve with soy sauce.

Nutrition Facts

Simple Sushi Rolls

Amount Per Serving (1 roll)

Calories 219 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 1g 2%

Sodium 1051mg 44%

Potassium 212mg 6%

Total Carbohydrates 47g 16%

Dietary Fiber 2g 8%

Sugars 13g

Protein 5g 10%

Vitamin A 82%

Vitamin C 11%

Calcium 6%

Iron 2%

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