Today, I want to teach you how to prepare one of my favorite dishes—sushi.
The key to success lies in properly preparing the rice; the rest of the steps are incredibly simple. Of course, for the best results, along with a great recipe, high-quality ingredients are equally important. Gather the ingredients for your favorite rolls and let’s get started!
Homemade Sushi Recipe
Ingredients
For the Rice:
- 1.5 cups sushi rice (350 g)
- 1.5 cups water (370 ml)
- 62 ml rice vinegar
- 2 1/3 sugar
- 1 tsp salt
Additional Ingredients:
- 7-8 Nori sheets
- Smoked salmon
- Crab sticks
- Cucumber
- Avocado
- Sesame seeds
- Cream cheese
Instructions
Rice:
- Preparing sushi rice begins with thoroughly washing it. Wash the rice multiple times until the water runs clear.
- Pour enough water over the washed rice to submerge it, and let it sit for 30 minutes. This step is crucial for achieving the proper rice texture.
- While the rice is soaking, prepare the vinegar mixture by combining rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan. Heat on low, stirring constantly. Once the sugar dissolves, remove it from the heat and cool it to room temperature.
- After 30 minutes, drain the water from the rice thoroughly. Add 1.5 cups of water to the rice and cook over medium heat. Once it boils, reduce the heat and simmer for the time specified on the package (10 minutes in this case).
- Transfer the cooked rice to a damp surface and spread it out using a silicone spatula or a damp wooden spoon. While the rice is still hot, pour the cooled vinegar mixture over it and gently fold it in. Spread the rice out again to cool it to room temperature.
Making Rolls:
- Cover the bamboo mat (makisu) with plastic wrap to keep it clean. Place a sheet of nori on the mat with the shiny side down. Spread the rice evenly on the rough side of the nori.
- California Roll: Spread rice over the entire nori sheet, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and flip it over. Place crab sticks, cucumber slices, and avocado slices on the shiny side. Roll using the technique shown in the video and cut into desired sizes.
- Philadelphia Roll: Spread rice over the entire nori sheet, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and flip it over. Add cream cheese, smoked salmon slices, and cucumber to the shiny side. Roll and cut into desired sizes using the technique shown in the video.
- Maki: For maki rolls, cut the nori sheet in half. Spread rice on the rough side, and add cucumber, avocado, or your preferred fish. Roll and cut into desired sizes. Plastic wrap isn’t needed for maki rolls.
Cutting Rolls:
- Use a damp knife for slicing. To make cutting easier, wrap the roll in plastic wrap (refer to video).Serve sushi with soy sauce. I personally love it with wasabi paste.
