Make Your Own Brown Rice Sushi Roll
How much does this look like the salmon avocado brown rice sushi graphic in my logo? Cray, right?!
I’ve made my own sushi rolls before but never this expertly. I must say, I’m pretty proud of how they turned out.
As you know, I usually prefer to get my sushi on the cheap at my local fav spot, Echi. This weekend though, I decided to challenge myself and try to make a version of my beloved rolls at home for this month’s Recipe Redux.
The theme was “Treasured Cookware.” With Mother’s Day coming up, the idea was to incorporate a treasured kitchen item into our recipes, possibly something passed down by a relative.
While my mom is an absolutely wonderful cook and she’s shared many recipes and tips with me, she’s never given me a sentimental piece of cookware — though I will note that I adore the Vitamix she gave me for Christmas.
Instead, I chose to feature a kitchen utensil I bought on a special trip to Thailand.
Every year, the BF and I take a 2-week vacation to an exciting destination and I like to pick up little mementoes along the way. Prior to meeting him I hadn’t traveled abroad, so these trips — and the things I bring back — are very special to me.
In Thailand, we bought several sets of chopsticks for ourselves and our family members at the local market, and it’s always fun to break them out when we get sushi takeout.
It was even more exciting to use them this time for my own homemade sushi feast.
It turns out that making your own sushi is actually much easier than you would think and it’s not hard to find brown, whole-grain sushi rice. This further affirms my position that all sushi restaurants should offer brown rice. I mean seriously, it’s 2014.
I was worried that I couldn’t make sticky brown rice in a regular pot at home though, but it turns out the secret is simple. Just use short-grain rice vs. long grain brown rice and make sure to use extra water when cooking it.
For this roll I decided to use salmon, crab steak (a.k.a. imitation crab – I like it better than the real thing, I’m weird like that), cucumber, and avocado.
I did a little research and learned a few fancy tricks to make the rolls with the rice on the outside and with the avocado on top.
Including the time it took to boil the rice, this whole process only an hour. If you buy pre-made sticky rice, it would only take you 15 minutes!
Make Your Own Brown Rice Sushi
Ingredients:
1 C. Short Grain Brown Rice
2 Sheets of Nori
1/4 lb Sushi Grade Salmon
2 oz. Crab Steak
1/2 Avocado
1/4 Cucumber
Directions:
1. Put rice in a pot and add water until it’s about a 3/4 of an inch above the grains. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for about 45 minutes (or as directed). Keep an eye on it toward the end to make sure it doesn’t burn.
2. Place your nori, shiny side up (there are two sides: one is rough, one is slick), on a sushi mat. I couldn’t find a real sushi mat originally so I ghetto-rigged it with a bamboo placemat. Worked like a charm.
3. Dip your hands in a bowl of water and then start scooping the rice onto the nori and pressing it down. It should take about 1/2 of the rice you’ve cooked for one roll. Keep wetting your hands if the rice begins to stick to them.
3. Now flip the rice paper over and place your fillings — salmon, crab, and cucumber — on the top third half of the paper.
4. Using the mat, fold the roll over itself. Then squeeze.
5. Let go of the mat and pull it further over your roll, turning the roll into itself. Squeeze again.
6. Repeat until your roll is completely formed. Marvel at your roll.
7. Place thinly sliced avocado strips across the top of the roll.
8. Place a small piece of plastic wrap on top.
9. Use the mat to squeeze the roll again, securing the avocado.
10. Slice with a sharp knife.
11. Enjoy with soy sauce, coconut aminos, ginger, wasabi, and your favorite pair of chopsticks.
Total Calories: about 320 for a large roll (makes 2, 8-piece rolls)
All dressed up with some edamame on the side, I couldn’t even tell these didn’t come from a top of the line L.A. sushi bar. Now that I know how easy they are to make, I’m totally going to make them on the reg.
Give them a try and let me know what interesting add-ins you try. And be sure to check out all the other awesome recipes below from my fellow reduxers…
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Polly @ Tasty Food Project says:
Your sushi looks so delicious! Sushi is actually one of my favorite foods. My husband and I went to a sushi making class together last year and learned how to make our own sushi too!
Gemma Critchley says:
Ooooh these look delicious! I haven’t made sushi in years so will have to get some Nori and make some soon I think! Thanks for all the great photos showing how to do it with the rice on the outside :)
Marina @ Lazy for Diet says:
I never was to great admirers of sushi. But it… It sounds as mix of my favourite things! I think, we will make it with my friends on our pajama party ;)
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat says:
Sushi rolls are one of my most favorite things ever!!! I’ve been kind of intimidated to try making them myself, but you make it look so easy. These looks fabulous!
Brittany says:
I’ve made my own sushi before and was surprised at how easy it was. I used brown rice too! :)
Yours looks awesome. I need to make some again soon!
Lauren Harris-Pincus (@LaurenPincusRD) says:
Looks beautiful! I have not made sushi in ages, you inspired me to try again. Yum!!
Tara says:
I cannot believe you made this yourself ! Beautiful and looks super yummy ! X
Jordan @ The Blonde Vegan says:
That sushi looks SO heavenly. And so special that you and your boyf take a 2 week trip together every year… umm, I wanna do that! That photo of you two in Thailand is adorable. And now you’ve totally got me amped to make my own sushi!!!
Ashley @ Brocblog says:
Well now I definitely need to have sushi for dinner tonight. A friend of mine actually talked about hitting up echi, Its one of my favorites too!
Katy says:
I’m SUPER impressed by this! My one and only attempt at making sushi at home was a disaster. I’m far more content letting someone else make it for me :) BUT…you’ve inspired me to give it another go myself.
Brittany @ Barr & Table says:
This looks so good, I have to try it! Also, that’s so awesome that you take a 2 week vaca with your BF every year. How fun!
Kim says:
I’m super impressed with your sushi rolls – I would probably end up with rice all over everything and there would probably be much cussing on my part!!
Madison @ Eating for Balance says:
I actually have seaweed sheets in my closet right now. Not for sushi though… I just like snacking on them. :) A little strange, I know!
You are a sushi rolling pro. The avocado on top looks professional, really!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says:
I really want to learn to do this properly! I’ve made a few verrrry rough versions. More practice! :)
Anne@simpleandsavory says:
Yum! I love the avocado on the outside, I am going to try this over the weekend!
Jenny Shea Rawn says:
Ok, this sushi looks amazing. And you make it looks so easy! Both hubby and I love love sushi and it’s something that we treat ourselves to when we go out because we know we wouldn’t be able to do it justice at home. But now I must try this!
Rachael@AnAvocadoADay says:
Woah those look totally legit! I’ve got chopsticks from Thailand too that I adore! I use them for things that definitely don’t require chopsticks just because I love them so much!
Regan @ The Healthy Aperture Blog says:
So how many things can I be jealous of in one post — a vitamix from mom, a trip to Thailand AND yummy looking sushi??? Great post :)
GiGi Eats Celebrities says:
OMFG I am so proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now we don’t have to go to Echi, we can just have sushi parties at each other’s houses.
OMG – Don’t tell Echi I said that! LOL!
I need to take you to Mitsuwa so you can get some inexpensively DELICIOUS sush grade SALMON!! Ahhh yes!
Ann Dunaway Teh (@anndunawayteh) says:
Beautiful sushi and pictures! Definitely have me craving sushi now and I just had it this weekend!
Dale Janee says:
Such a cute pic of you two in Thailand and that you have so many memories together. I have never really eaten sushi, but this looks so good especially with the avocado on top. You make it look so simple. :)
xoDale
http://www.savvyspice.com
Nikki @ The Kids Menu says:
Yum! I love sushi and you certainly looks like you have done it justice. Quinoa also makes a great alternative to rice
Chrystal @ YUM eating says:
That must get into my belly right now! I adore sushi and I am a big fan of avocado. Making the switch to brown rice was easy for me, but not so much for my husband. We still argue about it. His mother went to Japan last year and brought back this wonderful boxed kit for my husband which included chopsticks, placemats and some other trinkets. (I got jade earrings and necklace. Perhaps I should get the foodie related item?? LOL) This might be the perfect reason to test out the items in that box! (which currently resides in our china cabinet)
Sarah says:
This looks ridiculously professional! I love making sushi at home because then I can put as much avocado as I please. And we all know the avo is the best part. Love your work :)
Whitney English says:
They always scrimp on the avo at restaurants, right?! Thanks for the kind comments! xo
stephanie says:
I love making sushi and especially with brown rice.
I usually make the ones with nori on the outside, but after reading this article I want to try the one with rice on the outside.
wish me luck!
s
Whitney English says:
Good luck!! Let me know how it turns out!
Yasar says:
Thank you so much for this nice Recipe & Easy To Understand Guide.