A sushi roll is a dish that consists of raw fish and vegetable fillings wrapped with rice and seaweed and then cut into smaller pieces to give the sushi rolls. Over the years, the methods and ideas for making sushi rolls have evolved, and there are now more types of sushi rolls and more creative ways of making these sushi rolls.
Here are 7 creative sushi rolls to make:
- Salmon Nigiri
- California Roll
- Spicy Tuna Roll
- Vegetable Roll
- Rainbow Roll
- Teriyaki Chicken Roll
- Spider Roll
As you read on, you’ll get to know more about each of these forms of creative sushi rolls and detailed steps on how to make them.
1. Salmon Nigiri
The first sushi roll we’ll look at is the Salmon Nigiri. Salmon Nigiri is one of the original forms of sushi rolls, and its history goes as far back as the 1800s to the Kanto region of Tokyo. This form of sushi roll consists of a unique blend of rice, salt, sugar, and vinegar, then a slice of raw salmon or other forms of seafood is placed on top, and it’s held together with a line of seaweed (nori).
This ancient form of a salmon roll now has many variations and different ways of making it. However, we like to go with the more traditional preparation. This preparation also works for other forms of the Salmon Nigiri sushi roll.
Ingredients
To make yourself the best salmon Nigiri Sushi roll, you first want to get all the ingredients. The items you’ll need include:
- Sushi rice
- Salmon fillet
- Wasabi
- Soy sauce
How To Make Salmon Nigiri
Here are the steps to make the best Salmon Nigiri:
- Choose the perfect salmon. You can get your salmon from the fresh food market or your local frozen food store. To ensure freshness, I recommend you to get it from your new food market.
- Freeze the salmon to a temperature of -35°C (-31°F) to kill any harmful organisms that might be present such as tapeworm larvae. This point is critical because you’re going to eat the fish raw, and you don’t want to have a tapeworm infestation.
- The next step is to prepare the sushi rice. Sushi rice isn’t the same as regular rice. You can buy ready-made sushi rice or make it yourself by boiling the short-grain Japanese rice until it’s soft enough for you.
- Mix vinegar, salt, and sugar into the rice. Heat this mixture until the sugar completely melts, but be careful not to let it boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, allow the mixture to cool.
- Spread your properly cooked rice on a sheet and evenly apply the mixture of vinegar, salt, and sugar over it. As you’re applying the paste over the rice, turn the rice over and blow cool air over it. Keep repeating this process until the paste spreads well and allow the rice to cool.
- Once your sushi rice is ready, slice up your salmon into skinny layers or strips, about 6 cm (2.36 in) long, 0.5 cm (0.20 in) thick, and 2 cm (0.79 in) wide. These measurements aren’t absolute; you can adjust them to fit your taste.You need a very sharp knife to slice up the salmon into thin strips properly.
- Next, moisten your hand with water to shape the rice easily. Get a small amount of rice and use your fingers to mold it into a rectangle.
- Then, attach the rice to the fish slices you prepared. Repeat this step until you have the desired number of prepared pieces.
- You can also rub a suitable amount of wasabi on the side of the fish strip. The use of wasabi isn’t required to make your sushi roll, but it’s advisable because it allows your salmon to stay put on the rice, adding some extra flavor to your dish.
- Now you can shape the rice and salmon with your fingers until you’re satisfied with the outcome. Your Nigiri Salmon sushi roll is ready.
2. California Roll
California rolls are one of the best types of sushi rolls if appropriately made. Although many people claim to be the originators of the California roll, we know that the origin of sushi rolls can be traced as far back as the 1970s, and the place of origin is said to be Canada.
The California roll is a form of sushi roll that consists of cucumber, avocado, and crab wrapped with a layer of sushi rice. The outer layer of the sushi rice contains different ingredients to spice it up, such as sesame seeds or tobiko.
Ingredients
To make California rolls, you’ll need the following:
- Imitation crab meat
- Avocado
- Cucumber
- Toasted nori seaweed
- Sushi rice
- Toasted sesame seeds or tobiko
How To Make California Roll
Here are the steps to make California Rolls:
- Prepare your sushi rice. You may use the ready-made rice or make your own by following the steps to make sushi rice under Salmon Nigiri.
- Cover your bamboo mat with plastic wrap. This prevents the rice from sticking to it when used later.
- Next, take out your nori and break it into sizes convenient for you, preferably about 8.89×17.78 cm (3.5×7 in). Place your piece of nori on the bamboo mat.
- Moisten your fingers, scoop out a portion of rice, and place it on the nori. Gently spread out the rice on the entire surface of the nori until it forms a thin layer.
- Next, take your sesame seeds or tobiko and sprinkle them on the rice. After this, turn your nori facing towards the bamboo mat, and the back of your nori is facing you.
- Once you’ve turned the nori over, cut up your cucumber into small slices along with the avocado, and then add your crab meat to the mix. Ensure you don’t overstock the filling; if not, your sushi roll won’t close up.
- You can now roll up your sushi with the bamboo mat. However, ensure you don’t roll the bamboo mat into your sushi; you’ll need to pull back the mat as you proceed gradually.
- Repeat the process until you rolled up all the ingredients you prepared. Enjoy your sushi!
3. Spicy Tuna Roll
Spicy tuna roll is a type of sushi roll consisting of raw tuna, spicy mayo or sriracha, and nori. It’s a recipe that has been around since the 1980s.
Ingredients
To prepare this dish, you’ll need the following:
- Sushi rice
- Tuna
- Sriracha sauce
- Chopped green onion
- Sesame oil
- Nori
- Sesame seeds
- Spicy mayo
- Vinegar
How To Make Spicy Tuna Roll
Here are the steps to make Spicy Tuna Rolls:
- Cut up your tuna into tiny cubes, then mix it with sriracha sauce, green onion, and sesame oil.
- Next, take a bamboo mat and place a plastic wrap over it. Then, take your nori and put it on your bamboo mat.
- Moisten your fingers, scoop your sushi rice onto the nori, and then sprinkle your sesame seed on the rice. After spreading the sesame seeds, turn the nori over.
- Once you’ve turned your nori over, add your initial mixture of tuna to the side of the nori facing you.
- Next, roll your bamboo mat until you get a well-packed cylinder, and then cut it up into smaller sizes, and your spicy tuna roll is ready.
4. Vegetable Roll
Vegetable rolls are great for the vegans in the house, and you don’t have to miss out on the awesomeness of sushi rolls because you don’t eat meat or fish. The vegetable roll is a type of sushi that contains only vegetables; you can experiment with different kinds of vegetables.
Ingredients
To make vegetable rolls, you’ll need the following:
- Sushi rice
- Nori
- Cucumber
- Carrot
- Yellow bell pepper
- Scallions
- Daikon
- Avocado
How To Make Vegetable Roll
Here are the steps to make Vegetable Rolls:
- Prepare your bamboo mat and your nori, then spread your sushi rice on the nori.
- Next, cut up all your vegetables into a bowl and add your seasonings as well.
- Once you’ve prepared your sushi rice on the nori, turn the nori over and let the rice face the bamboo mat.
- Apply your vegetable mixture to the side of the nori to meet you and ensure you don’t put too much filling.
- Once you’ve applied your fillings, roll up the edge of your bamboo mat and be careful so the mat doesn’t go into the sushi.
- After you’ve rolled up your sushi, cut it into smaller pieces, and your vegetable sushi is served.
5. Rainbow Roll
The rainbow roll can be traced back to Los Angeles, from a place called Little Tokyo. The rainbow roll is a type of sushi roll that contains different kinds of fish, avocado, mango, imitation crab, and several other types of seafood of choice.
It’s one of the richest forms of sushi because it contains a wide variety of fillings; it’s easily one of the most consumed forms of sushi worldwide.
Ingredients
You’ll need the following to make rainbow rolls:
- Nori sheets
- Sushi rice
- Shrimp
- Spicy mayonnaise
- Tobiko
- Cucumber
- Asparagus
- Wasabi
- Tuna
- Salmon
- Avocado
- Sriracha
- Imitation crab
- Other seafood of your choice
How To Make Rainbow Roll
Here are the steps to make Rainbow Rolls:
- First, prepare your rice and your fruit fillings in different bowls.
- Next, prepare your seafood, such as crabs, salmon, and tuna. Peel the crab into strings and cut the fish into thin slices. You can use more varieties of fish but just ensure you cut it into thin pieces.
- Take your nori and spread your sushi rice on it. After applying the rice, flip the nori over.
- Once you’ve turned your nori over, fill it with fruit slices; you can put your cucumber slices in the center, add some crab on it, then place your avocado slices on it.
- After filling the center of the nori, roll it properly and ensure it is well-packed with the rice facing outside.
- Once you’ve completed that part, place your fish strips on the rice in a diagonal position, arrange the slices to cover the entire length of the roll; you can also put some fruit slices between the fish.
- Next, wrap the entire roll in a clean wrap, and your rainbow sushi is ready.
6. Teriyaki Chicken Roll
Another creative sushi roll is the Teriyaki Chicken Roll. As the name suggests, this roll is made of sticky teriyaki chicken and other sushi ingredients. Teriyaki chicken is nothing fancy, and it’s just chicken covered with teriyaki sauce.
Teriyaki chicken roll is one of the sweetest forms of sushi, and it’s an excellent choice for meat lovers in the house. This sushi roll is also effortless to make.
Ingredients
To make this form of sushi, you’ll need the following:
- Sushi rice
- Teriyaki sauce
- Boneless and skinless chicken thigh
- Nori
- Carrot
- Cucumber
How To Make Teriyaki Chicken Roll
Here are the steps to make Teriyaki Chicken Rolls:
- Slice your chicken, carrots, and cucumbers into different bowls.
- Place your nori on your bamboo mat and spread your sushi rice at the top and bottom of your nori; leave a space in the middle.
- Put the slices of your teriyaki chicken in the middle of your rice.
- After putting your chicken slices, add the fruits. However, ensure the filling isn’t too bulky to avoid a messy roll.
- Then roll your nori using the bamboo mat and seal the sushi roll.
- You can then go on to cut the roll into small parts and serve.
7. Spider Roll
The spider roll is a popular dish served in several eateries. Its ingredients are cucumber, mayonnaise, radish, and sesame seeds — which serve as a wrapping for the soft-shell crab in its center.
Making spider rolls is straightforward. Once you have your ingredients ready, you can start putting each bit together till the desired sushi roll is created.
Ingredients
To make a spider sushi roll, you’ll need the following:
- Masago
- Sushi Rice
- Soft-shell crab
- Mayonnaise
- Cucumber
- Radish
How To Make Spider Roll
Here are the steps to make Spider Rolls:
- Boil your rice, and prepare the bamboo rolling mat.
- Transfer some nori to the bamboo mat and add the boiled rice.
- Gently roll over the rice.
- Put some of your Masago on the rolled rice’s center.
- Position your fried soft-shell crab on one end of the rice roll.
- Top with sliced cucumber, radish and mayonnaise.
- Roll up the sushi rice and cut it into smaller bits before serving.
