To make sushi at home, follow these key steps:
Ingredients
- Sushi rice (short-grain rice)
- Nori sheets (seaweed)
- Fillings such as sashimi-grade raw fish (salmon, tuna), avocado, cucumber, cream cheese, crab meat, or cooked options like shrimp or chicken schnitzel
- Sushi vinegar (a mix of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt)
- Soy sauce for serving
Instructions
1. Prepare Sushi Rice
- Rinse the sushi rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
- Cook the rice with the appropriate amount of water (usually about 1:1.3 rice to water ratio) either in a rice cooker or on the stove.
- Once cooked, let the rice steam covered for 10-15 minutes off the heat.
- Mix the cooked rice gently with sushi vinegar (rice vinegar mixed with sugar and salt) and let it cool to just above room temperature
2. Prepare the Rolling Station
- Place a bamboo sushi rolling mat on a flat surface and wrap it with plastic wrap to prevent sticking.
- Have a bowl of water (optionally mixed with rice vinegar) nearby to wet your hands and prevent rice from sticking
3. Assemble Sushi Rolls
- Place a sheet of nori on the bamboo mat, shiny side down.
- Wet your hands and spread an even layer of sushi rice over the nori, leaving about a 1-inch border at the top edge.
- Arrange your chosen fillings in a horizontal line near the edge closest to you, being careful not to overfill
4. Roll the Sushi
- Lift the edge of the bamboo mat closest to you and roll it away from you, pressing gently but firmly to shape a tight roll.
- Moisten the bare edge of the nori with water to seal the roll
5. Cut and Serve
- Using a very sharp knife dipped in water, slice the roll into 6-8 pieces.
- Serve immediately with soy sauce, and optionally spicy mayo or toasted sesame seeds
Tips
- Use sashimi-grade fish if consuming raw.
- Avoid storing leftover sushi with raw fish as it deteriorates quickly.
- Keep hands wet when handling rice to prevent sticking.
- Practice rolling to get tight, well-formed sushi rolls
This method will help you make professional-quality sushi rolls at home with fresh ingredients and proper technique
