Do you want to hear the saddest little story (and see the most epic photo montage?)
Not once during the entire 4 months I was a camp counselor in Japan did a sumptuous piece of sushi ever cross my lips.
Sushi. In Japan. Where it was freaking invented.
I could smack my little 19 year old self in the face! What were you thinking? I’d like to ask her! How could you sit at all those conveyor belt restaurants and let the freshest sushi on the planet whiz right past you while you ordered…Miso Soup?!
(source)
How could you nearly barf after learning your roommate was savoring raw salmon from what you now recognize as the most delectable looking sashimi platter you have ever seen?
Luckily I came to my senses somewhere around 21, and enjoyed a healthy amount of briny, sweet, fresh, melt-in-your-mouth sushi when my Mom and I returned for an unforgettable Mother/Daughter trip a few years later.
I’ve had a love affair going with all things raw and rolled ever sense.
I used to make sushi all the time a couple years ago, but fell out of the habit because, let’s be real, it’s kind of a pain in the butt.
Pressing out the rice for the inside of the rolls is super sticky, and I find myself not even hungry by the time I get a platter all ready to go, since I’ve eaten all the ends and mistakes along the way.
This weekend I randomly got a craving to give it another go, though.
Knowing I wouldn’t have the patience to spend time churning out rolls on a weeknight, I transformed my standard recipe for a California Roll into a California Roll WRAP!
I started by rinsing 1 cup sushi rice in water,
then cooked it according to package directions.
Into the hot rice, I drizzled 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 heaping Tablespoon sugar and a dash of salt that I had nuked in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Sushi rice is tre delicate so I mixed it up by making big “X’s” in the cooked grains with a wooden spoon.
Folding it every now and again to get it all mixed up.
I poured the hot rice on a platter to cool down, then got to work cutting up the rest of my California Roll Wrap ingredients:
Cucumber, imitation crab, avocado,
toasted sesame seeds,
and sliced nori.
I have found nori (the outside of a sushi roll) everywhere from Dahl’s to Super Walmart and specialty Asian Stores. I think it’s key to getting that classic, sushi flavor. :)
To assemble the California Roll Wraps I started with a large lettuce leaf. Any kind’ll do.
I spooned on some sticky, seasoned rice,
then layered on cucumber,
crab,
avocado,
sliced nori and sesame seeds.
(millions of less disturbing pieces, anyone?)
Drizzled with a little soy sauce,
wrapped,
and devoured!
Enjoyed with a side of laughter. :lol:
I think I inhaled some sesame seeds – HACK!!!
Ohhh, good times. :)
Totally loved this din-din. Less hassle, but all the classic flavors of that smooth and creamy California Roll. It’s great for sushi beginners too because there’s no raw fish!
I LOVE BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Def my fave channel theses days.
Love that you made your own sushi! There must be an Asian food bug going around because tonight I made my own Korean food!
I was having a major craving for sushi tonight, but instead ended up with a Wig & Pen pizza, whoops! I would tell my 19 year old self to end the relationship once and for all and to give it a shot with “the other guy” and to change my major to nursing
That’s a great idea! I could eat sushi every night of the week. :)
I would tell my 19-year-old self to get out and have fun—seriously–I was way too sheltered and serious! I wish I could do my freshman year in college all over again!
I LOVE this idea! Definitely a must-try :).
heather now to 19-year-old heather: “go back to school, he’s going to cheat on you before you’re 20”
*two seconds later*
heather now to 19-year-old heather: “also…lose the tongue stud, you’ll thank me later”
that lettuce looks really delectable, by the way. i never notice things like lettuce(because, um, it’s lettuce)but it looks *really* green and fresh. nice!
Bahaha!
mmmmm I love the idea!
I would tell my 19 year old self that food is fuel, not the enemy to obsess over
And to dump the bf, he was an ass ;)
amen.
Like!
We LOVE making homemade sushi. Last time we did, we used lettuce as well. It’s so much more functional and fun to eat.
SO much easier than making traditional sushi. I’m all about simplicity. Nice idea!
that is such a good idea! i think i will try this soon!
THIS IS AWESOME! Great idea! :)
first of all, HOLY COW does that look good!! I would probably handroll it it in a nori sheet myself because I can’t get enough of the stuff. The major reason why I haven’t gotten around to making my own sushi is because I’m so super-intimidated by the sushi rice– I just can’t seen to get it right!
If I could go back and tell my 19yr old self one thing, it would be to stop being so clingy– it pushed away the man I ended up marrying :)
I always follow the directions on the back of the rice bag and it turns out great!
Oh goodness, where do I start? Since most of my 19th year was spent trolling the underbelly of Iowa City, I’ll just say: take off the heels. Flats are your friend.