Learn how to make California Rolls at home with this step-by-step tutorial and California roll recipe!
Today has been filled with random odds and ends, highlighted by homemade California Rolls for dinner!
My older brother and I have had our own competition looming between the two of us for months – an eating competition. He thinks he can down more than me (HA!) so we’ve been trying to agree on what food we should compete with.
Neither of us want to eat something super disgusting like cheeseburgers or chicken nuggets, so inspired by last week’s wraps, I shouted out CALIFORNIA ROLLS when we were discussing it at dinner Friday night!
The competition date is still TBD, but all that talk gave me a craving that last week’s wraps just hadn’t satisfied, so I took some time to whip up a few actual California Rolls today. It wasn’t nearly as messy or hard as I remembered!
First I laid out all the soft and hardware.
Software:
Nori, aka sheets of roasted seaweed.
You can find nori in some grocery stores, all Asian food stores, and someone mentioned that Trader Joe’s might have it too.
Sushi rice. Sushi rice is short grain rice that has been cooked then seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar and a dash of salt. You can find it in any grocery store.
Sliced imitation crab and cucumber,
and avocado.
Hardware:
Sushi mat. You can get these at Williams-Sonoma/any specialty kitchen store, or any Asian Grocery store. You don’t need a mat to make homemade sushi, it just makes it a little bit easier.
Cup of water. I use the water to wet my hands to make it easier to spread the sushi rice on the nori. I also use it to seal the end of the roll. You’ll see!
Software: check. Hardware: check. We’re ready to roll!
Step 1: Lay a sheet of plastic wrap over the sushi mat, then lay down a sheet of nori. Wet your hands with water and press down 1 cup cooked sushi rice, leaving a 1″ section clear at the top.
Step 2: Place 2 slices each avocado, cucumber and crab on the bottom third portion of the rice.
Step 3: Using the sushi mat, make one full roll, pulling back firmly on the mat to tighten the filling inside.
See?
Step 4: Continue rolling, pulling back firmly on the mat to compress the filling, until you come to the end of the nori.
Step 5: Wet the clear section of nori at the top, then make the final roll and press down to seal.
Whee!
1 cup un-cooked rice makes 3 cups cooked rice – which yields 3 large rolls.
Step 6: After you have all three rolls made, cut them into 1/2″ slices using a sharp knife.
If you’re having trouble cutting, it may help to dip the knife in warm water in between slices.
Step 7: Rejoice over the fact that you’ll never have to pay $6 per California Roll at a restaurant ever again!
These are sooo refreshing!
I could seriously pop piece after piece forever.
Actually, my brother and I decided to shout out at the same time how many pieces of California Roll we thought we could eat in one sitting. Him: 30. Me: 68. BAHAHAHA! This one’s in the bag. ;)
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio 08.28.2011
What a fun festival! That’s great that you were asked to be a judge. I’m sure Ben was jealous.
I love sushi! It’s so fun making it at home, but I love going out for sushi too.
I’ll be in Iowa starting Wednesday!! I can’t wait. My boyfriend just published his second book on the Hawkeyes, ‘What It Means to Be a Hawkeye’ and he has a book signing at Fry Fest on Friday. I can’t wait for Saturday’s game either. Ahh, I’m so excited to be back in Iowa!!
Tracy @ Tracy's Treats 08.28.2011
Great tutorial! I love sushi…but my all-time favorites are salmon and white tuna sashimi!
lindsay 08.28.2011
Start your contest super hungry and eat fast! Sushi always expands in my stomach, making me feel super full before I feel better again. When I’ve made sushi at home, I can always eat more if I prepare everything ahead of time and then chow down, as opposed to making a roll, eating it, and then making another roll.
Good luck!
Erin 08.28.2011
I wish I liked sushi but I just can’t get past the seaweed. Yuck. And I LIVE in Japan!
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef 08.28.2011
i’ve never had sushi but that looks delicious!
Brenda 08.28.2011
Favorite sushi – FUTOMAKI!!!
Kris N 08.28.2011
Agree with JennyV….we used to go to “That Place” all the time, I went to High School in Marshalltown and we loved the short road trip for good food – that even high schoolers could afford :)
Ashley 08.29.2011
I went to HS in Marshalltown also! Small world! :)
Melissa 08.28.2011
That looks so delicious! I would love to make my own sushi, but I might not have the patience for it. Then again, I’ve made spring rolls thanks to your tutorials, so maybe I could do this, too! My favorite sushi is a spider roll with soft shell crab. Insanely good!
Rachel J 10.19.2011
It’s insanely easy, and also strangely relaxing! And sushi is so filling, too… well worth the wait.
Faith @ For the Health of It 08.28.2011
Thanks so much for the awesome tutorial! I’ve been meaning to make my own rolls for a long time – I can’t wait to get a rolling mat and use your step-by-step guide!
Amanda at the red table 08.28.2011
I love sushi. We have some great sushi places here in Omaha, too. I’ve never attempted to make, but you make it look so easy! I even have sushi plates and platters…I should try!
JennyV 08.28.2011
You must head back to Conrad and go to “That Place” — an amazing restaurant with some of the best ribs (served on Tuesdays only!) or their chicken kabobs. My aunt who lives on the East Coast HAS to have the Iowa chop when she’s back — while my grandma swears by their walleye. Seriously a great place where there are business cards on the wall from decades ago — mine is in there somewhere!
Iowa Girl Eats 08.29.2011
We have some friends from the area and they said the same thing!
meghan 08.28.2011
You just experienced my DREAM food day! BBQ and sushi, gah! I always order one or two really unique creative rolls and then a salmon or tuna and cucumber roll- refreshing!
Casey @ Pocket Full of Sunshine 08.28.2011
Your sushi is so pretty Kristin! I’m pretty much obsessed with sushi, and I really love the spicy/crunchy ones–Rock N Roll is a great one, and so are Dragon rolls!
Paige 08.28.2011
Ha 30? What a wuss! :D j/k
But seriously, I have another section of my stomach reserved for sushi…I swear. My favorite sushi rolls involve avocado and either salmon or tuna. Don’t make me choose!
Shaya (Eye Girl Eats) 08.28.2011
Yumm!!! you are a sushi master, and even though I just downed a cucumber, avocado and brown rice roll, I really want more sushi now.
My favorite lately is any roll with fresh salmon and avocado and cucumber. With lots of soy sauce and ginger!!
Lauren 08.28.2011
LOVE the idea of a Sushi eating contest. This is one that I could compete in and feel I would put up a good fight. :)
Chloe (In Fine Feather) 08.28.2011
I’ve only made sushi and handful of times but it definitely turned out better than expected. I’m also one to down a town of sushi in one sitting – and then regret it later once it expands in my belly :)
Kim 08.28.2011
I’m not sure what I would compete with, but I can seem to devour copious amounts of popcorn.
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) 08.28.2011
I would totally want to compete with sushi! My family always laughs at me because I finish first and always want more…
Melody 08.28.2011
I am in love with sushi lately, I’ll eat piece after piece of the tofu rolls from our near by sushi restaurant. But this tutorial makes it seem easy, I should see if I can whip some up myself!
Food eating competition? Give me any type of fruit and it’s in the bag. Most people will eat too much chocolate or cereal at night but I just destroy all the fruit in the house. Yum!