62 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links.
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 homemadeCalifornia Rollsfor 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.
Cupof 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. ;)
Home / Recipes / Appetizer
join the conversation
Leave a Comment
62 Comments
-
Judy chambers 03.14.2017 Yummmm, these look so good. I’m going to be a daredevil and attempt to make them.
Reply
- California Roll Recipe – En dos segundos.. 02.05.2017
[…] https://iowagirleats.com/2011/08/28/how-to-make-sushi/ […]
Reply
-
[…] California Rolls […]
Reply
- Melanie 06.24.2015
Thank you sooooo much for your post. I followed your instruvtions and my sushis came out exquisit. I really enjoyed doing and eating them. I added mango and cream cheese oh myyyyyyyy
Reply
- Cajun Chicken with Mardi Gras Salsa | Iowa Girl Eats 03.03.2014
[…] night Ben and I tucked in and made 4 million pieces of homemade sushi before popping in a DVD. (Here’s my sushi tutorial >Next time I want to try mango, cucumber, and cream cheese!) We got The Bourne Legacy to watch […]
Reply
See AlsoRainbow Power Salad Recipe - The Lady Thing Sushi Rolls (Roll it Like a Pro) - The Lady Thing 02.07.2014
[…] Recipe and Photo credit:iowagirleats.com […]
Reply
- California roll 12.23.2013
With great taste and covetable display, California roll is here for you. It is a sushi roll usually made inside out, containing cucumbers, crab meat and avocado. a hub of Fusion food in Japanese and western food. Here you can get food of your own choice and taste. We have for you the Sushi Roll, Rice wine and many other party foods With great test. Our outstanding services make us unique throughout the Hawthorn, California.
Reply
- Meriden 09.24.2013
Believe it or not, out high school does sushi on Fridays! They bring in an outside vendor who makes delicious spicy tuna tempura rolls! Tuna, cucumber, and spicy orange sauce(the color not the fruit!) rolled in tempura flakes then topped with more spicy sauce. Our lunch also comes with a soup (miso) and a salad (topped with ginger dressing) overalls it’s really yummy and it’s only 5.00 (one roll is 9 fairly l’s sized pieces)
Reply
- Bucket List Update!!! | GG's World 06.13.2013
[…] month. Here’s what I’m going to make: Butternut Squash Ravioli,Chocolate Chip Biscotti,California Rolls,Italian Chicken,Mini Tacos,Chicken Parmesan Casserole,Pretzel Chicken,Crockpot Ranch […]
Reply
- Katie 06.04.2013
tried this in high school a bajillion years ago….. Failed….. Tried this recipe and was doing super well after the first pull back firmly and Failed… I got completely lost after that step and have no idea what to do and ended up with complete mush :\ To YouTube I go since I’m desperate for homemade AND affordable sushi!
Reply
- 2013 Bucket List Update | GG's World 05.05.2013
[…] month. Here’s what I’m going to make: Butternut Squash Ravioli,Chocolate Chip Biscotti,California Rolls,Mini Tacos,Slow Cooker Triple Chocolate Brownies,Petite LasagnasandCrockpot Ravioli […]
Reply
- Sophie 01.16.2013
I LOVE sushi! I could totally win a sushi eating contest. The most pieces of sushi I’ve ever eaten in one sitting was 56! Thanks so much for this recipe, I can’t wait to try it!
Reply
- Rebecca 01.07.2013
looks great! if you want sushi but don’t have the energy, try making a sushi rice salad. just as yummy, without any of the rolling!
Reply
- Chicken-Sausage Pasta Toss with Broccoli and Feta | Iowa Girl Eats 01.06.2013
[…] rolled, and chowed our way through a million California Rolls for dinner. You have GOT to try these!Click here for the tutorial > (It’s from a post back in 2011.)This morning, after a quick trip to the gym followed by […]
Reply
- Gina Gresch 12.31.2012
Thank you for posting this to pinterest, which is where I found your recipe. If you don’t mind, I’m going to link up to it in my blog post which is going to be published tomorrow. I have a list of things I want to cook/bake in 2013 and california rolls is on it. Your recipe is the easiest one I found online!
Reply
- Recipes | Pearltrees 05.28.2012
[…] California Rolls Recipe 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. Jamba Smoothie Recipes Quick Recipes & Easy Recipe Ideas – Tablespoon The Perfect Cookie Dough Truffles Recipe Punchfork — The best new recipes from top food sites The Londoner: slu*tty Brownies They're best served warm from the oven, with good quality vanilla ice cream (devastatingly I didn't have any in the freezer this time, so I guess I'll just have to make them again). Preheat oven to 450ºF/232ºC. […]
Reply
- Friday Favorites | Iowa Girl Eats 05.04.2012
[…] redo: Brown Rice Sushi Balls. Instead of fussing with rolling sushi rolls, stick all the fresh ingredients inside a ball of rice. Love […]
Reply
« Previous123
Free Email Series
Dinner Made EASY
5 days of simple yet flavorful recipes that take the stress out of dinnertime!
Subscribe
New E-book
Have you or a family member been diagnosed with Celiac Disease or a gluten-sensitivity but don’t know how to answer the question – NOW WHAT?
Learn More
hi, i'm kristin!
I’m a Midwestern wife and Mama, and after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2013 I began sharing delicious and approachable gluten-free recipes made with everyday, in-season ingredients. Welcome!
Learn More
