California Roll Sushi Bowls (Printable version)
A fresh, easy twist on the classic California roll with seasoned rice, crab, avocado, and crisp vegetables in a customizable bowl format.
# What you need:
→ Sushi Rice
01 - 1½ cups sushi rice
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
04 - 1½ tablespoons granulated sugar
05 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
→ Toppings
06 - 7 ounces imitation crab sticks (surimi), shredded or chopped
07 - 1 large avocado, diced
08 - 1 medium cucumber, seeded and diced
09 - 2 sheets roasted nori, cut into strips
10 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
11 - 2 tablespoons pickled ginger
→ Garnish & Sauces
12 - 4 tablespoons Japanese mayonnaise
13 - 2 teaspoons sriracha (optional, for spicy mayo)
14 - ¼ cup soy sauce
15 - Wasabi, to taste
16 - 2 green onions, finely sliced
# How To:
01 - Place sushi rice in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water, gently swirling until the runoff turns completely clear. Transfer to a rice cooker or saucepan, add 2 cups of water, and cook according to package directions until tender and all liquid is absorbed.
02 - While the rice is still hot, stir together rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small bowl. Microwave for about 20 seconds until the sugar and salt dissolve completely. Pour the seasoned vinegar over the warm rice and fold gently with a spatula, taking care not to mash the grains. Let the rice cool to room temperature.
03 - Shred or chop the imitation crab into bite-sized pieces. Dice the avocado and seeded cucumber into uniform cubes. Slice the green onions thinly on a bias. Cut the roasted nori sheets into thin strips using scissors or a sharp knife.
04 - Combine Japanese mayonnaise with sriracha in a small bowl and whisk until smooth and evenly blended. Adjust the amount of sriracha to your preferred heat level.
05 - Divide the seasoned sushi rice evenly among 4 bowls. Arrange the imitation crab, diced avocado, cucumber, nori strips, and pickled ginger in sections over each bed of rice. Drizzle with the spicy mayo and finish with a generous sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
06 - Serve immediately with soy sauce and wasabi on the side so each diner can season to taste.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You get every single flavor of a California roll without needing a bamboo mat or any sushi rolling skills whatsoever.
- The bowls come together in under an hour and you can customize each one to suit whoever is sitting at your table.
02 -
- Do not skip rinsing the rice or you will end up with a sticky clumpy mess instead of distinct glossy grains.
- Seasoning the rice while it is still hot is the only way the vinegar mixture absorbs properly, so do not let it cool first.
03 -
- Toss the diced avocado in a tiny squeeze of lemon juice to keep it from browning if you need to prep it more than a few minutes ahead.
- Toasting store bought sesame seeds in a dry pan for two minutes transforms them from decoration into something that actually smells and tastes incredible.