Are you obsessed with sushi but want to learn how you can DIY? Well, believe it or not, sushi isn’t too hard to make. To start off, all you will need is sushi rice, nori sheets (seaweed), which can be found in most supermarkets, and a bamboo mat, which you can conveniently buy on Amazon.
Making Sushi Rice:
You cannot use any old rice to make sushi. You have to make the rice using rice vinegar and sugar so your sushi roll doesn’t fall apart.
Combine 3 cups of water and 2 cups of uncooked white rice in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan and let the rice cook for about 20 minutes.
While the rice is cooking, combine 1/2 cup of rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, 1/4 of white sugar and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the sugar completely dissolves.
Cool the rice vinegar/sugar mixture for a few minutes (do not refrigerate – the mixture will harden) and mix it into the cooked rice. The rice will dry as it cools.
Rolling Sushi:
Before you begin making sushi, you must master the art of rolling sushi, which isn’t difficult at all, especially if you are using a bamboo mat.
First, you place plastic wrap on top of the bamboo mat. This will help protect your mat from the rice and ingredients so you can reuse it again.
Then you place a sheet of nori on the mat, with the shiny side facing down and the rough side facing upward.
Wet your fingers with water; this will making the rolling process easier.
Next, you spread a thin layer of cooked rice on top of the nori. Make sure you leave space at the top and bottom of the sheet.
Now, this is where you can be creative. You place the ingredients you want to use in the center of the nori sheet.
It is time to get rolling! Start by placing your thumbs underneath the mat and lift the edge up, and gently place it over the filling in the center.
Gently, press the “log” so the filling comes together and doesn’t become loose and fall out.
Next, gently pull the edge of the mat toward you and fold it underneath your hands. Then, roll your sushi away from you until you reach the edge of the nori sheet.
Finally, lightly dampen the top border of the roll with water to seal it. Congratulations, you are done rolling the sushi!
Filling Recipes:
1. California Roll
1 medium avocado, peeled, pitted, and sliced into 1/4-inch thick pieces
4 sheets nori
1/2 batch sushi rice
1/3 cup sesame seeds, toasted
1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded, and cut into matchstick-size pieces
