California Roll Sushi Bowls (Printable View)
Deconstructed California roll over seasoned sushi rice with avocado, cucumber, crab and spicy mayo.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Sushi Rice
01 - 1½ cups sushi rice
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
04 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
05 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
→ Toppings
06 - 200 g imitation crab sticks (surimi), shredded or roughly chopped
07 - 1 large avocado, sliced
08 - 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced or julienned
09 - 2 sheets nori, cut into thin strips or small squares
10 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
11 - 4 tablespoons mayonnaise, preferably Kewpie
12 - 1 tablespoon sriracha (optional, for spicy mayo)
13 - 1 small carrot, julienned (optional)
14 - Pickled ginger, for serving
15 - Soy sauce, for serving
# Cooking Steps:
01 - Rinse the sushi rice under cold running water until it runs completely clear. Combine the rinsed rice and water in a saucepan, bring to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover tightly and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, still covered, for 10 minutes to allow the grains to finish steaming.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until fully dissolved. Gently fold the seasoned vinegar mixture into the cooked rice using a cutting motion with a rice paddle or wooden spoon, being careful not to mash the grains. Allow the rice to cool to room temperature.
03 - In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and sriracha until smooth and well combined. Adjust the sriracha quantity to your preferred spice level. Set aside.
04 - Divide the seasoned sushi rice among four serving bowls, spreading it into an even bed. Arrange the shredded imitation crab, sliced avocado, julienned cucumber, carrot if using, and nori strips in neat sections over each portion of rice.
05 - Drizzle the spicy mayo generously over each assembled bowl. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and serve immediately with pickled ginger and soy sauce on the side.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- All the satisfaction of sushi night with zero rolling skills required, which means you can actually relax while cooking.
- It comes together in under an hour and feeds a crowd beautifully without you being stuck in the kitchen while everyone else has fun.
02 -
- Skipping the rice rinse step will give you gummy, clumpy rice that no amount of seasoning can save, so wash until the water is truly clear.
- Folding the vinegar mixture while the rice is still warm helps it absorb evenly, but mashing the grains will ruin the texture completely.
03 -
- Wet your hands lightly before handling the rice and it will not stick to your fingers nearly as much.
- Press the nori strips against the warm rice briefly and they soften just enough to blend into every bite rather than flying off the top.