There are so many different sushi recipes, each bringing something to the table. These recipes range from the familiar raw fish wrapped in a nori sheet to an unusual venison sashimi. Pick a few to try and throw a little sushi party. Not quite as good as visiting Japan, but fun nonetheless!
You might want to serve it alongside this easy Japanese clear soup.
Sushi restaurants (and the sushi bar at the grocery store!) have become more and more common in America, but what if you would rather dine in?
Making sushi at home is a fun endeavor that can result in many different types of sushi, as evidenced by the creative recipes here!
These recipes range from quick and easy sushi prep to new and interesting combinations to try when you want to experiment with different ingredients.
You Need these Sushi Recipes!
Sushi is one of the best options when you don’t feel like heating up the kitchen to make a meal. It contains lots of proteins, fats, nutrients, and vitamins from the fish and vegetables. And you can pair sushi with your favorite soups and salads for a delicious meal.
Keeping sheets of nori on hand allows you to use leftovers to create some unusual and thrifty combinations.
Common sushi ingredients include fresh vegetables, raw tuna, crab sticks, sushi rice, and avocado. A creative cook might add leftover teriyaki chicken, thin slices of leftover steak, and grilled asparagus. The sky’s the limit, here!
Stretching the Bounds
You’ll notice that some of the combinations in this list would not exactly be deemed authentic. Some even dare to push the boundaries on what can be defined as sushi. You’ll find unique styles from California to Italy. The vegan options also add to the variety.
Is Spam musubi considered sushi? It’s wrapped with rice in a sheet of nori. The folks at Tastemade say:
It’s only considered sushi if the rice is vinegared and sugared; musubi rice often is not.
I’m thinking we should play around with this, making it fun. Who cares if the rice is vinegared or it’s “official” sushi?? Some of the recipes here are homemade sushi rolls, some feature small pieces of thinly sliced meat or fish often referred to as sashimi, and some are sushi bowls. Pick your favorite type of sushi and get rolling!
What You Need
Making sushi rolls requires a little bit of practice to get just right. I learned how to roll a simple tuna (as in canned tuna) and rice roll from a Hawaiian woman many years ago. She used plastic wrap to help the rolling process. A special bamboo mat works, too, but it’s not absolutely necessary.
Nori seaweed sheet: these dark green seaweed sheets have a slight fishy flavor. They’re used in making maki rolls and cones. The sheets are crispy when first opened, but when wrapped with moist rice, vegetables, and fish, they become soft. Left too long, the nori can get quite chewy, so it’s best to eat it not long after it’s made.
Sushi grade fish: a good cut of fish makes for delicious sushi that’s tender. Sometimes called sashimi grade, it is the freshest, highest quality fish available, and treated with extra care to limit the risk of food-borne illnesses that can come with eating raw fish.
Sushi vinegar: This seasoned rice vinegar can be found in the Asian section of most grocery stores. Use it to flavor the rice.
A sharp knife: both for cutting the fish into thin slices and for cutting through the finished rolls.
Rice cooker or Instant Pot: These tools make cooking perfect sushi rice easy, but you can also do it in a pot on the stovetop. Some of the recipes below give the option of using cauliflower rice for a lower carb sushi.
Serving Sushi
This is the fun part! (Wait, weren’t we having fun already??) Sushi is delicious on its own, of course. But why not give it a little extra kick of flavor?
Offer thin slices of pickled ginger, wasabi paste, spicy sriracha sauce, and soy sauce to accompany your delicious creations! The spicy sriracha mayonnaise recipe that goes with these chicken wraps would be delicious, too.
Try These Amazing Sushi Recipes
If you love Japanese cuisine but find yourself on a budget that doesn't allow dining out (or traveling!) as frequently as you like, making your own homemade sushi is a great alternative! These great sushi recipes will get you started!
Crunchy Spicy California Sushi Roll
Crunchy Spicy California Roll is a crispy upgrade from a standard California Roll. This California roll features imitation crab tossed in spicy mayo, cucumber, and avocado rolled in seasoned sushi rice and nori, with a crispy golden panko crust.
Healthy Quinoa Sushi Roll Recipe - Any reason vegans
Try something new and replace standard rice with quinoa in your next sushi roll. It’s even easier than they make it look at the restaurant!
Easy Avocado Roll Recipe
This avocado roll recipe is just the thing you need for an at-home sushi night! It's simple to make, incredibly healthy, and comes in at a fraction of the price compared to your favorite Japanese restaurant.
Salmon Sushi Bowls
These Salmon Sushi Bowls have all of the flavors you love about a sushi roll piled up into a bowl and drizzled with spicy mayo and eel sauce! Pan fried salmon is seared then baked until juicy then topped with eel sauce.
Venison Sashimi with Ponzu and Chili Crisp
If you're looking for an adventurous new way to prepare your wild game harvest, this venison sashimi is full of exciting flavors and textures that are sure to become a new favorite!
Vegetable Sushi Donuts
Unagi Sushi (Eel Hand Roll)
Unagi Sushi (Eel Hand Roll) is a popular sushi roll featuring Japanese eel cooked in a rich umami sauce, then rolled in seasoned sushi rice and nori. This simple hand roll comes together in less than 10 minutes and is perfect for beginners making sushi for the first time.
Vegan Avocado Sushi Roll Recipe
Sushi is easier than you think to make at home! If you’re a beginner maybe start with a simple inside-out roll filled with creamy avocado.
Salmon Crudo
The Italian version of sushi, if you love fresh raw salmon, you'll love this. Salmon crudo is lightly marinated in a lemon, orange and herb dressing and garnished with pickled shallots.
Sushi Rolls | Easy Recipe + Vegan
Prepare your own delicious Japanese-inspired vegan sushi rolls from the comfort of your home kitchen! Healthy, quick, and 100% plant-based!
Chicken Rice Balls
Sushi without the seaweed. These chicken rice balls make for a delicious snack and are so simple to make.
Seared Ahi Tuna Recipe
This seared ahi tuna recipe is sashimi grade fish coated in sesame seeds, then briefly cooked to tender and flavorful perfection.
Salmon Sushi Bowl Recipe (Chirashi Bowl)
A sushi, or chirashi bowl has everything you love about your favorite sushi, but without the fuss of making rolls. Satisfy that sushi craving in a hurry while saving dollars on takeout.
California Roll in a Bowl
Sushi night at home just got a lot easier with this California Roll in a Bowl recipe. All the fresh and light flavors of a California roll, but in a deconstructed bowl version. Best of all, it can be made in less than 30 minutes
Spicy Kani Roll | Spicy Crab Roll (Kani Sushi Recipe)
A spicy kani roll is typically referred to as a spicy crab roll in most American sushi restaurants.
Vegetable Sushi
You don't have to use meat or fish to have a delicious sushi meal!
Vegetarian Sushi Bowl Recipe
This sushi style bowl features sweet potatoes, edamame, and mango. No rolling required!
Spicy Tuna Sushi Roll
This spicy tuna roll is an American twist on Japanese sushi. It's a great way to enjoy sushi!
Easy California Rolls
California rolls might be the most recognized type of sushi in America. It features cucumber, avocado, and imitation crab meat.
California Roll Sushi Bowl
All the flavors of a California roll, but in a bowl. This method allows each diner to add the ingredients they like if you make it buffet style!
Philadelphia Sushi Roll
How can you go wrong with a Philly roll filled with cream cheese and smoked salmon? You can't!
Keto Low Carb Sushi Rolls Recipe without Rice (Healthy) - 5 Ingredients
The best low carb keto sushi recipe needs only 5 ingredients and 15 minutes! Just use this easy method for how to make sushi without rice.
Spicy Crab Sushi Bowl
This delicious sushi bowl will fill your belly with the delicious flavors of a spicy crab roll and none of the rolling.
Hawaiian Spam Musubi Recipe Without Mold
Famous in Hawaii, Spam musubi is readily available as an easy to grab snack at gas stations and quick stops. You can replicate that flavor at home with this recipe!
Keto Sushi Recipe
Cutting carbs? This Keto version of a California roll features cauliflower rice as the main ingredient, along with the usual cucumber, avocado, and crab meat.
Keto Sushi Rolls Without Rice + Carbs In Sushi
These bite-sized sushi rolls are made with smaller nori snack sheets filled with smoked salmon, red bell pepper, cucumber, and avocado.
