Yes! You CAN make sushi at home. This easy vegan and vegetarian friendly recipe features avocado, carrot, cucumber and red cabbage.
Expert produce selector. Any of those around??
Well, it’s not me.
Remember how I waste time trying to make a decision? The same’s true in the grocery store.
It’s absurd how much time I spend staring at bananas to find some that fit this criteria:
- They have to last the week.
- They can’t be too green.
- They can’t be too ripe.
I’m sure no one cares, but if they did, they’d be like, “What’s wrong with this girl? Just go ahead and pick a bunch already!!”
One thing that I surprisingly don’t have trouble selecting is avocados. I simply check the stem and voila! 90 percent of the time I have a winner!
(except that one time I sliced one open that wasn’t quite ripe enough. It felt like it was ready, but when I sliced into it, it was too hard! Surprisingly, I was able to mash it. It took 10 minutes, but I still made suitable guac. You couldn’t even tell the avocado wasn’t quite perfect!)
When I select a perfect avo, I love to use it to make guac and sushi.
Below are some tips for making sushi at home. If TEB can make sushi, you can too!!
*** I highly recommend using wooden utensils and plastic bowls, since the rice can be really sticky and hard to work with.
- To start, make sure your rice is rinsed thoroughly – at least 10 minutes! Then transfer to pot and cook normally (see recipe for full details!) Transfer cooked rice to plastic bowl and fold in vinegar mixture – continue to fan and stir at least two hours, or until rice has cooled to room temperature.
- Once cooled, place nori shiny side down on mat. Then scoop 1/3rd of rice on top. Wet hands before spreading rice. When it gets too sticky, use wooden spoon/spatula to spread. Leave a surrounding border without rice.
- On one side, line up your veggies.
- Fold the mat up to begin rolling. Fold over once. Let go of mat and use hands to roll rest of way. When rolled entirely, bring mat back up and squeeze roll and secure it.
- Trim ends, if desired, and then cut into 6 even slices.
Although I’m usually a sandwich girl for lunch, I’m sure this would make a great weekday lunch.
& thanks to PlanetBox I would have a great way to pack this Veggie Sushi. I was contacted by the company to review one of their lunch boxes. I selected the Rover version. I love all the compartments and the ability to create a unique lunch.
In my box, I was able to fit:
• 2/3rds of a Veggie Sushi roll
• Fruit
• Small Spinach Salad
• Beaming Baker’s Sesame Almonds!!
• Dark Chocolate Chips!!
• Soy Sauce
• & most importantly – a large stack of Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies with Sea Salt (recipe coming soon – I think 😉 !!! )
Although I haven’t had a chance to try it in real life, I really like the idea behind the box. I never have a lunch with this much variety. I’m sure if I had this lunch, I would be full and satisfied until dinner – and possibly have fewer cravings!!
Do you pack your weekday lunches?
Ingredients
- 1 cup sushi rice
- 1.5 cups water
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cucumber, seeded, cut into matchsticks
- 1 carrot, cut into matchsticks
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1/4 red cabbage, thinly sliced
- 3 sheets of nori
Instructions
- Place rice in strainer. Rinse under cold tap water for at least 10 minutes. Press out extra water and add to saucepan with water. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and cover pot with lid. Cook for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine rice vinegar, sugar and salt. Stir until dissolved.
- Transfer rice to plastic bowl. Using a wooden utensil, stir in vinegar dressing. Fan rice and stir every 30 minutes, until cooled to room temperature. This may take 1-2 hours.
- Place nori shiny side down on wooden mat. Scoop 1/3 of rice and place in center of nori. Wet hands and spread rice over nori. When it gets too sticky, use a wooden utensil to spread it over rice.
- Spread veggies in a single line on one side of nori.
- Fold the mat up to begin rolling. Fold over once. Let go of mat and use hands to roll rest of way. When rolled entirely, bring mat back up and squeeze roll and secure it.
- Trim ends, if desired, and then cut into 6 even slices.
I have the hardest time picking out bananas (and avocados), too! My husband is very picky when it comes to bananas…he will not eat them with any brown spots, so I usually let him pick out his own. This sushi looks delicious, Megan! Love the veggies in here…totally craving this for dinner!
My dad’s the same way about bananas! & this would make a great easy dinner! Thanks Gayle 🙂
There is SO much to love about this post! I am in awe of your sushi, I have serious lunchbox envy and I am the exact same way about picking veggies!
Aww!! Thanks so much, Kate 😘😘😘
My husband is an expert but accidental produce selector. I’m very jealous that he somehow just gets the right stuff every time!
This is gorgeous. I love sushi so much!
I’m jealous of him, too!!
Thanks Mir! Sushi is pretty great 😉
This is a sign! I’ve been craving sushi the last few weeks and I haven’t made any in…like a year? AHHH, need!
You should make some. Soo delicious!! Thanks Rebecca 🙂
This looks SOOOO delish! Girl you have SKILLS!
ha ha! Thanks Allie 🙂
I spend entirely too much time staring at produce too, girlfriend! If I don’t answer my phone, 80% of the time it is because I am at the grocery store sifting through piles of produce looking for the most perfect specimen. 😉 I am a sushi ADDICT, and while I love making it at home, generally I’m just lazy and end up buying it. Totally need to change that, starting with these fabulous veggie rolls! These are gorgeous, Megan! I’ll need at least 5 rolls! Cheers!
You should make it at home! Although I understand the convenience of buying it. Thanks Cheyanne 🙂
Sushi looks delicious .I love the lunchbox too
Thanks John 🙂
Love veggie sushi and can’t believe I’ve never made it myself. Love all your step by step photos!
Thanks Karen! It’s really fun to make at home. You just need to plan in advance so your rice is ready 🙂
Please give me your lunch! Homemade sushi makes me so happy. love how simple this is!
ha ha! It is easy! Thanks Sam 🙂
Oh gosh I’m also the worst at decision making. I’m loving this healthy sushi and the wonderful tutorial.
Also, your bento box is so cute!!!
It’s so hard sometimes!! Thanks Annie 🙂
I wish I packed my weekday lunches as often as I’d like too – usually am grabbing a banana, nuts and a protein shake while running out the door – speaking of which, how about I help you with banana picking and you help me with avocado picking? I’m in serious need of avocado-picking help!
By the way, I’ve never made homemade sushi – my daughter simply LOVES it and if I made her this, I’d earn some major mom points!
ha ha! It’s a deal Shashi 😉 & I think your daughter will love this!
That is EXACTLY me at the grocery store trying to pick out bananas. It’s why I love Trader Joe’s… I can almost always find a good selection of very green to very yellow and grab one in every shade, so they’re perfectly ripe when I’m ready to eat them. 😉 I’ve wanted to try making sushi for years now, and you just may have convinced me! How cute is that little box?? And I can’t wait to see your recipe for the cookies — they look amazing!
I have to check out TJ’s for my banana needs. Sometimes I’m able to get some of different ripenesses, but not often!
& you have to try sushi at home. It’s surprisingly so easy! Thanks Amy 🙂
haha ugh the worst is when I think an avocado feels ripe and then I cut it open and it’s still slightly too hard! That makes me mad!! 🙂 I’ve never tried making my own sushi but I love the idea! So much fun! So is that box!
Ha ha! I know what you mean, Ashley!! But sometimes you can mash it into submission 😉
You have to try sushi at home – so easy and delicious!
I’ve been trying to pack my lunch and love the idea of that box. Looks amazing!! Also, homemade sushi is such a thrill!
This box opens up the possibility for lots of fun lunches 😉 & I agree about homemade sushi! Thanks Zainab!!
Oh man, I am the worst at choosing the perfect avocado – sometimes I get lucky but more often than not, I always get disappointed whenever I cut one open lol. Love that you made homemade sushi! It looks awesome and so does the lunchbox!
Thanks Kelly! I must just have the lucky touch with avocados because the same’s not true for other produce 😉
Oh I love this veggie sushi! I adore red cabbage of any kind and as a sushi? So cool! That lunch box is awesome. Have a wonderful time, Megan!
Thanks Anu! The red cabbage gives the sushi a nice crunch 🙂
I’ve had my eyes on those lunch boxes for my boys for a couple of years now. They look awesome! And so does your sushi… 🙂
Thanks Blair!
THIS GIRL could eat sushi every single day for every single meal. NO JOKE.
I could, too! Ha ha! Thanks :
Looks delicious! I’ve always wanted to try making sushi, I’m definitely going to make this recipe! So funny, I also spend way too long trying to find the right batch of bananas at the grocery store!!
You should try it! Let me know how you like it 😉
First of all, you make everything awesome, Megan. 😉 When you say that you have kitchen fails, I think you just say that to make the rest of us feel better. Hehe. Also, I’m the same way at the produce stand!! It’s even worse at the farmers market because then someone is actually staring at me, willing me to pick something. Haha. Your snazzy PlanetBox looks so cool! I would totally be eating better if I had one of those things. Your veggie sushi looks absolutely perfect and… now I’m hungry! Loving these photos, Megan. P.S. Thank you for the shoutout. I hope you enjoyed the almonds! <3 <3 xo
I can’t stand the pressure of someone watching me! & those almonds are so tasty! Thanks Demeter 🙂
I don’t like my bananas brown…I love them perfectly yellow with no green either! haha This veggie sushi is such a great idea and would make the perfect lunch!
I agree! Thanks Marcie 🙂
Such beautiful sushi!!
Thanks Eva 🙂
I’ve made sushi at home only once, but it was amazing! Thanks for sharing this new version and for reminding me that I need to make it again!
You should make it again! Thanks Tori 🙂
Wow, I’m with Kate…I’ve got serious lunchbox envy too Megan! This sushi looks fabulous!
ha ha! Thanks Mary Ann 🙂
I’m picky about bananas too! I don’t like ’em too green, nor too ripe. They have to be just right! Oh my 🙂 That lunch box is too cool! Love it. Love all the little compartments in there. I just love meals with little bits of everything so I can have a little taste of a bunch of things. Great job on the sushi roll! I’ve never attempted to make sushi before, but after seeing this, I would love to give it a shot. Looks delicious and all those colours are so pretty!
Thanks Dawn! You should try it 🙂
Weekday lunches around here tend to be whatever sort of leftovers I can wrangle up in the fridge and turn into a wrap or sandwich. If all else fails, I scramble up an egg for an egg sandwich/wrap. But now I want to add this veggie sushi to the list! I love sushi…but I actually don’t like any of the raw fish kinds. (It’s a texture thing.) But I could totally get behind these! 🙂
I think you’ll love these! Thanks David!
I love this! definitely need to try and make my own sushi!
You should! Thanks Manali!
I’ve decided I need you take make my lunch for me….everyday! Everything in your box looks perfect….especially the sushi! What a fun way to make sushi 🙂
Ha ha! Thanks Kathy 🙂
I LOVE this veggie sushi and don’t you just love your planetbox lunch box thing?!!!
I do! Thanks Alice 🙂
Veggie sushi is one of my favorite “special treats”. I tried making it at home last Summer but I failed miserably at rolling it. Looks like you’re a pro!
It just takes a little practice and patience. You should try it again, Pamela 🙂
Love your photos. This would be a fabulous lunch, a nice change from the traditional salad or sandwich!
It definitely would be a nice change. Thanks Elizabeth 🙂