A simple and healthy homemade sushi! This healthy sushi has brown rice, nori sheets, avocado, sweet potatoes, and a delicious spicy mayo.
Finally trying homemade sushi…
Making sushi at home may seem daunting at first. You most likely are used to seeing Japanese chefs behind the sushi counter moving quickly and effortlessly, creating masterpieces with just a few ingredients. They’re very comfortable with all sorts of equipment you might not have seen before, and their cool uniforms make them seem immediately intimidating as well! You probably think to yourself, “there is no way I can do that”.
I would agree that making some kinds of sushi at home might be too complex and overwhelming. For example, a tempura roll requires making the initial sushi roll, dipping it into a batter, and of course, frying it. This becomes a multiple-step, time-consuming process that most people do not have time for. Even some rolls that are not fried can be challenging to make. Attempting to make any of the complex rolls is probably not worth it, and therefore getting those kinds of sushi rolls at restaurants makes a lot more sense.
What I didn’t realize for a long time was that there is a way to make a basic sushi roll at home that is easy, cheap, and healthy! Any complicated elements are removed and all you have to do is make the rice and assemble the rolls. It’s a great dish to make if you need a change from your regular dishes and want to try something new. You can make any variation you like and use any number of ingredients and dipping sauces to flavor it to your liking. And the best part is you don’t have to leave the house to get it!
What you’ll need:
- Brown sushi rice (or any short-grain rice)
- Nori sheets
- Bamboo sushi mat
- Plastic wrap to wrap the sushi mat with for easier cleanup
- Avocado – make sure it’s ripe!
- Sweet potatoes – these will be roasted
- Spicy mayo
- Sweet soy sauce (optional)
- Water for when your hands get sticky
The steps will be:
- Cook the rice
- Roast the sweet potato
- Cut up the avocado and sweet potato
- Wrap the bamboo mat in plastic wrap
- Place rice on nori sheet
- Place veggies on rice
- Fold, slice, dip, and enjoy!
You will notice there are a few detailed steps but nothing too complicated that you can’t do! Remember, it doesn’t need to be perfect or professional – it will still taste good! This sushi roll can also be made with raw ingredients only which would eliminate the step of roasting the sweet potatoes.
Keeping it Vegetarian…
Whether you are vegetarian or not, sometimes you might feel like you don’t want a protein-packed meal. Maybe you had a lot of protein for breakfast and lunch, or maybe you simply want a lighter meal. It can be hard to come up with a meal that is filling but doesn’t have a protein in it. This is the perfect solution. It has healthy carbs and fats and is therefore filling and nutritious.
Variations and substitutes:
- You can use regular white rice.
- Add any veggies you like. Thinly sliced cucumbers and carrots work well in this recipe too.
- Add any fish you’d like if you don’t want to keep it vegetarian. Salmon, tuna, or kani are great options.
- Dip it in soy sauce or sweet sauce. For sweet sauce just add some brown sugar to the soy sauce.
Make this a fun activity!
This is a great recipe to turn into an activity. It’s interactive, creative, and fun. Choose a day for it and get in the kitchen with your family, friends, or kids! Everyone can make their own roll and put whatever they’d like in it.
Meal Ideas:
- This recipe is vegetarian, but it doesn’t have to be. You can add a piece of fish to your meal for a non-vegetarian option.
- A few pieces can be served as an appetizer. Or you can have two rolls as a meal.
- Serve it with some creamy celery soup or salad.
Brown Rice Sushi with Avocado and Sweet Potato
Equipment
- 1 bamboo mat
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup brown sushi rice
- 2 nori sheets
- 1/2 avocado
- 1/2 roasted sweet potato (wrap in silver foil, place in an aluminum pan, and roast at 400 degrees for about an hour. Allow to cool completely.)
Spicy Mayo:
- 2 tablespoons mayo
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
Instructions
- Cook the rice according to package instructions. Let it cool completely.
- Prepare all your ingredients along with a bowl of water in case your fingers stick to the sushi and need to be cleaned. The avocado and sweet potatoes should be thinly sliced into long pieces.
- Wrap the bamboo mat in plastic wrap. (This makes it easier to clean – you just take off the plastic wrap instead of washing the bamboo mat.)
- Place the nori sheet on the bamboo mat making sure it is the right way (that the bamboo mat will be able to roll forward). Cover it with rice by firmly pressing the rice into the nori sheet. Leave the top inch of the nori sheet empty.
- Place the avocado and sweet potato in the center of the rice.
- Start rolling the sushi by folding the bamboo mat over the veggies.
- Secure the first fold tightly by pressing the bamboo mat into the folded side.
- Open up the bamboo mat and make sure you have one fold done.
- Continue the same thing another two more times until you have a complete sushi roll.
- Open up the bamboo mat and remove it from under the sushi roll.
- Slice the sushi slowly and gently getting your knife wet a little bit first so that it doesn't stick to the rice. It should make around 8 pieces.
- Mix the mayo, hot sauce, and honey and drizzle over the sushi or dip the pieces in.
Is sushi rice sticky? If not, how can the rice become sticky? TYIA
Sushi rice is sticky.
If you don’t have sushi rice then simply soak regular rice in water for 30 minutes.
Good luck!