Monday, March 23, 2015

Make Your Own Sushi

I know, this isn't my typical blog topic, but the sun came out on Sunday this weekend and made me hopeful that Spring is nearly here. 

When the weather warms up, I love to have more fresh veggies in the diet. And one thing that my family loves is some simple sushi.

In fact, The Bead Girl is kind of obsessed with sushi. If it is her turn to pick where we go for dinner, she picks sushi. If it is her birthday and she chooses the destination, she will pick sushi. If she is at the grocery store with me she beelines over to the sushi counter and raises a hopeful eyebrow. So last Fall for her birthday one of the things we gave her was a sushi maker thingy called Sushezi. I know it is a strange thing to give a 12 year old, but considering her love of this stuff ... it just seemed right. She was pretty excited when she saw it. So when the sun popped out yesterday we pulled out a few key ingredients and got cooking. It is actually really easy:

SUSHI RICE
Pot of rice (2 cups rice, 4 cups water, 1 pat butter) bring to a boil, then simmer until done
Rice vinegar solution (1/3 cup vinegar, 2 teaspoons sugar, dash salt) boil until sugar is dissolved
Mix the vinegar solution into the rice until it holds together

MIX AND MATCH FILLINGS
Steam any root vegetable until just tender (boil for 3-4 minutes) slice in matchsticks
Remove the outside of cucumber, slice in quarters, carve out seeds, slice in matchsticks
Half an avocado and slice 
Add any seafood (lump crab, grilled shrimp, grilled or steamed salmon)

PUTTING IT TOGETHER:
We used the sushi maker and packed in some rice on either side, then add the slices of veggies, or pieces of seafood. Mix and match and add whatever sounds good to you. Fold the top over (the side with just rice), latch then push down using the inside press. This last step compresses all the ingredients, and presto ... a perfect sushi log every time! Just place the sushi log on some nori (the seaweed typically around the outside of sushi). I use a bamboo mat that helps to roll and lock the seaweed in place, and then just slice it into pieces about an inch thick. 

Our sushi might not be exactly perfectly round by the time we plate it up, but it is fun to make and tastes amazing. Since everything was just cooked and sliced, the sushi was still slightly warm. It doesn't have that refrigerated, dense rice ball flavor or feel you get from sushi bought in the store or at a deli. The rice is soft and the flavors are fresh, and makes me feel like spring is just around the corner. 

18 comments:

  1. It looks really, really yummy... I may have to give it a try!

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  2. I need one of those sushi makers :) Looks like your daughter has inherited your culinary skills!

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  3. It looks so good! I think it's wonderful that your daughter has taken an interest in this. Preparing food is a skill she'll enjoy her whole life.

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  4. The BirdMan surprised us all by bringing sushi home on the first day of Spring...he said it seemed like the perfect food to usher in the new season :-)
    This looks pretty easy to make ~ Bead Girl must have fun making the sticky rice and rolling it. Putting anything you want in the center of the roll makes it even more exciting! C'mon Spring! We will eat you up!!!

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  5. I would still like to try sushi some day. It looks so refreshing. And I love that you were able to make this at home.

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  6. I'm not a sushi eater but my daughter is. Her birthday is today and I got her a cookbook that centers around making bento boxes. So, there are a lot of sushi recipes in it. They are easy to do and the variety is always interesting.

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  7. Wow delicious!!!
    Have a good week!!!:)))

    Besos, desde España, Marcela♥

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  8. My girls and I love sushi and only have one place in town that sells it. I've made my own before and you've inspired me to try it again. Yum!!!

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  9. Looks great. One of Baille's favorite things is sushi and we've actually made it once but this looks so much better than ours turned out. Happy Spring!

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  10. It looks delicious! We love our Sushezi. It makes the most perfect sushi rolls! So much cheaper to make at home too.

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  11. cooking with kids is fun, I am sure you guys had fun with the sushi maker thingy...no sushi for me please! :/

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  12. Can you believe I've never had sushi? I always thought it was only raw fish or something which does not sound good at all. Your recipe actually sounds really good so I'll have to try it sometime!

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  13. Yum! I haven't made sushi in forever!

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  14. My daughter is a sushi lover too -- but not when she was twelve! Looks like yours was fun to make!

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  15. Mmmmmm, sushi! We have it in restaurants all the time but have never attempted to make our own. It doesn't look too hard!

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  16. My daughter love sushi. She also likes to cook (on occasion). I should share this post with her.

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  17. Looks way more round than the last time I tried to make sushi! Goodness, but that was a mess... It's cool your daughter likes sushi and enjoys preparing food!

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  18. I never saw sushi maker, I have to find this one for me as I like to make sushi at home too)

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