Homemade California Roll

Prep 5 min

Cook 10 min

Ready in 15 min

This simple roll makes sushi night feel doable and fun, giving you fresh flavor and a little “look what I made” moment in your own kitchen.

Ingredients

1 tbsp (15 mL) rice vinegar
1 tbsp (15 mL) sugar
¼ tsp (1 mL) salt
1 cup (250 mL) cooked short grain white rice (sushi rice) or long grain white rice, warm (see cook’s tip)

Oil for greasing
2 sticks imitation crab meat, thinly sliced (see cook’s tip)
½ avocado, thinly sliced
¼ seedless cucumber, cut into matchsticks
1 sheet nori seaweed
Optional Toppings: Everything Bagel Seasoning (or toasted sesame seeds), soy sauce

Directions

Combine the vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small bowl until the salt and sugar are completely dissolved. Drizzle the vinegar mixture over the rice in a large bowl and stir gently to coat. Cool to room temperature.
Lightly grease the barrel and plunger of the Easy Roll Maker.
Fill both sides of the barrel with sushi rice, then press the plunger into both sides to make space for fillings.
Add your fillings evenly along the divots.
Reattach the plunger, close and latch the barrel, then lock on the end cap.
Turn the plunger until it’s past the threads, then gently press until you feel resistance.
Place a sheet of nori (shiny side down) on a cutting board and press the rice roll onto it, aligning the ends.
Roll up the nori, sealing the edge with a little water.
Let it rest a few minutes to soften the nori, then slice into 8–12 pieces.
Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve with soy sauce, if you’d like.

Yield:

2 servings

Nutrients per serving:

U.S. nutrients per serving: Calories 260, Total Fat 8g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Sodium 560 mg, Carbohydrate 41 g, Fiber 4 g, Sugars 10 g (includes 6 g added sugar), Protein 7 g

Cook's Tips:

Traditional sushi rice is made from Japanese short‑grain rice. It’s stickier and holds its shape in a roll better than standard long-grain white rice. Both will work in this recipe, but sushi rice will give you the best results.

You’ll sometimes see imitation crab meat sold as surimi or crab-flavored fish.