The 15 BEST Sushi Recipes (How to Make Sushi) (2024)

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Sushi is such a fun and popular food, but making it can seem intimidating for beginners. We compiled this list of great Sushi Recipes to show you how easy it can be!

The word “sushi” specifically refers to prepared vinegared rice. From there, you can make a lot of different sushi varieties.

We’ve included some of the popular rolls found in sushi restaurants, as well as some really interesting traditional Japanese preparations that aren’t well known in the west.

Go through all of these great sushi recipes, you’ll never wonder “how to make sushi?” again. Have fun, and don’t forget the wasabi!

The 15 BEST Sushi Recipes (How to Make Sushi) (1)

Sushi Making Tips and Tricks

  • Choose the Right Rice: Opt for short-grain sushi rice for that perfect sticky texture.
  • Rinse the Rice: Always rinse your rice until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
  • Quality Ingredients: Invest in high-quality, fresh fish and vegetables for the best results.
  • Sharp Knife: A razor-sharp knife is crucial for slicing through delicate ingredients cleanly.
  • Roll Tight, but Don’t Squeeze: Keep your roll tight for good form, but don’t squeeze so hard that ingredients ooze out.
  • Wet Your Hands: To prevent sticking, keep a bowl of water nearby to wet your hands while handling rice.
  • Sushi Mat: Use a bamboo sushi rolling mat for the best rolling results; cover it in plastic wrap for easier cleaning.
  • Cutting Technique: Cut your roll in half first, then proceed to cut each half into smaller pieces to get even slices.
  • Practice: Sushi-making is an art; the more you practice, the better you’ll get.

The Best Sushi Recipes

1. Spicy Tuna Rolls

We’re starting this list with a sushi house classic, spicy tuna rolls. Sashimi grade tuna is tossed with sriracha for a bit of kick, then rolled with nori and rice and topped with spicy mayo. YUM!

Get the Recipe @ justonecookbook

2. Shrimp Tempura Roll

Here’s another very popular roll. Crispy tempura fried shrimp rolled up along with avocado into a super tasty sushi roll. One of our favorite sushi recipes!

Get the Recipe @ dinneratthezoo

3. Nigiri

Nigiri is one of the easiest forms of sushi to make, and is perfect for beginners. A ball of sticky rice is topped with your favorite sushi grade fish. Too easy!

Get the Recipe @ femalefoodie

Check out our collection of favorite Rice Recipes!

4. Chirashizushi (Scattered Sushi)

Chirashizushi, or scattered sushi, is your favorite sushi ingredients scattered over a bed of rice. It’s a quick and satisfying meal, similar to the popular poke bowls.

Get the Recipe @ recipetineats

5. Rainbow Roll

Rainbow rolls are kinda like inside out sushi rolls. Your basic roll gets topped with salmon, avocado and mango. How fun!

Get the Recipe @ masalaherb

6. Temaki

These hand rolled temaki feature your favorite sushi ingredients all wrapped in nori leaves. They make a fun party food, just arrange your ingredients on a platter and everyone can make their own perfect roll.

Get the Recipe @ justonecookbook

7. California Rolls

California rolls are one of the most popular sushi rolls in America. Imitation crab, cucumber and avocado are wrapped up in nori and rice. It’s a simple recipe perfect for beginners.

Get the Recipe @ rasamalaysia

8. Sashimi

If you’re going low carb, eat sashimi! Though technically not sushi because it lacks rice, it’s simply sliced sashimi grade fish served along with soy sauce, wasabi and picked ginger. So easy, yet so delicious!

Get the Recipe @ internationalcuisine

9. Temari Sushi

Temari sushi is fun little hand rolled balls of sushi ingredients wrapped around rice. They take a little work, but they’re a fun dish you can really get creative with. Just imagine serving a platter of these cute balls at your next get together!

Get the Recipe @ pickledplum

10. Sushi Bowls

Enjoy your favorite sushi in easy bowl form! Just gather all of your favorite sushi ingredients and arrange them in a bowl. Don’t forget the wasabi and soy sauce!

Get the Recipe @ dinneratthezoo

11. Sushi Burrito

These burritos are a fun way to eat sushi. They originated in California, but now they’re gaining popularity everywhere. This recipe shows you how to make them in your own kitchen.

Get the Recipe @ thewoodenskillet

Check out our collection of favorite Fish Recipes!

12. Sushi Tacos

Sushi tacos are another fun meal. The nori wraps are lightly fried with tempura batter to make them crispy, then they’re stuffed with a spicy salmon filling. This sushi recipe is sure to impress!

Get the Recipe @ coupleeatsfood

13. Inari Sushi

Inari sushi may not be well known in the west, but it is very popular in Japan. A pouch of fried tofu is filled with rice. How neat!

Get the Recipe @ pickledplum

14. Las Vegas Roll

A unique twist on sushi rolls, this Las Vegas roll features salmon, avocado and jalapeño. After assembly, it gets deep fried in tempura batter.

Get the Recipe @ howdaily

15. Spam Musubi

Spam Musubi is one of the most popular foods in Hawaii. A slice of fried Spam sits atop sushi rice and all is wrapped together with nori. What a unique way to wrap up our list!

Get the Recipe @ favfamilyrecipes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sushi Rice?

Sushi rice is a special type of short-grain rice seasoned with vinegar, sugar, and salt. It’s the foundation of any great sushi dish! If you don’t see it by the regular rice in your supermarket, try the international section.

Can I Use Regular Fish?

It’s critical to use sushi-grade fish when making sushi at home. This ensures the fish is safe to consume raw.

Is a Bamboo Mat Necessary?

While not strictly necessary, a bamboo mat helps in evenly rolling the sushi, making your life much easier.

Is Sushi Healthy?

Sushi can be a healthy meal option depending on your ingredient choices. Opt for fresh veggies and avoid sugary sauces for a health-conscious spread.

What Can I Serve with Sushi?

Traditional sides include pickled ginger, wasabi, and soy sauce. You can also pair it with miso soup or a light salad.

Conclusion

So there you go, fifteen great sushi recipes for you to make in your own home. They’re all fun to make and super tasty.

Save or pin this collection of great recipes so you always know where to find it. And be sure to subscribe to GypsyPlate, we’re always cooking up new easy recipes for you!

Take a look at these other great recipe collections!
Japanese Recipes
Light Dinner Ideas
Asian Recipes
Pizza Recipes
Taco Recipes
Tapas Recipes
Low Calorie Meals
Seafood Recipes
Finger Food Recipes

The 15 BEST Sushi Recipes (How to Make Sushi) (2)

30 BEST Sushi Recipes (How to Make Sushi)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

This great collection of Sushi Recipes will show you how to make sushi like a pro! Here's a quick rundown on how to make sushi rice:

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Japanese short-grain rice (“sushi rice”)
  • 2 cups water
  • 4-inch square of kombu (optional)
  • 1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp sugar
  • 2 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Wash the rice with cold water until the water runs clear.
  2. Place rice, water and kombu in rice cooker and cook the rice according to cooker instructions.
  3. While the rice is cooking, heat the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small pan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
  4. Once rice has finished cooking, transfer to a large mixing bowl. Gently fold in vinegar mixture.
  5. Allow rice to cool at room temperature and place a damp cloth over the bowl to avoid the rice drying out.

Notes

  1. Let me know which recipes you try, I love hearing from you!

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

The 15 BEST Sushi Recipes (How to Make Sushi) (3)

Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.

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    The 15 BEST Sushi Recipes (How to Make Sushi) (2024)

    FAQs

    What are the 5 main ingredients in sushi? ›

    To start us off, here is a list of base ingredients for making sushi:
    • Calrose sushi rice. Without a doubt, rice is the most important ingredient when making sushi. ...
    • Nori sheets (algae leaves) You would like to make makis (sushi rolls) ? ...
    • Sushi rice vinegar. ...
    • Fish, seafood, proteins and/or vegetables.
    Mar 9, 2022

    What are the top 3 ingredients in sushi? ›

    ​The basic ingredients for making sushi are typically available at your local grocery store. These items consist of seasoned rice vinegar, soy sauce, short-grain rice, soy sauce, and seaweed sheets.

    What does a beginner need to make sushi? ›

    Creating a sushi pantry out of basic staples will make it simple to have sushi any day of the week!
    1. Sushi rice.
    2. Rice Wine Powder or Vinegar.
    3. bamboo mat.
    4. plastic wrap.
    5. nori (seaweed sheets)
    6. soy sauce.
    7. toasted sesame seeds.
    8. Sriracha chili sauce.
    Jul 15, 2023

    How to make sushi in 8 steps? ›

    How to Make Sushi!!! Maki Style (rolled Sushi)
    1. Step 1: Gather All of Your Ingredients. ...
    2. Step 2: Gather Your Tools. ...
    3. Step 3: Making Rice!!!!! ...
    4. Step 4: Make Vinegar Syrup for Rice. ...
    5. Step 5: Mixing Vinegar Syrup and Rice. ...
    6. Step 6: Putting It Together. ...
    7. Step 7: Rolling It Up and Cutting. ...
    8. Step 8: Plating and Serving.

    What is the secret ingredient in sushi? ›

    Rice Vinegar: The Secret to Perfect Sushi Rice

    Rice vinegar is a key ingredient in making the perfect sushi rice. It provides the signature tangy and slightly sweet flavor that is so important to sushi. In fact, without good rice vinegar, you will never achieve the perfect taste of your sushi rice.

    What makes the perfect sushi? ›

    1 - Rice must be cooked with vinegar for perfect sushi. 2 - The proportion of fish and rice must be just right. 3 - Only some fish works right with rice, other fish should be used for sashimi and chefs must go to great lengths to make sure they choose the right fish.

    What makes sushi yummy? ›

    Freshness of ingredients – One of the most important factors that determines the quality of sushi is the freshness of the ingredients. Good sushi should use only the freshest fish, rice, and vegetables. The fish should be vibrant in color, firm to the touch, and should have a fresh and clean scent.

    What's in traditional sushi? ›

    Japanese sushi is famous for its simplicity – usually comprising nothing but rice, fish, and nori, along with some seasoning. Western sushi is more complicated, adding high-fat ingredients, such as tempura, mayonnaise, avocado, and cream cheese – few of which make an appearance in traditional Japanese sushi.

    How to make sushi in 5 steps? ›

    How To Make Sushi
    1. Make the rice.
    2. Cut and prepare your sushi fillings (fish, veggies, etc.).
    3. Layer: bamboo rolling mat, saran wrap, nori seaweed sheet, rice.
    4. Lay thin layer of fish and veggies on rice.
    5. Roll it up until top and bottom edges of nori meet; seal edges together.
    6. Cut into bite-sized pieces and serve.

    Can I make sushi at home? ›

    Sushi rolls or maki sushi is the most classic and traditional sushi one can make at home. To get started, you just need a few ingredients like tuna, cucumber, nori, and Japanese short-grain rice. You can certainly add whatever other fillings you like.

    Should sushi rice be cold before rolling? ›

    Sushi rice should not be used hot. Allow the rice to cool down for at least five minutes before being used. If it doesn't cool correctly, not only will it be difficult to get it to maintain its shape, but the residual heat could affect the flavor and texture of the raw ingredients in the sushi.

    How is sushi made simple? ›

    Center 1 nori sheet on a bamboo sushi mat. Use wet hands to spread a thin layer of rice on top. Arrange 1/4 of the crabmeat, avocado, cucumber, and pickled ginger over rice in a line down the center. Lift one end of the mat and roll it tightly over filling to make a complete roll.

    What are the steps in rolling sushi? ›

    Start by spreading the cooked rice in a thin layer over the nori, leaving room in the center for your main ingredients. After adding everything you want, roll it all up using your makisu (a type of flexible bamboo mat) as a guide and slice it into yummy bite-sized pieces!

    What are the basics of sushi? ›

    Nigiri — Japan's most popular and basic form of sushi — is a piece of raw fish that is placed on top of a small ball of rice. Although raw fish is the most common, tamago (Japanese rolled omelet), cooked or seared meats or fish and vegetables may be placed on the rice.

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