Make a California Roll
A California roll is a creative American twist on sushi. This page will describe the California Uramaki. Uramaki has nori or seaweed on the inside and the rice on the outside, as opposed to a regular sushi roll, which usually has the seaweed on the outside.
Ingredients
- a sheet of nori (seaweed)
- sushi rice
- crab meat (can be imitation or real)
- avocado slices
- mayonnaise or cream cheese - optional
- sesame seeds or "tobiko" (flying fish eggs) - both items are optional
Steps
- Use Saran wrap to cover your sushi rolling mat. This method avoids rice getting into the mat.
- Place the seaweed sheet, shiny side down, on the mat.
- Pour water into a bowl and dip your fingers in it. Wetting your hands makes the rice less sticky while you work with it so it stays on the seaweed instead of your fingers.
- Get a small handful of rice and thoroughly spread it on the seaweed, completely covering it with a thin layer. Don't mash the rice down but be sure it sticks to the seaweed. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Turn the seaweed to its other side, so the non-rice side is facing you and the rice is on the bottom.
- Place the strips of avocado in the middle of the seaweed sheet, parallel with the length. Usually it will take at least 2 or 3 slices, depending on how long each slice is.
- Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise either on the top or bottom of the avocado. If you use a squeeze container (like a restaurant ketchup bottle), the mayonnaise will appear neater on the seaweed.
- Place the individual crab pieces on the mayonnaise. While doing this, make sure that everything is even; this is important when you actually make the roll.
- Make the roll by starting out with the seaweed side closest to you. Start folding the sushi mat away from you in a circle, so it forms a roll. Be sure not to squash the items in the roll as you go along, but make sure that it's sturdy, an even size, and firm.
- Take a knife and cut the uramaki in half. Place one slice above the other and divide both pieces into thirds. This will give you 6 equal pieces.
- Serve the pieces on their side to present the ingredients that are inside of the roll. This is to create a colorful and interesting palette to the person eating it.
Tips
- You can cut up or break up the crab meat, and mix with the mayonnaise for an even spread.
