I enjoy making sushi–and my family enjoys eating it. But sometimes I want the taste of sushi without the time and effort it takes to roll it. One way I get around the task of making sushi rolls is to have “Roll Your Own” nights: I’ll prepare the rice and fillings and cut the sheets of nori into quarters, and we’ll each make our own little cones of sushi right at the table. Kids love making their own sushi, so I really recommend this activity to parents whose kids aren’t sure about sushi yet; it will probably turn them into sushi lovers.
When I’m really running short of time, or when I’m preparing other dishes such as miso soup, carrot stick bundles, or portabella rolls, I often skip the rolling altogether and make Sushi Salad. I combine seasoned sushi rice with whatever vegetables I have on-hand. If I’m really lucky, I’ll have a bunch of asparagus and an avocado, but this week those items were unavailable so I had to make do with what was in my refrigerator: carrots, red bell pepper, edamame, cucumber, and some of the mushrooms left over from making portabella rolls. Though it was lacking asparagus and avocado, this version of sushi salad came out so well that E. was a little disappointed that it wasn’t in her Totoro bento box on Monday because her father had already grabbed the leftovers for his lunch.
Sushi Rice Salad
3 cups cooked short-grain brown rice
1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
1 cup boiled edamame, shelled
10 baby carrots, sliced thick
3/4 cup cucumber cubes
1/4 cup chopped red pepper
1/2 cup chopped portabella or shiitake mushrooms (prepared as for Portabella Rolls)
1 tbsp. slivered almonds
1 tsp. black sesame seeds
slivers of nori for garnish
OPTIONAL:
wasabi mayonnaise (vegan mayo mixed with prepared wasabi to taste)
Mix all ingredients except nori together and top with pieces of nori. Serve at room temperature with a dab of wasabi mayonnaise, if desired.
Laura
I'm eating this (kind of) for breakfast right now. I found this "rice seasoning" in the Asian section of me regular grocery store. It's mostly seaweed, with a little sesame seeds, salt and sugar. I added some of that, and some plain rice vinegar to leftover brown rice and microwaved it long enough to take the chill off. I put that on top of mixed lettuces and then added a bunch of raw veggies and topped with wasabi mayo/soy sauce/rice vinegar/sweet chili sauce dressing.
Thank you for the great idea! I'll definitely be making it your way next grocery trip.
Rhonda Cronkhite
Our “sushi salad” recipe has: avocado, shallots, celery, green pepper, cucumber, seedless grapes, and of all things, trail mix (no chocolate, just nuts and fruit). Cut everything up in little pieces (half the grapes), throw on some rice seasoning, mix and go!! My family loves it. i like it better with rice, but they eat it without it.
Moky
WHat a great idea! All my kids love sushi, love “roll-your-own” night, so this salad is a great variation!
Thanks!
Hayley
Hi! Do you cook the asparagus when you include it? If so, how?
Susan Voisin
I usually just steam it very lightly, but roasted is good, too.
Nicole
Is there a way to incorporate wasabi powder into this without having to make it with the mayo? I don’t have tofu on hand. Thanks!
Susan Voisin
You could try whisking wasabi powder into rice vinegar and then add it to the rice.