Description

California Roll Sushi Bowls offer a delicious and healthy twist on the classic California roll sushi. This recipe layers sushi rice with imitation crab meat, fresh avocado, cucumber, and a spicy sriracha mayo, garnished with nori, sesame seeds, and cilantro for a fresh and satisfying meal. Perfect for a quick, flavorful lunch or dinner that captures the essence of sushi in an easy-to-assemble bowl format.

Ingredients

Scale

Rice

2 cups sushi rice (or short-grain rice)
2 ½ cups water
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt

Filling and Toppings

1 cup imitation crab meat (shredded or chopped)
1 avocado, sliced
½ cucumber, julienned or thinly sliced
1 sheet nori, cut into strips (optional, for garnish)
1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
Fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish)

Sauce

2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon sriracha sauce (adjust to your heat preference)
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon rice vinegar (optional for extra tang)

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Instructions

Prepare the Rice: Rinse the sushi rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch. Cook the rice in a rice cooker or pot with 2 ½ cups of water. Once cooked, let it rest covered for 10 minutes to finish steaming.
Season the Rice: In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt until dissolved. Fold this seasoning gently into the cooled rice to infuse flavor without breaking the grains.
Prepare the Fillings: Slice the avocado and julienne or thinly slice the cucumber. Shred or chop the imitation crab meat into bite-sized pieces for easy layering.
Make the Spicy Mayo: Combine mayonnaise, sriracha sauce, soy sauce, and optional rice vinegar in a bowl. Stir well until the sauce is smooth and creamy, adjusting heat level to taste.
Assemble the Bowls: In each bowl, layer the seasoned sushi rice first, then top with crab meat, avocado slices, and cucumber. Garnish with nori strips, sesame seeds, and fresh cilantro if using.
Serve: Drizzle the prepared spicy mayo sauce over the bowls just before serving. Enjoy immediately for the best flavor and texture.

Notes

For best rice texture, use short-grain sushi rice and rinse thoroughly before cooking.
Adjust sriracha quantity to control the spiciness of the mayo sauce.
Optional garnishes like nori, sesame seeds, and cilantro add authentic flavor and texture.
Use imitation crab meat for a budget-friendly, accessible alternative to real crab.
Serve immediately after assembling to prevent the avocado from browning.