This super easy California Roll is a classic sushi roll that always hits the spot! Follow along as we show you how to make one of the most popular sushi rolls right in your own kitchen. Made with real, simple ingredients, like crab meat, carrots, cucumbers, nori sheets, and fluffy sushi rice. Perfect for enjoying as a light & refreshing lunch, dinner, or add it to your next sushi party with friends!
The Best California Rolls
A classic California roll recipe simply can’t be beat! Especially, if you like sushi but raw fish isn’t your thing. We used imitation crab meat, but you can also bake crab legs and use the meat inside. We like picking up imitation crab because it is so easy and in most traditional California sushi rolls.
Sushi chefs have spent years perfecting the art of making sushi and, let’s be honest, you and me aren’t at that level BUT sometimes it is so fun to make your own at home! We have been having fun with making our own sushi for over a decade – this is clearly an Americanized version of traditional Japanese sushi-making and if you want to truly enjoy the authentic version head out a local sushi restaurant!
Love sushi but not raw fish – try our Avocado Rolls!
What Is In a California Roll
- sushi rice – just follow one of these easy tutorials on how to easily make sushi rice on the stove top or Instant Pot.
- imitation crab stick – this should be easy to find at your local grocery store.
- nori sheets – these seaweed sheets can also be found at your local store or at asian grocery stores.
- carrots, cucumber, & avocado – the fresh ingredients that are traditionally found in California rolls, but feel free to switch them up according to your preferences.
- serving options: soy sauce, wasabi, spicy mayo, and/or wasabi mayo – any of these options would be great for enjoying with your freshly made sushi rolls.
History Of Sushi
Want to dig a little more into the history of sushi – here is a great article!
How To Make California Rolls
The first steps to making this easy sushi roll recipe, are to make some fluffy sushi rice. You can do this on your stovetop or in your Instant Pot.
Next, grab a sharp knife and prep all of the filling ingredients that you plan to use.
Now get a bamboo sushi mat and place a sheet of nori on top, shiny side down. Use a spoon to spread an even layer of sticky rice on top, leaving the top inch of the sheet empty. Add the filling ingredients on the rice side at the end closest to you.
Lift the bottom of the nori sheet up over the filling ingredients.
Use the bamboo sheet to start rolling up the sushi roll – try to keep this process as tight as possible without squeezing too tight and the filling starts coming out. Make sure you pull the bamboo sheet out slightly as you go so that it doesn’t get rolled up inside the sushi roll.
Keep this tuck & pull process going until the entire sushi roll has been rolled up, nice and tight.
Use a sharp knife to cut it into pieces on a cutting board.
Pro tip: keep a bowl of water nearby (preferably with warm water) to dip your knife into to help keep it clean – this will help making clean cuts.
Enjoy your sushi rolls any way you want!
How To Eat A California Roll
We always love serving our homemade California rolls with some soy sauce for dipping. And if you are looking to add a little more flavor or heat to your sushi roll, you should definitely consider drizzling some spicy mayo or wasabi mayo on top! If you are looking for a garnish, we highly recommend a sprinkling of sesame seeds.
Make it Spicy
Love a little spice with your California Roll .. we can’t recommend a little Spicy Mayo enough! Just mix it up quick and add a dollop on top of your cut rolls – so easy and delicious (and you can control the spice).
Made this recipe and loved it?! We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!
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Other Sushi Recipes You Might Like
California Roll
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 sushi rolls 1x
- Category: Sushi
- Method: Counter Top
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Description
California Roll Sushi – a delicious, simple California rolls sushi recipe that is packed with flavor – optional spicy mayo!
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups cooked sushi rice
- 4 nori sheets
- 4 sticks imitation crab meat, cut in half lengthwise
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1 cucumber, julienned
- 1–2 carrots, julienned
- soy sauce for serving
- (optional) wasabi for serving
- (optional) spicy mayo or wasabi mayo
Instructions
- Sushi Rice Recipe: Prepare sushi rice and let cool to room temperature – cover with damp towel – while you prepare the filling ingredients.
- Filling ingredients: use a sharp knife to prepare all of the filling ingredients that will be used inside the sushi rolls.
- Sushi Roll: place a bamboo sheet down and then put your nori sheet on top (shiny side up).
- Using the back of a spoon, spread approx. 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons of sushi rice across the nori sheet leaving the top inch or so empty. The rice should be pretty flattened.
- Place the filling ingredients in the middle of the nori sheet. Don’t go too crazy with the filling or it will end up popping out the ends if it is too full.
- Using both hands, pick up the edges of the nori sheet closest to you and fold over the filling ingredients; tucking the nori sheet around the ingredients. Pick up the bamboo sheet and fold over as well (but don’t tuck all the way around).
- While pressing firmly down on the sushi roll, while pulling the bamboo sheet away from your body and rolling the sushi. Then stop and wrap your hands around the roll pressing down firmly to create a solid roll. Pull away from your body again with the bamboo sheet then stop again and press down. Continue doing this until you have a fully formed sushi roll.
- Using a very sharp knife, cut the roll into 1 inch thick pieces.
- Create 3 more rolls using the same technique – see notes below for instructions on an Inside Out Roll (where the rice is on the outside of the roll instead of the inside).
- (optional) Top with a dollop or drizzle of spicy mayo or wasabi mayo to really up the spice level.
- Serve with soy sauce, wasabi (optional) or pickled ginger.
Notes
- Sushi Rice – just follow one of these easy tutorials on how to easily make sushi rice on the stove top or Instant Pot.
- Inside Out Roll (rice on the outside): Place a bamboo sheet down and place a piece of parchment paper on top. Place nori sheet on top of the parchment, shiny side down. Cover with rice leaving the top inch empty. Carefully flip the nori sheet over so that the rice-side is down and the 1 inch piece of nori sheet without rice is near you. Place your ingredients towards the center of the nori sheet. Lift up the edge of the nori sheet closest to you and tuck around ingredients. Lift up the bamboo mat and fold over as well. Start pulling the bamboo away from your body as the nori sheet rolls around the ingredients. Then stop and apply gentle pressure to create a roll. Continue pulling/rolling with the bamboo mat and then apply pressure until you have a fully formed sushi roll. Cut into 1 inch pieces with a very sharp knife.
- Instant Pot Sushi Rice: we also have an easy tutorial on how to make sushi rice right in your Instant Pot. It’s super quick and easy!
- Storage: we recommend storing in the fridge for no more than 24 hours (fyi – this is different than sushi made with raw fish which should be eaten immediately).
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