A Philadelphia Sushi Roll

Philadelphia Sushi Rolls, also called Philly Rolls, are when the perfect combination of smoked salmon, cream cheese, and cucumber are all rolled up together to make one of the most delicious sushi rolls ever created – that flavor combination of the smokey salmon and smooth cream cheese are a match made in heaven (see also: Ultimate Smoked Lox Bagels).

Sushi chefs spend 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 sit down and make your own! I have been making my own sushi for about 10+ years so I am excited to finally put my own experience into writing – this is clearly an Americanized version of traditional Japanese sushi-making and if you want to truly enjoy the authentic version head out and find yourself a talented sushi chef at a local restaurant!

History of Sushi

Want to dig a little more into the history of sushi – here is a great article!

Philadelphia Roll Ingredients

• nori seaweed sheets – these are the seaweed sheets that hold the rolls together – put them on the inside or out.
• sushi rice – we love this one! Made with short grain sushi rice, water, seasoned rice vinegar, a touch of sugar and pinch of salt this perfect sushi rice has the perfect sticky texture every time and if you need an easy tutorial on how to make it you should checkout this post!
• cream cheese – option to use regular or dairy free depending on your preference – feel free to try a jalapeno cream cheese for an extra kick! You could also try this Scallion Cream Cheese!
• smoked salmon or lox – a traditional component for a philadelphia roll.
• cucumber –  cut into matchsticks these are perfect for a little green crunch on the inside.
• soy sauce or coconut aminos – this will be for dipping pieces of your roll once it is ready to eat.
• Other add-ins: you could also add in some avocado if you want!

Sushi Making Options

There are a few different ways to make sushi – a standard sushi roll (shown in the images below), an inside-out sushi roll, or a sushi hand roll. All options are delicious and pretty easy to make once you have all your ingredients ready to go. Below you can see the process for making a standard sushi roll with the nori sheet on the outside.

An inside-out roll is when the rice is on the outside and you can find the instructions in the recipe card below. A sushi hand roll is also a great option and we have a wonderful tutorial that you can check out if you want to try it.