California Rolls (my style)

Firstly let me profusely apologize to any of my Japanese family/ friends who might read this because I know that I could never make rolls with the beauty and precision of the Japanese way. These rolls are kind of made the Indian way where I kind of just thump the ingredients down and roll it all up. It works for me – in fact now even my kids have learnt the art of making (imperfect) rolls.

California Rolls

Nori (seaweed)

2 cups Japanese Sticky Rice ( I use Nishiki but any brand is fine)

2 cups + 2 tablespoons of water

2 just ripe avacados cut, peeled and sliced

5-6 stalks of steamed asparagus trimmed or cucumber chopped into thin long strips

6-7 pices of Osaki brand japanese fish cake (imitation crab)

3/4 cup of seasoned sushi vinegar ( any brand – I use Mitsukan or Marukan)

Bamboo mat for rolling covered in saran wrap (covering it just makes clean up easier but you do no have to do it)

• Wash the sticky rice well, add water to it and cook till done. The rice should not be too wet or too dry.
• Here is a great website which tells you how to make perfect sushi rice http://www.mahalo.com/How_to_Make_Perfect_Sushi_Rice
• When the rice is still hot add the sushi rice vinegar to it and mix it very well.
• Let it cool down a little bit and then you may begin making the rolls.

Seasoned Sushi Vinegar

osaki imitation crab sticks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to make the rolls

Place the following ingredients next to each other to begin rolling the rolls

Warm vinegared rice

Imitation crab sticks

Sliced Avacados

Steam asparagus or sliced cucumber sticks

Nori sheets

Kewpie Mayo (optional)

Small bowl with water

Bamboo mat (covered with saran wrap)

 

Vinegared Rice

 

Filling

Directions:

Bamboo mat wrapped with plastic wrap

Take some rice and start placing it on the nori

 

Keep spreading the rice thinly on the nori

Cover the entire nori with rice evenly. Leave space around the edges.

Put some mayo across the riced nori sheet

Place an asparagus stalk on top of the mayo

Add some imitation crab sticks

Add avocado on top

Using fingers put a little water on the far edge

Take the near edge of the bamboo mat and begin to fold it over the filling

Bring the mat over the filling

Cover the filling and round out the top

Press down on the two sides with your finger tips

Move the bamboo mat over just a little whilst causing the roll to roll over just a bit inside the mat - DO NOT OPEN THE MAT YET

Repeat the last two steps till you reach the edge of the bamboo mat

remove the roll from the mat

Using a sharp knife dipped in warm water begin cutting the roll

Continue cutting the roll into slices

California Rolls