Homemade California roll prepared with imitation crab (surimi) is an inside-out sushi.
This is yours to make if you LOVE sushi just as much as I do and Japanese food.
The California roll is part of my Japanese food series, which I prepared with my Japanese food expert.
This post is part of a series of Japanese recipes.
This includes traditional Japanese dishes such as miso soup as well as modern meals and recipes.
Jump to:
What's a California Roll?
California roll is a variation of sushi, created and popularized on the American continent.
There are creation claims from sushi makers in Vancouver Canada and Los Angeles US.
This sushi has become a trend in Japan too over the last 20 or so years.
The sushi is a modern inside-out maki sushi variation, filled primarily with surimi, so-called imitation crab meat.
A maki is a sushi wrapped in nori seaweed. That means the seaweed is on the outside.
The inside-out sushi has a layer of rice on the outside and the nori seaweed between 2 layers of rice.
An inside-out sushi is known as uramaki sushi. The regular seaweed out maki sushi is known as a futomaki on the other hand.
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients ready to make this recipe:
- nori seaweed sheets
- cooked sushi rice
- fresh avocado and cucumber
- surimi sticks - imitation crab meat
- Japanese Mayonnaise (kewpie)
- Sesame Seeds
To see if you can substitute sushi rice and Japanese mayo, click on the recipes for more info.
How to make it?
Making sushi is easy but you need to follow the recipe to the tee!
The instructions below will give you an idea of what to expect before you start out.
You will find the complete printable recipe further below with measurements and step details.
Step 1
Spread a layer of cooked rice over nori sheet.
Turn the sheet and spread remaining rice over ⅓ of the sheet.
Step 2
Pour mayonnaise in one line over the center.
Arrange cucumber, avocado and surimi over the mayonnaise and rice part.
Step 3
Start to roll in sushi slowly and press down with both hands carefully while rolling steadily to create a tight sushi roll.
Spread some sesame seeds over the bamboo mat and roll in so that the outside is covered with sesame seeds.
Step 4
Cut sushi into 8 thick slices, serve up!
Flavor variations
You can switch out the surimi with tuna, real crab meat, smoked salmon, cooked shrimp, tobiko, or masago (fish roe).
However, in that case, it can't be called a California roll anymore but the maki sushi tastes great too!
To make it vegetarian skip the seafood together or add other ingredients such as mango, shiitake mushrooms, fresh spinach, carrot sticks, bell pepper, and teriyaki cooked tofu.
For spicy California rolls, use spicy Japanese mayonnaise. Just add some sriracha or other hot sauce to your mayo mix and use that in your sushi.
Serving ideas
Garnish with fish roe for taste and aesthetics. Japanese like to garnish with a square folded Japanese omelet too.
Serve up with soy sauce, wasabi paste. Those two are mixed together and used as a dipping sauce.
With or instead of soy sauce, you can opt for a citrus ponzu sauce.
I also LOVE pickled Japanese sliced ginger with my maki. So good!
FAQs
You will need about ½ cup of cooked sushi rice per roll.
I don't recommend rolling without a mat, it gets messy! You can try rolling with a fine cloth or a plastic sheet.
A bamboo mat needs to be wrapped into plastic if you prepare sticky inside-out sushi. That way the mat will be easier to clean and nothing gets stuck.
Roll slowly in with both hands while pressing down gently and equally. The pressure will make it all stick together, with the sticky rice and mayo keeping it all glued. Continue to roll in while pressing down until you have a tight roll sitting in front of you. Practicing and time will make you a sushi rolling master!
You can keep your sushi for about 1-2 days in your fridge. I store it in an air-tight container.
More Sushi Roll Ideas
- Spicy Salmon Roll - spicy mayonnaise
- Boston Roll - with tobiko fish roe
- Rainbow Roll - rainbow color topping
- Dragon Roll - with avocado
- Philadelphia Roll - with cream cheese
📖 Recipe
California Roll Sushi Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Sushi Rice cooked, *see Notes
- ½ Avocado
- 1 Cucumber
- 6 pcs Surimi aka imitation crab, *see Notes
- 2 sheets Nori Seaweed *see Notes
- 4 Tablespoon Japanese Mayonnaise *see Notes
- 2 Tablespoon Sesame Seeds *see Notes
Instructions
- Cut avocado into thinner slices. Peel the cucumber and cut into half lengthwise.
- Place your nori seaweed on your Sushi mat. Use a sushi mat wrapped in plastic so that the sushi won't stick.
- Spread almost half of your cooked (keep about 2-3 Tablespoons aside) rice all over your nori seaweed. The rice has to cover the seaweed completely and it needs to be an even layer.
- Turn the rice covered seaweed and spread the 2-3 Tablespoons of rice over one half of your seaweed, but keep about 1 inch or 2-centimeter distance from the bottom end of your seaweed. Spread it out to an even layer.
- Pour mayonnaise in one line in the center of the rice.
- Place a cucumber half over the mayonnaise and arrange 3 avocado slices on that in one line.
- Place 3 surimi in the center in one line.
- Take the seaweed with the toppings to the border of your plastic-wrapped mat, hold with both hands and start to roll in your sushi.
- Continue to roll in your sushi and press down with both hands to create a tight wrap. Roll until you have a tight sushi roll
- Place sushi roll on one side of your mat and sprinkle sesame seeds all over the rest of the mat.
- Roll so that the inside out sushi is picking up the sesame seeds and the roll is completely covered with sesame seeds.
- Take the sushi from the bamboo mat and cut into 1 inch or 2 centimeter thick slices or so that you are left with 8 thick slices.
- Arrange the california roll on a serving plate and serve with soya wasabi dipping options and some pickled sliced ginger.
Notes
- Use cooked sushi rice only and please follow my recipe to make sushi rice.
- Surimi is also called imitation crab meat. You can use crab meat too or cooked shrimp.
- Nori are seaweed sheets. Use unflavored plain maki sushi nori seaweed sheets to make this recipe.
- Japanese sushi is made with Japanese mayonnaise. It tastes a bit different from American mayonnaise but you can use that too as a substitution. See my Japanese mayo recipe on how to turn American mayo into a Japanese flavored mayo.
- Use black or white sesame seeds or both together.
- It's important to roll in the sushi slowly and as tight as possible. Take your time and press carefully down with both hands while rolling in.
Equipment
- Sushi Bamboo Mat
Very helpful tutorial! Definitely want to try again
Lovely! Glad you found it useful 🙂
Question- so everytime I make this, the slices come out so messy. Any tips on how to make neater pieces?
When you roll in, use both your hands and slowly roll in while putting down some pressure. Also, make the sushi rice as per our recipe because if the rice isn't properly prepared, it won't stick and hold together. When you cut the roll into slices use a large sharp knife and wipe the knife frequently.
I made them before heres a tip if you want it : soak the knife with water for cleaner slices
I have to make them! I live in Japan, and those are one of the rare sushi’s that’s hard to find in stores.
Oh wow I didn't realize they were that rare in Japan.
First timer, super easy!
So good. Topped with spicy mayo
thanks for sharing Angie 🙂
yum!
Buonissimi
me and my dad made these before not using a recipe and all thats different is that we didn't add a extra layer of sushi rice or put Japanese mayo on it, so if you don't like mayonnaise it tastes fine without mayo
thanks for sharing
Yummy
Recommended so 👌 yummy 😋
Thanks sharing for amazing recipe 👏
you are very welcome saida 🙂
por fin puedo decir que me quedó un rollo bonito y delicioso!
Well I don't have to miss my favorite sushi restaurant anymore...I can make my own!!! And I made some with salmon...it was really really really good. The family loved it!
Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
Delicious
thanks for your feedback! 🙂