Best 9 Basic California Roll Recipes

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California rolls are a popular type of sushi roll that originated in California, United States. They are typically made with cucumber, avocado, and crab stick, and are often served with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger. California rolls are a great option for those who are new to sushi, as they are relatively mild in flavor and have a familiar taste. If you are looking for a delicious and easy-to-make California roll recipe, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to make this classic sushi roll at home.

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

CALIFORNIA ROLL RECIPE BY TASTY



California Roll Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: sushi rice, seasoned rice vinegar, sushi grade nori, sesame seed, imitation crab, small cucumber, avocado

Provided by Kiano Moju

Categories     Snacks

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 cups sushi rice, cooked
¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar
4 half sheets sushi grade nori
1 teaspoon sesame seed, optional
8 pieces imitation crab
1 small cucumber, cut into matchsticks
1 avocado, thinly sliced

Steps:

  • Season the sushi rice with the rice vinegar, fanning and stirring until room temperature.
  • On a rolling mat, place one sheet of nori with the rough side facing upwards.
  • Wet your hands and grab a handful of rice and place it on the nori. Spread the rice evenly throughout the nori without mashing the rice down. Season rice with a pinch of sesame seeds, if using, then flip it over so the nori is facing upwards.
  • Arrange, in a horizontal row 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the bottom, the crab followed by a row of avocado and a row of cucumber.
  • Grabbing both nori and the mat, roll the mat over the filling so the extra space at the bottom touches the other side, squeezing down to make a nice tight roll. Squeeze down along the way to keep the roll from holding its shape.
  • Transfer the roll onto a cutting board. Rub a knife on a damp paper towel before slicing the roll into six equal portions.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 572 calories, Carbohydrate 96 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 17 grams, Sugar 68 grams

CALIFORNIA ROLL



California Roll image

Provided by Alton Brown

Categories     appetizer

Time 2h5m

Yield 8 appetizer servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 medium avocado, peeled, pitted, and sliced into 1/4-inch thick pieces
4 sheets nori
1/2 batch sushi rice, recipe follows
1/3 cup sesame seeds, toasted
1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded, and cut into matchstick-size pieces
4 crabsticks, torn into pieces
Pickled ginger, for serving
Wasabi, for serving
Soy sauce, for serving
2 cups sushi or short grain rice
2 cups water, plus extra for rinsing rice
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt

Steps:

  • Squeeze the lemon juice over the avocado to prevent browning.
  • Cover a bamboo rolling mat with plastic wrap. Cut nori sheets in half crosswise. Lay 1 sheet of nori, shiny side down, on the plastic covered mat. Wet your fingers with water and spread about 1/2 cup of the rice evenly onto the nori. Sprinkle the rice with sesame seeds. Turn the sheet of nori over so that the rice side is down. Place 1/8 of the cucumber, avocado and crab sticks in the center of the sheet. Grab the edge of the mat closest to you, keeping the fillings in place with your fingers, and roll it into a tight cylinder, using the mat to shape the cylinder. Pull away the mat and set aside. Cover with a damp cloth. Repeat until all of the rice has been used. Cut each roll into 6 pieces. Serve with pickled ginger, wasabi and soy sauce.
  • Place the rice into a mixing bowl and cover with cool water. Swirl the rice in the water, pour off and repeat 2 to 3 times or until the water is clear.
  • Place the rice and 2 cups of water into a medium saucepan and place over high heat. Bring to a boil, uncovered. Once it begins to boil, reduce the heat to the lowest setting and cover. Cook for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes.
  • Combine the rice vinegar, sugar and salt in a small bowl and heat in the microwave on high for 30 to 45 seconds. Transfer the rice into a large wooden or glass mixing bowl and add the vinegar mixture. Fold thoroughly to combine and coat each grain of rice with the mixture. Allow to cool to room temperature before using to make sushi or sashimi.
  • Yield: 4 cups

SUSHI RICE AND CALIFORNIA ROLLS RECIPE



Sushi Rice and California Rolls Recipe image

A tutorial on how to make the perfect sushi rice and a recipe for legitimate California rolls :)

Provided by Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Categories     Medium

Time 1h20m

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 cups Japanese short or medium grain rice
2 1/2 cups cold water
5 Tbsp Sushi Vinegar
4 Tbsp Rice vinegar
2 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt (I used sea salt)
1/2 lb Imitation crab meat (p.s. the "log" shaped crab meat is the easiest to work with)
1 Avocado (ripe but still firm)
1/2 medium cucumber (peeled and sliced into long julienne strips)
Toasted Nori Seaweed
Toasted sesame seeds
A sushi rolling mat ($2 at Cost Plus World Market If you don't have a sushi mat, try using parchment paper instead.)
Soy sauce (regular or low sodium)
Wasabi paste or wasabi powder
For spicy mayo: Mayonnaise (~1 Tbsp and Sriracha hot chili sauce (~1 tsp) or to taste)

Steps:

  • Wash the rice with cold water until the water runs clear. Drain well. If you have a rice maker (way easier!), follow rice maker instructions and cook on the white rice setting then skip to step #4
  • Put drained rice in a heavy sauce-pan and add 2 cups cold water. Cover tightly and set the pan over high heat and bring to a boil. Once it boils, reduce heat to medium and let cook covered until all the water is absorbed (7-8 min). Do not remove the cover to check, but listen for the bubbling to stop.
  • Once you hear a faint hissing sound, reduce the heat to very low and cook another 6 min. Remove from the heat and let stand 15 min covered. This is the basic white rice eaten with japanese meals.
  • Transfer the hot rice to a large bowl and break it up to get rid of all the hot clumps.
  • Let the rice cool down until it is just warm, then stir in your cooled sushi vinegar
  • Wrap your sushi matt in plastic wrap before using it (this makes it re-useable and you don't even have to wash it!).
  • Fold the pieces of nori in half to split them.
  • Toast your sesame seeds over medium heat, stirring constantly until golden. Slice up your veggies.
  • Spread a generous handful of sushi rice onto the 1/2 sheet of nori. Use your WET FINGER TIPS (keep your hands wet to prevent sticking) to spread the rice evenly over the entire surface of the nori.
  • Flip the rice covered piece of nori over so the rice is facing down (this way, your rice will be on the outside). Place your fillings across the center of your rice in the middle of the sheet (don't overfill or the roll won't seal).
  • Start rolling away from you using your matt to firmly keep the roll in place. Apply some pressure to make a tight roll. If its not tight enough, it will be difficult to cut. Once the roll is complete, sprinkle the roll with toasted sesame seeds while it is still on the mat so you can turn it easily.
  • Run your sharp knife through a damp paper towel before slicing so the rice won't stick as much. Cut the roll in half, then line the two halves up and slice even 1-inch rings. I have found that it slices easier when you slice quickly.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 224.84 kcal, Carbohydrate 42.49 g, Protein 4.87 g, Fat 3.56 g, SaturatedFat 0.56 g, Cholesterol 2.77 mg, Sodium 665.99 mg, Fiber 2.39 g, Sugar 3.97 g, ServingSize 1 serving

CALIFORNIA SUSHI ROLLS



California Sushi Rolls image

This tastes as good as any restaurant or store-bought California roll. Plus, it's one of the easiest sushi recipes for when you're first learning how to make sushi. For best results, use the sushi rice to ensure the right sticky consistency. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Appetizers

Time 1h

Yield 64 pieces.

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 cups sushi rice, rinsed and drained
2 cups water
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
2 tablespoons black sesame seeds
Bamboo sushi mat
8 nori sheets
1 small cucumber, seeded and julienned
3 ounces imitation crabmeat, julienned
1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and julienned
Reduced-sodium soy sauce, prepared wasabi and pickled ginger slices, optional

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan, combine rice and water; let stand for 30 minutes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until water is absorbed and rice is tender. Remove from the heat. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes., Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine the vinegar, sugar and salt, stirring until sugar is dissolved., Transfer rice to a large shallow bowl; drizzle with vinegar mixture. With a wooden paddle or spoon, stir rice with a slicing motion to cool slightly. Cover with a damp cloth to keep moist. (Rice mixture may be made up to 2 hours ahead and stored at room temperature, covered with a damp towel. Do not refrigerate.), Sprinkle toasted and black sesame seeds onto a plate; set aside. Place sushi mat on a work surface so mat rolls away from you; line with plastic wrap. Place 3/4 cup rice on plastic. With moistened fingers, press rice into an 8-in. square. Top with one nori sheet., Arrange a small amount of cucumber, crab and avocado about 1-1/2 in. from bottom edge of nori sheet. Roll up rice mixture over filling, using the bamboo mat to lift and compress the mixture while rolling; remove plastic wrap as you roll., Remove mat; roll sushi rolls in sesame seeds. Cover with plastic wrap. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make eight rolls. Cut each into eight pieces. Serve with soy sauce, wasabi and ginger slices if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 35 calories, Fat 1g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 30mg sodium, Carbohydrate 6g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

BASIC CALIFORNIA ROLL



Basic California Roll image

This is a classic California roll recipe, great for those who are just learning to make sushi. Serve as an appetizer or as part of a Japanese meal.

Provided by ChefJackie

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian     Japanese

Time 45m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 8

½ cucumber
3 ½ ounces crab sticks, finely chopped
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
4 sheets nori (dry seaweed)
2 ½ cups cooked sushi rice
2 ½ tablespoons sesame seeds
1 avocado, sliced
4 teaspoons tobiko (flying fish roe)

Steps:

  • Slice the ends off of the cucumber, then cut into quarters lengthwise. Thinly slice each quarter lengthwise to make spears.
  • Stir chopped crab sticks and mayonnaise together in a small bowl.
  • Lay 1 sheet of nori on a bamboo mat. Pat a thin, even layer of rice over the nori with wet hands, leaving a 1/3-inch edge at the bottom. Sprinkle rice with sesame seeds. Carefully flip over.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of the crab mixture in a line across the sheet about 1/3 of the way from the top. Layer with 1 to 2 cucumber spears and 1 to 3 slices of avocado.
  • Using the bamboo mat, roll the sheet tightly into a cylinder, starting at the top edge. Moisten the uncovered edge with water and finish rolling once you reached the bottom. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
  • Slice each roll into 3/4-inch pieces. Garnish each piece with 1/8 teaspoon tobiko.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 351.7 calories, Carbohydrate 33.8 g, Cholesterol 27.6 mg, Fat 21.8 g, Fiber 5.4 g, Protein 7.6 g, SaturatedFat 3.3 g, Sodium 300.1 mg, Sugar 2.5 g

CALIFORNIA ROLL



California Roll image

A California roll is a fresh take on traditional Japanese rice rolls. Filled with avocado, crab, and cucumber, it's fresh and crunchy and makes a filling meal. You can use real or imitation crab.

Provided by Allrecipes

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian     Japanese

Time 1h50m

Yield 5

Number Of Ingredients 14

4 cups water
2 cups uncooked white rice
½ cup seasoned rice vinegar
1 teaspoon white sugar, or as needed
1 teaspoon salt, or as needed
¼ pound cooked crab meat, drained of excess liquid and shredded
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
5 sheets nori (dry seaweed)
1 avocado, sliced
¼ cup red caviar, such as tobiko
1 English cucumber, seeded and sliced into strips
2 tablespoons drained pickled ginger, for garnish
2 tablespoons soy sauce, or to taste
1 tablespoon wasabi paste

Steps:

  • Wrap a sushi rolling mat completely in plastic wrap and set aside.
  • Bring water and rice to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer rice to a bowl and cut in rice vinegar using a rice paddle or wooden spoon. Season with 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste. Allow to cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
  • Combine crab meat with mayonnaise in a small bowl.
  • Place a sheet of nori on a flat work surface. Spread a thin layer of rice on top of the nori. Place the nori, rice side down, on the prepared rolling mat. Place 2 to 3 avocado slices on top of the nori in one layer. Top with 2 to 3 tablespoons of the crab mixture. Spoon 1 to 2 teaspoons tobiko lengthwise on one side of the avocado-crab mixture, and 2 cucumber strips on the other side. Using the mat as a guide, carefully roll the California roll into a tight log. Remove the rolling mat. Top roll with more tobiko, cover with plastic wrap, and gently press the tobiko into the top of the roll. Remove the plastic and cut roll into 6 even pieces using a wet knife. Repeat with remaining sheets of nori and filling. Serve garnished with pickled ginger, soy sauce, and wasabi paste

Nutrition Facts : Calories 444.5 calories, Carbohydrate 70.3 g, Cholesterol 93.6 mg, Fat 11.2 g, Fiber 4.1 g, Protein 15.3 g, SaturatedFat 1.9 g, Sodium 1237 mg, Sugar 3.1 g

CALIFORNIA ROLL SUSHI



California Roll Sushi image

California Roll - it's really good. Serve with soy sauce and wasabi.

Provided by Erin

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian

Time 1h30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup uncooked short-grain white rice
1 cup water
¼ cup rice vinegar
1 tablespoon white sugar
½ cup imitation crabmeat, finely chopped
¼ cup mayonnaise
8 sheets nori (dry seaweed)
2 ½ tablespoons sesame seeds
1 cucumber, cut into thin spears
2 avocados - pitted, peeled, and sliced the long way

Steps:

  • Wash the rice in several changes of water until the rinse water is no longer cloudy, drain well, and place in a covered pan or rice cooker with 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cover the pan. Allow the rice to simmer until the top looks dry, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat, and let stand for 10 minutes to absorb the rest of the water.
  • Mix the rice vinegar and sugar in a small bowl until the sugar has dissolved, and stir the mixture into the cooked rice until well combined. Allow the rice to cool, and set aside.
  • Mix the imitation crabmeat with mayonnaise in a bowl, and set aside. To roll the sushi, cover a bamboo rolling mat with plastic wrap. Lay a sheet of nori, shiny side down, on the plastic wrap. With wet fingers, firmly pat a thin, even layer of prepared rice over the nori, leaving 1/4 inch uncovered at the bottom edge of the sheet. Sprinkle the rice with about 1/2 teaspoon of sesame seeds, and gently press them into the rice. Carefully flip the nori sheet over so the seaweed side is up.
  • Place 2 or 3 long cucumber spears, 2 or 3 slices of avocado, and about 1 tablespoon of imitation crab mixture in a line across the nori sheet, about 1/4 from the uncovered edge. Pick up the edge of the bamboo rolling sheet, fold the bottom edge of the sheet up, enclosing the filling, and tightly roll the sushi into a cylinder about 1 1/2 inch in diameter. Once the sushi is rolled, wrap it in the mat and gently squeeze to compact it tightly.
  • Cut each roll into 1 inch pieces with a very sharp knife dipped in water.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 231.7 calories, Carbohydrate 23.7 g, Cholesterol 4.7 mg, Fat 14.4 g, Fiber 4.4 g, Protein 3.9 g, SaturatedFat 2.1 g, Sodium 135 mg, Sugar 3.1 g

CALIFORNIA SUSHI ROLL RECIPE



California Sushi Roll Recipe image

The most popular roll sushi borned in U.S.

Time 20m

Yield 1 Roll, cut

Number Of Ingredients 7

5 oz of lukewarm sushi rice (Sushi Rice Recipes)
Half sheet of nori seaweed
2 oz of cooked crab meat or imitation crab meat
1/4 of an avocado, sliced in the inch slices
5 thinly sliced cucumber (Kirby or pickling cucumbers, peel off skin)
Sesame seeds
Kewpie Mayonnaise

Steps:

  • Wrap the sumaki with plastic wrap. This will prevent rice from sticking on to the surface of the sumaki. Place the half sheet of nori horizontally. Lightly wet your hands, and cover the nori with layer of rice. TIP: It is better to make a narrow rice ball the length of the nori first, and place the rice ball on the bottom edge and spread the rice by pushing the rice towards the upper portion of the nori.
  • Sprinkle sesame seeds as desired. After the rice is evenly spread out, flip the nori, so that the rice side is facing the sumaki, and the nori side is facing up. Place your ingredients in the bottom portion of the nori (not too close to the bottom edge). TIP: Mix crab meat with mayo to make a dressing. For imitation crab, dice up the imitation crab into smaller pieces first before making a dressing.
  • Using the sumaki, fold the bottom portion inwards so that it covers the ingredients. It is ideal to have about an inch or inch and half of nori left over (you do not want to over stuff the roll).
  • Apply pressure on the sumaki so that the roll is tight, and continue to wrap the remaining portion. The inside ingredients should be wrapped about 1.5 times, rather than just once.
  • When cutting the roll, place the roll out of the sumaki onto a cutting board. Moisten the knife with a wet towel, and cut it into halves first. Then, line up the two halves and cut it into 3 evenly spaced pieces so that you will get a total of 6 pieces from a single roll. TIP: When cutting a sushi roll, do not attempt to "chop" it by pressing hard. Rather begin with the front edge of the knife, and while pressing down, pull the knife backwards towards you, so that you are "slicing" it. It will prevent the roll of being squashed and give you a cleaner cut.

EASY CALIFORNIA ROLL SUSHI SALAD



Easy California Roll Sushi Salad image

I created this yummy salad because I love sushi, but have neither the equipment nor the patience to make sushi rolls. For the best sushi rice, a rice cooker is a necessity. This recipe can be easily adapted to reflect your own favorite variety of sushi.

Provided by Lisa Puma

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian

Time 50m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 ½ cups sushi rice, or Japanese short-grain white rice
2 cups water
½ cup rice wine vinegar
¼ cup sugar
⅛ cup sake
12 ounces imitation crabmeat, flaked
1 cup seeded and chopped cucumber
1 avocado, chopped
1 tablespoon soy sauce, or to taste

Steps:

  • Rinse rice in a strainer under cold water until water runs clear. Transfer rice to a medium saucepan, add 3 cups water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook under rice is tender and water is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, combine rice wine vinegar, sugar, and sake in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high until sugar is completely dissolved, about 1 minute.
  • Place cooked rice in a large bowl. Stir in vinegar mixture until well combined and let sit for 2 minutes. Stir again. Add imitation crabmeat, cucumber, and chopped avocado; mix well. Use soy sauce to season individual portions.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 491.2 calories, Carbohydrate 89.8 g, Cholesterol 17 mg, Fat 8.2 g, Fiber 6 g, Protein 12.7 g, SaturatedFat 1.3 g, Sodium 948.7 mg, Sugar 19.1 g

Tips:

  • Choose high-quality ingredients: The fresher and better quality your ingredients are, the better your California roll will taste.
  • Use sushi-grade fish: This is essential for ensuring that your roll is safe to eat.
  • Make sure your rice is properly cooked: The rice should be slightly sticky, but not too mushy.
  • Don't overstuff your roll: A good rule of thumb is to use about 1/2 cup of filling per roll.
  • Roll your sushi tightly: This will help to keep the roll from falling apart.
  • Wet your knife before slicing the roll: This will help to prevent the rice from sticking to the knife.
  • Serve your California roll with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger: These condiments will help to enhance the flavor of the roll.

Conclusion:

The California roll is a delicious and versatile sushi roll that is perfect for any occasion. With its simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, this roll is a great option for beginners and experienced sushi makers alike. So next time you're looking for a tasty and satisfying meal, give the California roll a try.

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