Sushi Time!!!

Mmmmm sushi! I never liked sushi/had it before I became vegan. I thought it had to have fish in it but a lot of places have just veggie rolls or "true" california rolls (which means crabmeat included in the midwest lol). It's actually amazing.

Today Andrew and I made our first sushi rolls. We have been eating it a bit when we go out so here is what we learned:

You need:
A bamboo mat (we found them at the local farmer's market and whole foods- they are cheap! preferred to get one with a bamboo rice spoon!!!)
Seran (sp?) wrap or something tight and plasticky to cover your bamboo mat
Sushi rice (we used Jasmine but brown rice or short grained rice works best)
Nori sheets(aka roasted seaweed) - BUY THE NICE STUFF cuz the cheapest is kinda nasty (Preferred: Buy the sheets that have perforated lines for cutting!)
Rice vinegar (wow that stuff is yummy by itself)
Sugar & Salt (to make rice sticky)
Veggies of your choosing (typically avocado, carrots, and cucumber are popular)
Cream cheese (optional but adds a nice cold surprising taste)
Sesame seeds (optional)
Soy sauce/Wasabi/Pickled Ginger/Whatever you want to dip it in!

Boil the rice ((1-2 cups) while cutting the veggies into long, thin pieces. Boil the rice for 20 minutes and let cool for 10 minutes. There shouldn't be a need to drain water as you shouldn't put more than you need to boil in. After the rice is cooled for 10 minutes in the pot, take it out and put it in plastic-LINED shallow dish/bowl. Fluff rice.

Create sticky rice mixture: 1/4 Cup rice vinegar, 1 Tsp Salt, 2 Tsp Sugar. Add to fluffy rice to create sticky rice. Mmmmm!

Dip fingers in some water- it makes the nori sheets sticky so they hold the rice, etc. Place nori sheet on bamboo mat with perforated lines vertical (for slicing the roll when done). Now, you can make it with your nori on the INSIDE or OUTSIDE. This is how we make it with it on the outside which is easier for us (beginners) lol. Spread the sticky rice on 2/3s of the bottom part of the sheet evenly. Create a row of each veggie/sliced cream cheese towards the bottom (it makes it easier when rolling). Take bamboo mat and roll the nori sheet from the bottom keeping it tight and firm. You have to budge a little when rolling because you won't roll it all up in one swift motion so you just gotta work it. Once at the end where the nori sheet folds over it's other half, take some water to 'glue' it together.

Now, dip it in some soy sauce with some wasabi or pickled ginger and it's YUMMY! Enjoy!

This is what we learned from a cook book, some youtube videos, watching them make it at the restaurants, and finally making it ourselves! Easy for beginners.