Spending way too much on sushi? Super easy, healthy homemade sushi to the rescue with this California Roll Sushi Bowl Recipe!
This tasty recipe is thanks to my brand ambassadorship with Rodelle.
A couple months ago I could not get enough of these California Roll Sushi Bowls! Do you ever just get obsessed with a recipe and end up eating it daily for weeks? Yeah, that is what I did. California Roll Sushi Bowls day in and day out until I couldn’t even look at a sushi bowl.
But, it has been a couple months and this is looking pretty tasty to me again. I may have to go on my sushi bowl binge again!
These sushi bowls are not complete unless you have black sesame seeds. They add that mild, nutty flavor. For some strange reason I cannot find black sesame seeds anywhere in my area. Luckily one of the perks of being a Rodelle brand ambassador is getting to try out their awesome products. While Rodelle is know for their high quality vanilla, they also have spices, baking essentials and many other ingredients.
Check out their Black and Toasted Sesame Seeds and get started on your own California Roll Sushi Bowls!
I made a super concentrated, sticky soy sauce drizzle. I love how it coats the dish and brings a sweetness.
But, the ingredient that takes this dish from good to amazing is simple . . . LEMON!
Last year I went to a sushi restaurant in Sacramento and many of their sushi rolls had lemon peels in them. I was skeptical but after that first bite I was convinced. Fresh lemon makes this meal bright and refreshing.
California Roll Sushi Bowl
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1/4 Cup Soy Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Rice Vinegar
Sushi Bowls
- 2 Cups Cooked White Rice* - cooled
- 1/2 Cup Chopped Imitation Crab
- 1/2 Cucumber - peeled, seeded and chopped
- 1/4 Small Lemon - sliced extra thin then finely chopped, peel included
- 1 Tablespoon Pickled Sushi Ginger - chopped
- 1/2 Avocado - sliced or cut into chunks
- 1 Sheet Dried Seaweed - crumbled
- Toasted Sesame Seeds - to taste
Instructions
Sauce
- Combine sauce ingredients in a small pot over medium heat. While continuously whisking, bring to a boil and reduce to a slightly syrupy consistency. This will take approximately 3 minutes. Do not walk away as this can easily burn. Remove from heat and allow to cool while assembling sushi bowls.
Sushi Bowls
- Combine all ingredients and top with a drizzle of soy sauce mixture.
Notes
*I use the microwaveable par-cooked rice packets to make this super convenient.
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Beverley Press says
January 26, 2016 atI love this recipe you are a genius to develop this recipe thank you thank you xoxo
Nicole Harris says
January 27, 2016 atThanks Beverley! I don’t know about genius … I can’t take credit for the idea 😀
Catherine says
March 9, 2016 atCan I ask how many servings this makes? Hoping it can serve 4 as a side dish! Thanks!
Nicole Harris says
March 10, 2016 atYes, this should be enough to serve 4 as a side dish. Enjoy!
Alison says
April 18, 2016 atomg! this looks great…can I ask what the restaurant in Sac was? I suspect it was Arigato but I’ve seen lemon on a couple of Sac menus 🙂
Nicole Harris says
April 21, 2016 atI think it was Blue Nami in Roseville. I am now obsessed with lemon on my sushi rolls!
Alex Ferraro says
July 13, 2016 atI love this! I made it for my boyfriend and I last night to take to lunch today and using one pouch of 90 second rice, one small cucumber, and one avocado equaled out to be perfect to serve two. My only issue is that my rice got really hard from being in the fridge. Any tips to prevent this or a special brand you use? Thanks!
Nicole Harris says
July 14, 2016 atHi Alex. Yes, the rice can get a little stiff when refrigerated. I usually allow my rice to sit out at room temp before assembling my sushi bowl. Perhaps packing the rice separate from the other ingredients so that your boyfriend can take it out before mixing with the other ingredients.
Valerie Gonzalez says
August 22, 2016 atHow many servings does this make??
Valerie Gonzalez says
August 22, 2016 atI would like this as a meal for 5 people
Nicole Harris says
August 25, 2016 atI would definitely double the recipe 🙂
Nicole Harris says
August 25, 2016 atHi Valerie! This should easily serve 2.
Shannon says
September 11, 2016 atIf I double it, would it hold up pre-assembled in the fridge? I like to make my lunches for the whole week!
Nicole Harris says
September 11, 2016 atThis does hold up well in the fridge. I wouldn’t add the sauce or the rice will get mushy and do not pre-cut the avocado or it will turn brown. Other than that it should be okay 🙂
Sue says
March 22, 2017 atSitting here at the moment, enjoying this for dinner this evening…;)
Really….REALLY delightfully wonderful.
I did make one change…..I added a dollop of wasabi and mixed that in just before eating. Tastes almost the same as a roll from our local sushi bar…;)
I will do this again….and again…..I will decrease the sugar in the sauce next time, just a titch for personal preference but…..I could eat this every week, at least once if not more….;)
Thank you for an brilliant twist on a favorite food!!!
Nicole Harris says
March 30, 2017 atMmmmm, I love a little wasabi too! 🙂
Greg S says
March 25, 2017 atCan you clarify that “2 Cups Cooked White Rice* – cooled” means that you want two cups of cooked white rice (from 2/3C of dry rice) and not 2 cups of white rice, cooked (making about 6 cups of rice)?
Nicole Harris says
March 30, 2017 atYes, that is 2 cups of Cooked rice. So less dry uncooked rice to start. Unless you really want to eat a whole lot of rice 😀
Sarah says
May 26, 2017 atI have to thank you for this idea. I am 36 weeks pregnant and all I want is cake and Asian-inspired food. I have a hard time eating veggies and this thing gets a bunch of wonderful green things in me without me gagging. For the cost of ingredients to make this for lunches for the week was less than two California rolls from the place down the street. This is the only thing I want to eat now for lunch!
Nicole Harris says
June 1, 2017 atDarn those pregnancy cravings! I lived on enormous ice cream sundaes the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy. So you are definitely eating healthier than I did 🙂
kylie says
May 29, 2018 atHi! I have been on a health kick and have been pinning some yummy recipes! My mom made this for me today and i’m eating it as we speak! it’s is delicious! the only thing i would change is the lemon rinds included in the bowl, personally i don’t like the bitter taste and it was a bit overpowering for me but other then that i really enjoyed it!
Nicole Harris says
June 3, 2018 atAwesome! Yes, if you aren’t a fan of the lemon just leave it off next time and enjoy 🙂
Crystal says
June 19, 2018 atI love this recipe and have made it many times since I found it! I use coconut aminos and coconut sugar for the sauce, GF, less sodium and absolutely delicious!
Nicole Harris says
June 25, 2018 atI love those substitutions!
kim says
August 7, 2019 atis this meant to be eaten cold? if not have u? I’d like to take for lunch to a convention so no way to reheat. thanks!
Nicole Harris says
August 15, 2019 atYes, I prefer it cold 🙂