Vegan sushi rolls (easy,healthy, gluten-free)

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These vegan sushi rolls are:

• easy, delicious, and kid friendly
• healthy, nutritious, and vegan
• high in vitamin A, C, and B12
• allergy friendly being gluten-free, egg-free, dairy -free, soy-free, nut-free
• great for kids lunch boxes

I am not a fan of raw fish from traditional sushi, and usually don’t consider myself a sushi fan. However, these vegan sushi rolls are a lot different from the regular sushi. Nonetheless, they taste amazing and they are kid friendly. My family could probably eat them every day for lunch. Surprisingly, they are also very filling. They can be such a nutritious and filling lunch or snack for children or adults.

The nori sheets have amazing health benefits. They are a great source of vitamins and minerals. They are high in:

* Vitamin A
* Vitamin C
* Vitamin B12
* Manganese
* Folate.

The nori sheets are also a great vegan source of omega 3, iron, and iodine.

Ingredients and directions for these healthy vegan sushi rolls

For this recipe I used simple, basic, and tasty ingredients. However, these vegan sushi rolls can be customized with different ingredients and flavors.

To make the rolls, a bamboo sushi mat would be helpful to have. But, since most of us don’t have one sitting around our kitchen, I have instructions on how to make the rolls with and without one. You can find nori sheet in the Asian food section at the grocery store, Asian markets, or online like Amazon or Thrive Market. I found nori sheets and bamboo mat at the local Walmart.

Things you need:

Nori sheets

Organic white or brown rice

Organic cucumber

Organic avocado

Organic red or yellow peppers

Himalayan salt or Sea salt

Optional:

Organic raisins

Organic mango

Wild- caught salmon (for a non-vegan version)

Bamboo mat

Instapot

Before making the rolls, you will need to cook the rice. Using an Instapot will help you cook perfect rice very fast. You will need about 1/2 cup to 1 cup of cooked rice per nori sheet. I like to use either organic white rice or organic brown rice. Traditional sushi are made with this special Japanese rice, that is supposed to stick better than regular white rice. It might be harder to find, especially an organic kind, so regular rice can be used in that case.

Next, you will need to prepare the vegetables and fruit (if using any) by cutting them in thin stripes.

Making sushi rolls without a bamboo mat

Add the nori sheet with the length facing you and with the shiny side down, on top of a towel, cutting board, or parchment paper.

Get the nori sheet slightly wet by slightly touching it with your wet fingers, to help rolling it easier and to prevent breaking it.

Spread the rice on the nori sheet, by living 1/2 inch empty space on both ends of nori sheet in order to be able to roll it later. Add the vegetables on top of rice in horizontal rows.

Sprinkle some sea salt over the vegetables and rice.

Turn the nori sheet around so the width of it will face you, and start rolling it, by gently pressing down on the roll to ensure it stays tight and wouldn’t come apart. Wet your fingers in a bowl of water and slightly touch the nori sheet if it still seems to dry to roll.

Cut the roll in 6-8 smaller rolls, but using a sharp knife like the Japanese Nachiri Bocho knife (it’s specially designed to cut vegetables into thin slices) or using a Steak Knife.

Making Vegan Sushi Rolls with Bamboo Mat

A bamboo mat helps making the rolls tighter, in order for the rolls not to come apart. Bamboo mats are very inexpensive, and can be found in Asian store or regular grocery store. My local Walmart just started selling them. If you can’t find one locally, here is one you can get online.

To make the sushi rolls with a bamboo mat, you follow the same instructions above. However, when is time to roll them, you  pull the mat to roll it together with the nori sheet, by slightly pressing down, to ensure a tight roll.
Note: Once you rolled one side of the nori sheet, don’t leave the mat inside the roll. You won’t be able to take it out at the end…Ask me how I know. 🙂

Once the sushi roll is all rolled out, wrap the bamboo mat around it, and push slightly on it to tight up the roll. Serve with a Japanese dipping sauce or by themselves.

Other  vegan friendly snack ideas that are kid friendly but also adult friendly and are great for lunch boxes or afternoon snacks:

Healthy Blueberry Bars

Dairy-free Vegan Chocolate Pudding

Vegan Vanilla Pudding

Print

Vegan Sushi Rolls

Prep Time

20 mins

 

These vegan sushi rolls are easy, delicious, and healthy. They are kid friendly and great for kids' lunch boxes. These sushi rolls are nutritious, being high in Vitamin A,C, and B12. They are also allergy friendly being gluten-free, egg-free, dairy -free, soy-free, nut-free

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: dairy-free, gluten-free, sushi rolls, vegan, vegan appetizer, vegan gluten-free

Servings: 24 rolls

Ingredients

• 2-3 Nori Sheets
• 2 cups Organic White or Brown Rice
• 1 Organic Cucumber cut in thin strips
• 1 Organic Avocado cut in thin strips
• 1 Organic Red or Yellow Pepper cut in thin strips
• 1-2 tsp Himalayan salt 
• 1 Organic Mango optional
• 2 tbsp Organic Raisins optional

Instructions

Making Sushi Rolls without a Bamboo Mat

1. Cook the rice. You will need 1/2 to 1 cup of cooked rice per nori sheet

2. Cut the vegetables and fruit in thin strips

3. Add the nori sheet with the length facing you and with the shiny side down, on top of a towel, cutting board, or parchment paper.
   
   

4. Get the nori sheet slightly wet by slightly touching it with your wet fingers, to help rolling it easier and to prevent breaking it.
   
   

5. Spread the rice on the nori sheet, by living 1/2 inch empty space on both ends of nori sheet in order to be able to roll it later.
   
   

6. Add the vegetables on top of rice in horizontal rows.
   
   

7. Sprinkle some sea salt over the vegetables and rice.
   
   

8. Turn the nori sheet around so the width of it will face you, and start rolling it, by gently pressing down on the roll to ensure it stays tight and wouldn’t come apart. 
   
   

9. Wet your fingers in a bowl of water and slightly touch the nori sheet if it still seems to dry to roll.
   
   

10. Cut the roll in 6-8 smaller rolls, but using a sharp knife like the Japanese Nachiri Bocho knife (it’s specially designed to cut vegetables into thin slices) or using a Steak Knife.
    
    

MAKING VEGAN SUSHI ROLLS WITH BAMBOO MAT

1. Cook the rice. You will need 1/2 to 1 cup of cooked rice per nori sheet

2. Cut the vegetables and fruit in thin strips

3. Add the nori sheet with the length facing you and with the shiny side down, on top of the bamboo mat.

4. Spread the rice on the nori sheet, by living 1/2 inch empty space on both ends of nori sheet in order to be able to roll it later.

5. Add the vegetables on top of rice in horizontal rows.

6. Sprinkle some sea salt over the vegetables and rice.

7. Turn the nori sheet around so the width of it will face you.

8. Pull the mat to roll it together with the nori sheet, by slightly pressing down, to ensure a tight roll.
   
   

9. Once you rolled one side of the nori sheet, don’t leave the mat inside the roll. Pull out the mat, and re-roll again the next part. Every time you roll one part of the sushi rolls, put gentle pressure over the mat, to secure a tight roll.
   
   

10. Wet your fingers in a bowl of water and slightly touch the nori sheet if it still seems to dry to roll.

11. Once the sushi roll is all rolled out, wrap the bamboo mat around it, and push slightly on it to tight up the roll.
    
    

12. Cut the roll in 6-8 smaller rolls, but using a sharp knife like the Japanese Nachiri Bocho knife (it’s specially designed to cut vegetables into thin slices) or using a Steak Knife. Serve with a Japanese dipping sauce, or by itself.