California roll is quite a favorite among the children and adults. It is an amazing treat for the taste buds. There is no hard and fast way of preparing a California roll. You can try different variations as per your liking. California roll is also known as the Maki-Zushi. It is an American version of the much famous sushi cuisine. This roll is generally made inside out and primarily contains cucumber, rice, crab meat and avocado. People in tropical countries use mangoes in place of avocados. The popularity of this delicacy has made people come up with several variations. Read on to learn how you can prepare this amazing California rolls at your home using simple ingredients.
Complexity Level: Basic
Time Required: 30-40 minutes
Resources Required:
- Nori or seaweed sheet
- Sushi rice
- Crab Meat
- Slices of avocado
- Mayonnaise
- Sesame seeds or Tobiko
- Sushi rolling mat
- Knife
Instructions:
1. Gather the ingredients
Before you start up making your California rolls it is essential that you first gather all the ingredients that you might require. Double check the list so that you do not miss out anything important.
2. Place a saran wrap
In order to avoid rice falling onto the mat and getting stuck, use a saran wrap. Cover your sushi rolling mat with the saran wrap. It will also help you in wrapping the roll easily.
3. Place the seaweed sheet
Place the seaweed sheet on to the sushi rolling mat. Make sure that the shiny side of the seaweed sheet is down.
4. Keep water handy
You will need to soak your hands in water while preparing the California roll it is thus recommended that you keep a bowl of water handy. It is essential for the hands to be wet so that the rice do not get stuck to your hands. The rice will stay on the seaweed sheet and not on your fingers.
5. Spread rice on seaweed
You will have to spread a layer of rice above the seaweed sheet. You need to make a thin layer of rice, avoid using too much of rice. Press the rice gently to ensure that it sticks well to the seaweed. Avoid applying too much pressure on the rice.
6. Turn the seaweed sheet
Turn the seaweed sheet upside down. The shiny side of the sheet needs to be on the top now whereas the side with rice must be on the bottom side now.
7. Place avocado strips
Take a few avocados and cut them into same sized strips. You will need to place these avocado strips in the center of the seaweed sheet. You might require more than one strip to cover the entire length of the sheet.
8. Spread mayonnaise and add crab pieces
A thin layer of mayonnaise will add perfect flavor to your California rolls. Top the avocado strips with a layer of mayonnaise. Once you have spread layer of mayonnaise, you will need to place crab pieces above the mayonnaise layer. Make sure the pieces of crab are even, otherwise you will face a tough time in making rolls.
9. Make rolls
Now that you are done with almost all the required ingredients you will have to simply roll the sheet to make delicious California rolls. Roll the sheet from the side which is near you. Fold the sheet gently to avoid spilling any ingredient. Your roll must be sturdy and even in size. Once you are done with rolling cut the long roll into small rolls. Use a sharp knife to cut the pieces evenly.
10. Serve
Enjoy the delicious California rolls by serving them with the ingredients side on the top. Garnish with small cubes of avocado.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What other fruit can I use to replace avocado?
You can use mango instead of avocado. It adds great taste to the roll and is quite a hit for its unique flavor.
Quick Tips:
- Dip the knife in water before cutting the roll. This way, you will get much cleaner rolls.
- Experiment with the variations and try different ingredients and sauces.
Things To Watch Out For:
- Avoid using too much of rice in the roll.
- Cut the roll carefully to avoid any mistake.
