Modified: by Dina
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This recipe for California Roll Sushi Bowls is just what you need to prepare healthy meals that are packed with flavor. This Asian-inspired dish is great for dinners or lunch.
If you like sushi bowls, you should also try our yummy sushi bake and shrimp tempura sushi roll.
Table Of Contents
- What is a Sushi Bowl?
- What you’ll need
- How to Make California Sushi Bowls
- Tips for making sushi rice
- Can this be made ahead of time?
- How to store a California Sushi Bowl
- Try more tasty, Asian-inspired dishes!
- Full Recipe Instructions
What is a Sushi Bowl?
California Sushi Bowls are light, delicious, and a great mix of flavors and textures. They are basically deconstructed sushi rolls, with sweet and tangy sushi rice, crab meat, and fresh vegetables. The crunch of the cucumber with the tender crab and creamy avocado, drizzled with spicy mayo, make this sushi bowl absolutely amazing. This recipe explains how to make your own sushi rice, and with easy to follow directions, it’ll be a breeze. You’ll be serving these bowls every chance you get once you’ve tasted one!
What you’ll need
- For the sushi rice- Calrose sushi rice, Water, and Seasoned rice vinegar (Marukan)
- For the spicy mayo- Japanese mayonnaise and Sriracha
- Sushi bowl components- Imitation crab (chopped), English cucumber (diced), Nori sheets (crumbled), Avocado (sliced), Black and toasted sesame seeds, Low-sodium soy sauce, and Nori furikake
How to Make California Sushi Bowls
- Cook the rice. Rinse the sushi rice in a mesh sifter. Then put the rice in the rice cooker with 2 cups of water and turn it on. Once it’s done, transfer it to a rimmed baking sheet.
- Season the sushi rice. Pour the seasoned rice vinegar over the rice and fold it in with a rice paddle. Be careful not to mash it up. Then let the rice cool completely.
- Make the spicy mayo. Combine the Japanese mayonnaise with the Sriracha and stir. Set aside.
- Chop the vegetables and crab. Chop up the imitation crab meat and English cucumber. Then crumble the nori sheets, and peel and slice the avocado.
- Build your California sushi bowl. Finally, add the cooled sushi rice to a bowl, then top it with chopped crab, cucumber, sliced avocado, and drizzle with spicy mayo. Sprinkle crumbled nori, sesame seeds, and furikake over it all and serve.
Tips for making sushi rice
- Wash the rice thoroughly- Make sure the rice gets washed before cooking to remove starch that clings to the outside and makes it sticky once cooked.
- Gently fold in the rice vinegar. Use a rice paddle to keep from being too rough with the hot rice. It is easy smashed, so you have to fold it gently or it will become a blob of rice.
- Let it cool completely. Don’t rush the cooling of the rice. In order for it to hold its shape and not melt the toppings (like the spicy mayo), it needs to be completely cool.
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can make some components of your sushi bowl beforehand to save time. The sushi rice can be made up to 2 days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You can also freeze it for up to 2 months in ziplock freezer bags. Just defrost overnight in the fridge before using. The spicy mayo can be prepped 2 days ahead. Keep it in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap. Let it come to room temperature before serving.
How to store a California Sushi Bowl
Once you’ve put the California Sushi Bowl together, it can only last for about a day, stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. The ingredients, besides the mayo and rice, have to be eaten soon after they are chopped and assembled because they will brown and become soggy otherwise.
Try more tasty, Asian-inspired dishes!
- Crispy Shrimp Tempura Recipe
- Hibachi Fried Rice Recipe
- Easy Mongolian Chicken
- Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
Full Recipe Instructions
California Sushi Bowls
California Sushi Bowls are so easy to make & taste amazing. Enjoy tender crab, tangy sushi rice & fresh veggies in this light, flavorful dish.
5 from 27 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Japanese
Prep Time: 8 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 Bowls
Calories: 402kcal
Author: Dina
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups dry Calrose Sushi Rice
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar Marukan
- 1/4 cup Japanese mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons sriracha
- 8 oz imitation crab chopped into small pieces
- 1/2 cup diced English cucumber
- 1-2 nori sheets chopped or crumbled into small pieces (add more if you’d like)
- 1 large avocado peeled and sliced
- Black and toasted sesame seeds for garnish
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce for serving
- Nori Furikake
Instructions
Start off by rinsing 1 1/2 cups of sushi rice in a mesh sifter. Once the rice is well rinsed, add it to your rice cooker along with 2 cups of water. Then turn on the rice cooker.
Once the rice is cooked transfer it to a rimmed baking sheet.
Then pour 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar over the rice and fold it in. You want to use a rice paddle to do this. Make sure be gentle with the rice and not mash it up. Then let the rice cool completely.
Then make your spicy Mayo by combining 1/4 cup Japanese mayonnaise with 2 teaspoons sriracha.
Now chop cup 8 ounces of leg style imitation crab meat and 1/2 cup of English cucumber. You can also break up a few pieces of Nori (dried seaweed).
Now add the cooled sushi rice to a bowl, along with the chopped crab, cucumber, and sliced avocado. Then drizzle on the spicy mayonnaise, and top with chopped nori, sesame seeds, and furikake.
Notes
How to Store Sushi Bowls
Once you’ve put the California Sushi Bowl together, it can only last for about a day, stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. The ingredients, besides the mayo and rice, have to be eaten soon after they are chopped and assembled because they will brown and become soggy otherwise.
Nutrition
Calories: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 1007mg | Potassium: 357mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 2mg
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Hi, I’m Dina, so glad you stopped by! I believe life is too short for bad coffee and boring meals. With my easy to follow step-by-step recipes, you’ll be surprised at how quickly a wholesome and delicious meal can come together. I hope you find something you enjoy!
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Sonia Jorge says
I recently made this and it’s delicious.However, the instructions don’t specify when we are supposedly to add/use the soy sauce.
I added it at the end but can you clarify when and how it should be included?
Reply
Dina says
Thank you Sonia! In the list of ingredients it says the soy sauce is for serving. You can just drizzle it on your bowl once its assembled. Use as much or as little as you want. I hope that helps clear the confusion 🙂
Reply
Mandy says
So so good! The whole family loved this! So fresh and yummy! Thank you for the recipe!!Reply
Dina says
You are very welcome Mandy! Awesome to hear your whole family loved this recipe! This has become a favorite with my family. I appreciate you leaving your feedback! 🙂
Reply
Melissa says
Amazing. Loved it. Next time I’m adding cooked shrimp as well. I also added a little monk fruit sweetener to the vinegar rice mixture.Reply
Dina says
I am very happy to hear you loved this sushi bowl recipe, Melissa! The shrimp definitely adds a nice touch. I appreciate you taking the time to leave your feedback! 🙂
Reply
Shannon says
How many servings does this make? Only 2 of us would eat it, I don’t want it to go to waste.
Reply
Dina says
Hi Shannon this sushi bowl recipe makes 4 servings.
Reply
Jami R. says
Delicious! Our whole family couldn’t believe how delicious it was! Big $$ saver too!Reply
Dina says
So glad you all loved these sushi bowls, Jami! If you all love crispy shrimp in your sushi, I would recommend getting some tempura shrimp from Costco, baking them up, and adding chopped pieces into the sushi bowl! It takes it to the next level. My family loves the crispy shrimp addition!
Reply
Gabrielle says
Haven’t made this yet but I can’t do spicy is there a different combination or sauce you would recommend?
Reply
Dina says
If you are not a fan of spicy sushi sauces, I would recommend unagi sauce. I have an easy recipe for it right here. Enjoy! 🙂
Reply
Sarah Plessel says
If we use regular jasmine rice instead of sushi rice do we still fold in the rice vinegar?!
Reply
Dina says
Hi Sarah, I would still follow the same folding technique with jasmine rice. I hope you enjoy it!
Reply
Rachel says
Did you end up making it with jasmine Rice? Debating on buying the $10 sushi rice, or not 😉
Reply
Jen says
So yummy. We added a few more veggies; raw corn, edamame, and green onion. Was deliciousReply
Dina says
Those sound like wonderful additions! Thank you for the kind feedback Jen!
Reply
Jennifer says
Can I use srichaca mayo instead of making it with the Japanese mayo and srichaca
Reply
Dina says
Hi Jennifer 🙂 Yes, you can use the Sriracha mayo instead. I hope you love this recipe! Let me know how it goes! 🙂
Reply
Tina says
I use lite Yum Yum sauceReply
addison says
amazing!!!!Reply
Dina says
Happy to hear you enjoyed this sushi bowl recipe! Thank you for your feedback! 🙂
Reply
Alice says
It looks Yummy! I’m so glad I found this recipe to make it for my kids!Reply
Dina says
Hi Alice, I hope you and your kids love this sushi bowl recipe! 🙂
Reply
Lydia Allred says
This was absolutely delicious. Store brand mayo worked fine for us. Great recipe. Can’t wait to try some of the other ones on here!Reply
Dina says
Hi Lydia 🙂 So happy to hear that you loved this sushi bowl recipe! I hope you find many more delicious recipes on my blog! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback 🙂
Reply
Bethany says
This California Sushi Bowl was so delish!! We’ve gotten hooked on a local spot that has something similar but it’s not cheap. I’m so glad I found this recipe to make at home!Reply
simplyhomecooked says
So happy to hear you loved this sushi bowl recipe! Always glad to help people save money while enjoying the food 🙂 Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback and I hope you find many more delicious recipes on my blog!
Reply
5 from 27 votes (17 ratings without comment)
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