Ingredients
Check off ingredients as you go
For the basic sushi rice recipe
- 50 g (¼ cup) short-grain sushi rice
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- a pinch of salt
For the filling
- 1/2 fresh salmon fillet, bones removed
- 1 avocado, cut into thin slices
- black and/or white sesame seeds
🍣 🥢 For more sushi ideas, I wrote an article on sushi variations that I invite you to check out.
Preparing the sushi rice
Quick recap: whatever quantity of rice you make, keep the classic proportions in mind, namely 1 part rice to 1.3 parts water. If you use glasses, for example, that’s 1 glass of rice to 1 + 1/3 glasses of water.
Rinse the rice well until the water runs clear (at least 4 times). Put the rice and water in a saucepan, cover and bring to a boil, stir once, then lower to medium heat and cook for 12 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it rest for 10 minutes without lifting the lid.
While the rice rests, put the rice vinegar, sugar and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil to dissolve everything.
Transfer the rice to a large bowl and pour in the still-hot vinegar, mixing gently to season the rice. Let it cool to room temperature (never in the fridge), covered with a kitchen towel so it doesn’t dry out.
Shaping the California rolls
- Cut off 1/3 of the nori sheet and set it aside for another recipe, since you’ll only use the larger part of the sheet. On the bamboo mat (which you’ll have covered with plastic wrap), lay the nori sheet, matte side facing you.
- Spread a thin layer of rice (0.5 cm / ¼ inch thick) over the whole sheet and sprinkle with black and/or white sesame seeds.
- Gently flip the whole thing over so the rice ends up against the bamboo mat. Then proceed as for a salmon maki. Place the strip of fish and the avocado on the lower part. Close it up by rolling with the bamboo mat, holding the filling in place with your fingers.
- Using a very sharp knife, wiped clean between each cut, cut into 8 California rolls and arrange on a serving platter.
Tips and variations
These California rolls use the same ingredients as the Sushi sandwiches, so you can easily make a few of those at the same time!