Makizushi (Sushi Rolls)

Once you've made the sushi rice and armed yourself with high quality nori sheets, the possibilities are endless.

By
Sohla El-Waylly
Sohla El-Waylly

Sohla El-Waylly is a culinary creator, video host, and CIA graduate whose work can be found on Serious Eats, Bon Appetit, The New York Times, Food52, YouTube, and more.

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Updated February 13, 2023
A photo showing a sushi roll being rolled up using a bamboo mat.

Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt

Why It Works

  • Toasting the nori makes it pliable and easier to roll.
  • Keeping your hands moistened lets you spread the rice thin without it sticking to your fingers.
  • Use fillings sparingly to prevent the rolls from bursting open.
  • A bamboo mat lets you roll neat and even rolls.
  • Allowing the rolls to rest a few minutes retains the nori's snap when bitten into without a crackly crispness.

Makizushi, or sushi rolls, are very simple to make and can be filled with an array of ingredients, from raw fish to assorted vegetables. Once you've made the sushi rice and armed yourself with high quality nori sheets, the possibilities are endless.

February 2018

Recipe Details

Makizushi (Sushi Rolls) Recipe

Prep 15 mins
Active 30 mins
Resting Time 2 mins
Total 17 mins
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 4 nori sheets (0.4 ounce; 11 g)

  • 1 recipe sumeshi (vinegared sushi rice)

  • 10 ounces (280 g) assorted fillings cut into long strips no more than 1/2 inch wide (raw salmon or tuna, cucumber, avocado, pickles, etc)

  • wasabi, soy, and pickled ginger for serving (optional)

Directions

  1. Over a gas flame or in a 400°F (205°C) oven, toast the nori sheets until pliable, about 5 seconds.

  2. For Hosomaki Rolls (Thin rolls with 1 ingredient): Using kitchen shears or with a sharp knife on a cutting board, split the nori sheets evenly in half, cutting across the vertical lines that run along it.

  3. Lay 1 nori sheet on a bamboo mat lined up 1 inch away from the edge closest to you. Keep the shiny side of the nori facing down and the indentations running vertically. (For easier clean-up, cover the mat in plastic wrap.) Moisten your hands with water and gently spread about 1 cup (5.5 ounces;150g) of sumeshi evenly along the nori sheet, taking care not to compact the rice, and leaving a 1/2 inch boarder along the top and bottom of the nori sheet. Place your chosen filling along the lower third of the nori. Do not overstuff.

  4. For Futomaki Rolls (Larger rolls with 2 or more ingredients): Lay 1 full nori sheet on a bamboo mat lined up 1 inch away from the edge closest to you. Keep the shiny side of the nori facing down and the indentations running vertically. (For easier clean-up, cover the mat in plastic wrap.) Moisten your hands with water and gently spread about 2 cups (11 ounces;300g) of sumeshi evenly along the nori sheet, taking care not to compact the rice, and leaving a 2 inch boarder along the top edge. Place your chosen filings along the lower third of the nori. Do not overstuff.

  5. To Roll Up the Makizushi: Slip your thumbs underneath the edge of the bamboo matt that's closest to you. Use your thumbs to lift the mat and flip the edge of the nori and rice over the filling, using your remaining fingers to press the filling toward you. Pull the mat foward, rolling the nori and rice around the filling. Dip a finger in water and run along the top exposed edge of the nori. Continue rolling to seal. Pull the matt over the roll and press gently to compress the roll.

  6. With a sharp knife, cut the roll in half crosswise, lay the two halfs next to each other and slice into six even pieces. Allow the roll to rest about 2 minutes before serving with soy, wasabi, and ginger, if desired.

Special Equipment

Bamboo mat

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1046Calories
29gFat
145gCarbs
44gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Calories1046
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 29g37%
Saturated Fat 6g30%
Cholesterol 88mg29%
Sodium 1679mg73%
Total Carbohydrate 145g53%
Dietary Fiber 2g8%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 44g
Vitamin C 11mg53%
Calcium 51mg4%
Iron 2mg10%
Potassium 795mg17%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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