Vegetarian sushi will appeal not only to supporters of a special food system that excludes the use of animal products. It is not necessary to be a vegetarian to taste rolls with an unusual filling. The recipes presented in our article may be of interest to those who are on a low-calorie diet, fasting or just want to add variety to the daily menu.
Nutritionists recommend such dishes to pregnant women, athletes, recovering patients. Healthy and tasty vegetarian sushi and rolls will certainly be appreciated by nursing mothers who are forced to adhere to strict diets. Such recipes will be very useful for those who are going to have a party with Japanese dishes, which will be attended not only by adults, but also by children. Kids often show interest in an adult table, but not every dish is suitable for a special children's menu. There is a way out - prepare bright vegetarian sushi for young guests!
Beauty is in simplicity
The Japanese are able to make real masterpieces from the simplest products. No wonder one of the most popular varieties of sushi in the Land of the Rising Sun is modest poppies. After eating them, you can enjoy the original taste of the main ingredient without being distracted by the details.
Vegetarian sushi fits perfectly into this concept. But not only poppies are prepared from vegetables, but also many other varieties, which include a large number of components. They are not only tasty, but also very beautiful thanks to pieces of bright vegetables. The neatly designed vegetarian sushi set looks like a magical kaleidoscope.
Vegetarian sushi toppings
Many people associate Japanese cuisine with fish and seafood. But believe me, there is a huge variety of vegetarian recipes for sushi and rolls. The following ingredients are most often used for them:
- young vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, beets, beans);
- exotic foods (avocado, olives, bamboo shoots, asparagus);
- greens (lettuce, watercress, chives);
- mushrooms;
- cheese (creamy, curd, tofu);
- mayonnaise, plain and soy;
- funchose, omelet;
- auxiliary products (nori, rice paper, sesame, flaxseed).
Not everyone eats eggs and milk cheeses. If you are preparing sushi for vegetarian guests, it is advisable to clarify this point in advance so as not to get into a mess.
Of course, this is not a complete list. You can experiment by adding your components.
Cooking rice
As usual, vegetarian sushi is best prepared from special rice. It is grown in the Far East and processed in a special way. It is just perfect for cooking Japanese cuisine.
To easily shape products, it is worth a little tinkering with the preparation of rice. Rinse in running water 400 g of cereal, load in boiling water. Water needs exactly 2.5 times more, that is, a liter. Cook rice without a lid, stirring constantly. In no case do not let the cereal digest.
Set aside ready rice, let it cool. Many chefs use the ready-made Sushidze gas station. You can make the sauce yourself, but you must do this in advance. To do this, mix 2 tbsp. l pink rice vinegar, 0.5 tbsp. l sugar and 1 tbsp. l salt. Let the mixture stand for several hours and then pour into the cooled rice.
Many vegetarians prefer to skip this step, considering sugar a harmful product. Do as you wish. Well-cooked rice and without dressing is well sculpted.
Different types of rolls
For those who are confused in terminology, recall that they mean unusual Japanese names:
- Poppies are rolls with one main component. They can consist, for example, of nori, rice and avocado.
- Futomaki includes several ingredients. The vegetarian option may consist of cucumber, cheese and chives, wrapped in a rice coat and a nori leaf.
- Uramaki are rolls inside out. The filling is wrapped in nori, and only then the roll is wrapped in a rice layer.
- To prepare spring rolls, not dried seaweed is used, but rice paper. Rice, as a rule, is not added to them, often replacing it with funchose or glass noodles.
Of course, these are not all varieties. Japanese cuisine is truly enormous variety. But for those who have just begun to comprehend the basics, the above is quite enough. All these options can be prepared without meat and fish products.
Cheese, Avocado and Cucumber Roll Recipe
Consider an example of making vegetarian sushi. Peel the two medium cucumbers and cut lengthwise. Cut the avocado in half, take out the bone, use a tablespoon to free the flesh from the skin. If the fruit is ripe, the pulp can be mashed with a fork, turning it into pulp. Cheese for the specified amount of food and 400 g of rice will need 200 grams (Philadelphia is best). To make the rolls more juicy, you can use a small amount of Japanese mayonnaise.
Spread a bamboo mat, lay a sheet of nori on it. Press the rice firmly onto it, spreading it evenly over the entire surface. Lay the filling on the edge: cheese, avocado, cucumber. Roll the roll tightly by folding the mat.
Cut the roll into pieces with a very sharp knife.
Spring rolls
Having mastered the previous recipe for vegetarian sushi, you can try something more unusual. We will need the following:
- rice paper - 9 sheets;
- rice noodles - 175 g;
- carrots - one medium;
- green onions - half a bunch;
- bamboo shoots - a handful (optional);
- shiitake mushrooms –25 g.
If desired, add a few drops of soy sauce and lemon juice.
First, steam the rice noodles. Grate the carrots on a Korean grater, add the rest of the ingredients to it. Cut the noodles into pieces (7 centimeters) and mix with the rest of the ingredients. Spread a sheet of rice paper, lay 1.5 tbsp. l toppings, tightly wrap. When all the rolls are ready, fry them in a large amount of oil and immediately serve. Although they are cooled, they are also tasty.
Serving to the table
Vegetarian sushi is served in the same way as regular sushi, and also eat bamboo chopsticks. It is advisable to start a meal with a small amount of pickled ginger - it will include taste buds. Soy sauce will help reveal all the flavors and tastes, and wasabi will add piquancy.