If you enjoy California rolls, you’ll love diving into a deconstructed sushi bowl! This California Sushi Bowl recipe is easy to make and customize. It’s a better-than-takeout recipe that’s perfect for a fun sushi night at home!
We’re big fans of California sushi rolls in our house. But sometimes, the thought of mastering the art of rolling it all up feels like a culinary mission impossible.
Enter this California Roll Sushi Bowl recipe. It’s basically a deconstructed California sushi roll — an easy, hassle-free ticket for sushi lovers! You can whip up an easy sushi bowl at home in the time it takes to cook the rice.
This dish has all the ingredients of a California roll. We’re talking fresh crab (or imitation crab), crunchy cucumber and carrots, creamy avocado, a sprinkle of nori, and a saucy dance of sriracha mayo. All on a fluffy bed of sushi rice.
California Sushi Bowls offer a vibrant and flavorful dining experience, combining the essence of a classic California roll in a convenient bowl format. We’ve got versatile serving ideas, complementing side dishes, and delightful wine pairings. These California roll bowls are a healthy option for any special occasion, easy lunch, or weeknight dinner.
Ready to satisfy those sushi cravings? Let’s dive in!
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🌟 Why this recipe works
Here are the top reasons why you should ditch the takeout menu and become the sushi maestro of your kitchen by making your own sushi bowls!
- No Sushi Chef Skills Required – Let’s face it – rolling sushi can be a bit tricky. But fear not, brave kitchen adventurer! With California Sushi Bowls, there’s no need to perfect the art of sushi rolling. Simply toss all those scrumptious ingredients into a bowl, and voila! You’ve got yourself a sushi masterpiece without the hassle of a sushi mat or the stress of imperfect rolls.
- Endless Customization – One of the coolest things about making California Sushi Bowls at home is the power to customize! Love extra avocado? Pile it on! Not a fan of cucumbers? Skip ’em! You’re the captain of this sushi ship, and you get to decide what goes in. It’s like building your own sushi dream team, and who doesn’t want that level of control over their dinner?
- Impress Without Stress – Got friends coming over? Date night at home? California Sushi Bowls are here to make you look like a culinary rockstar without the stress. It’s the kind of meal that says, “Yes, I can totally whip up something amazing without breaking a sweat.” Bonus: You can even set up a DIY sushi bowl bar and let your guests create their own edible masterpieces.
🛒 Sushi bowl ingredients
- Rice – Short grain rice like sushi rice, as well as Calrose rice, works really well for sushi bowls. But you can also use short grain rice varieties like Basmati rice or Jasmine rice as well.
- Crab – Use fresh lump crab meat or imitation crab meat.
- Fresh vegetables – Matchstick carrots (or julienned carrots) and diced cucumbers add a delightful crunch to every bite. And diced avocados add creaminess to the dish.
- Nori – break up a nori sheet (seaweed) or two to add that classic salty sushi flavor.
- Scallions & sesame seeds – Sliced green onions or scallions along with white sesame seeds add the final flavor touches to these delicious bowls!
Sushi roll sauce:
- Rice wine vinegar – Rice vinegar adds a slight tangy vinegar flavor to the sauce.
- Soy sauce – Use your favorite soy sauce or tamarind sauce.
- Sugar & salt – A little bit of granulated sugar and kosher salt balances the sushi sauce.
Srirachi Mayo:
- Sriracha – You can adjust the heat by using more or less sriracha sauce.
- Mayonnaise – Use your favorite mayonnaise. I use my fave dairy-free vegan mayo.
Substitutions and optional additional sushi bowl toppings:
- Substitute cauliflower rice or brown rice for white rice.
- Make shrimp sushi bowls by substituting small shrimp for the crab.
- Add thinly sliced red peppers for added crunch and nutritional value.
- Substitute black sesame seeds for white sesame seeds.
- Ue coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
The full list of ingredients and detailed instructions to make California roll sushi bowls is in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. But here are step-by-step photos to help you make this dish!
Start by cooking the rice in a pot.
- In a medium saucepan, heat the rice wine vinegar, sugar, and salt over medium heat, until the sugar is dissolved.
- When the rice is cooked add it to the vinegar mixture and stir to combine. Remove from the heat.
- In a small bowl, make the spicy mayo sauce.
- Divide the cooked rice between 4 bowls.
- Divide the toppings (crab, cucumbers, carrots, avocado) between the four bowls.
- Drizzle the sriracha mayo over the top and garnish each with sliced scallions and sesame seeds.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
While it’s best to assemble the bowls just before serving, you can prepare the individual components ahead of time and store them separately in the fridge.
Absolutely! Replace the crab with tofu or add additional veggies like bell peppers and radishes for a delightful vegetarian alternative.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.
🍽 Serving ideas
- DIY Sushi Bowl Bar: Set up a DIY Sushi Bowl bar at your next gathering, allowing guests to customize their bowls with their favorite ingredients.
- Sushi Bowl Burritos: Wrap the California Sushi Bowl components in a sheet of seaweed or rice paper for a portable, sushi burrito experience.
- Sushi Bowl Poke Style: Transform your California Sushi Bowl into a poke bowl by adding soy sauce, sesame oil, and sesame seeds for an Asian-inspired twist.
Serve with a side of Lumpia (Filipino spring rolls), Air Fryer Crab Rangoon, or Carrot Cucumber Salad.
🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
- Sauvignon Blanc: The crisp acidity and citrus notes of Sauvignon Blanc complement the freshness of the ingredients, creating a harmonious pairing.
- Pinot Grigio: A light and refreshing Pinot Grigio work well with the delicate flavors of crab and avocado, enhancing the overall dining experience.
- Rosé: The versatility of a dry Rosé pairs wonderfully with the diverse flavors in California Sushi Bowls, offering a balance of fruitiness and acidity.
🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
Ready to make this recipe? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you’ll need:
- Medium or Large Pot – To make the tangy sushi rice.
- Mixing bowl – You’ll need a small bowl (or medium bowl) and a whisk to make the sriracha mayo sauce.
- Serving bowls – To serve each sushi rice bowl.
More Asian-inspired recipes
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
California Sushi Bowl
Ingredients
For the Sushi Rice
- 2 cups uncooked Calrose rice
- ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
For the sriracha mayo
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon sriracha
For the sushi toppings
- 8 ounces imitation crab meat, chopped
- 1 cup diced English cucumbers (about 2-3 English cucumbers)
- ¾ cup matchstick carrots
- 1 avocado, pitted and diced
- 1 nori sheet, sliced thinly or crumbled
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon scallions, thinly sliced for garnish
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
Instructions
- Cook the rice according to package directions.
Make the sriracha mayo
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and sriracha. Set aside.
Make the sushi rice
- In a medium saucepan, heat the rice wine vinegar, sugar, and salt over medium heat, until the sugar is dissolved. When the rice is cooked add it to the vinegar mixture and stir to combine. Remove from the heat.
Assemble the deconstructed sushi bowls
- Divide the sushi rice between 4 bowls.
- Divide the toppings (crab, cucumbers, carrots, avocado) between the four bowls.
- Drizzle the sriracha mayo over the top and garnish each eith sliced scallions and sesame seeds.
Notes
- You can substitute salmon for imitation crab.
- For additional toppings, you could add cilantro, pickled onions, wasabi, and/or black sesame seeds.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
