Name: How To Make Temaki Sushi (Hand Roll Sushi Recipe)
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 3
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 300g Short-grain Rice, uncooked; 360ml Water; 3 Tbsp Rice Vinegar (for seasoning the rice); 2.5 Tbsp Sugar (for seasoning the rice); 1 tsp Salt (for seasoning the rice); 3 Eggs; 3 tsp Sugar (for seasoning the omelet); 1/2 tsp Soy Sauce (for seasoning the omelet); 1/5 tsp Salt (for seasoning the omelet); Sashimi, choose your favorites!; Salmon Roe; Cucumber; Lettuce; White Radish Sprouts; Imitation Crab Sticks; Shiso Leaves (Perilla); Chopped Natto (Hikiwari Natto); Japanese Pickles

How To Make Temaki Sushi (Hand Rolls)-Japanese Taste

MainParty foodSushiSeafoodEasy

When you ask people from overseas about their favorite Japanese food, one answer comes up again and again: sushi. Sushi is one of the most recognizable parts of Japanese food culture, but what many people do not realize is that sushi comes in many different styles, not just the ones seen in restaurants abroad.

For most people, the word sushi brings to mind nigiri-zushi, the classic style with vinegared rice topped with raw fish, or maki-zushi, known in English as sushi rolls wrapped in nori seaweed. While these are popular and well-known, Japan has a wide variety of sushi styles that are enjoyed at home, especially during casual gatherings. One of the most loved styles among Japanese families is temaki-sushi, or hand-rolled sushi.

Temaki-sushi is a casual, fun, and interactive way to enjoy sushi. Instead of preparing everything in advance, ingredients are placed on the table, and each person makes their own sushi by hand. This style is often enjoyed at birthdays, family get-togethers, and home parties. Because it is relaxed and customizable, temaki-sushi is perfect for people who want to enjoy sushi without strict rules or advanced techniques.

At the center of temaki-sushi is sushi rice, made from short-grain Japanese rice seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. This seasoned rice provides the familiar sushi flavor that balances all the toppings. Alongside the rice, sheets of nori seaweed are prepared, usually cut in half so they are easy to hold and roll by hand.

The real appeal of temaki-sushi is the variety of ingredients. Common toppings include fresh sashimi, salmon roe, cucumber, lettuce, white radish sprouts, imitation crab sticks, shiso leaves, natto, Japanese pickles, and tamago omelet. These ingredients offer different textures and flavors, from fresh and crunchy to savory and rich. However, raw fish is not a requirement. If you are not comfortable with sashimi, you can easily substitute it with cooked or non-traditional ingredients such as boiled shrimp, fried chicken, bacon, sausage, or even avocado. Temaki-sushi encourages creativity, and there are no wrong choices.

Making temaki-sushi is simple. Each person takes a sheet of nori, spreads a small amount of sushi rice on it, then adds their chosen ingredients. The nori is gently rolled into a cone shape and eaten right away. Because everyone builds their own roll, the experience feels personal and engaging. It also allows guests to discover new flavor combinations and find their own favorites.

This casual sushi style is also a great starting point for exploring other types of sushi. Once you are comfortable with sushi rice and basic toppings, you can expand your skills and try different regional and modern sushi recipes.

For example, Kakinoha sushi, wrapped in persimmon leaves, offers a preserved and aromatic style of sushi from Nara. If you enjoy scattered toppings over rice, Chirashi Sushi (Scattered Sushi) is another home-friendly option that focuses on seasonal ingredients and presentation. For a modern and comforting twist, try Baked Sushi Salmon (Sushi Bake), which is easy to serve for groups. For plant-based or beginner-friendly, Avocado Sushi Rolls (2 Ways) is simple and satisfying.

Overview

Prep time: 30 minsCook time: 10 minsTotal time: 40 mins

Total servings: 3

Difficulty: Easy

Main Ingredients

Short-grain Rice

uncooked 300g

Organic Koshihikari Hakumai Rice Japanese White Rice 2kg

Water 360ml

For Sushi Rice Seasoning

Rice Vinegar

3 Tbsp

Tajima Jozo Organic Junmai Pure Rice Vinegar 360ml

Sugar

2.5 Tbsp

Salt

1 tsp

Okinawa Blue Sea Salt Roasted Seawater Salt 50g

For Omelet (Tamago)

Eggs

Sugar

3 tsp

Soy Sauce

1/2 tsp

Suehiro Premium Saishikomi Shoyu Japanese Twice-Brewed Soy Sauce 100ml

Salt

1/5 tsp

Toppings and Fillings

Sashimi

choose your favorites

Salmon Roe

Cucumber

Lettuce

White Radish Sprouts

Imitation Crab Sticks

Shiso Leaves (Perilla)

Chopped Natto

Kawaguchi Natto Freeze Dried Natto Beans (Large Quantity) 180g

Instructions

1) Gathering the Ingredients

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Gather the ingredients for the Japanese omelet and vinegar rice.

Prepare a piece of kitchen towel and cooking oil. (for step 2: Japanese Omelet)

Whisk vinegar, sugar, and salt together in a small bowl until the sugar dissolves. (for step 3: Vinegar Rice)

2) Making Tamagoyaki

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Expert's Tip

How To Make Temaki Sushi (Hand Roll Sushi Recipe)

When exploring Japanese grocery stores, you'll discover various types of Nori seaweed. While the most common size is approximately 20cm square, for Temaki-zushi, a half-sized standard Nori sheet is typically used. This pre-cut Nori seaweed boasts rich flavor and a crispy texture, creating a harmonious pairing with the ingredients.

3) Preparing Vinegar Rice

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Put the hot cooked rice into a large bowl. Add the vinegar mixture (from step 1) and quickly mix well with a rice scoop or large spoon, as if cutting through the rice. (This prevents the rice from becoming sticky.)

The most crucial aspect of mixing the rice and vinegar mixture is the temperature of the rice—it should be hot. Try using freshly cooked rice.

Once the vinegar mixture dissolves into the rice, let it cool down to room temperature with the help of a fan. If each grain of rice doesn't collapse or stick to others and it comes out glossy, you've succeeded!

Tip: For more information about making sushi rice at home, please reference this recipe.

4) Preparing the Fillings

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Cut the filling ingredients into stick-sized pieces so that you can wrap them easily. Then, dish them up.

Tip: Feel free to use your favorite fillings! In our case, we chose an array of common fillings, including sashimi, vegetables, imitation crab sticks, natto, etc., but you can really use whatever you'd like. The most important point is that they are cut into the correct shape to fit into the hand roll.

5) Preparing the Table & Additional Condiments

Prepare a plate for each person to make their own temaki sushi on. Don’t forget to prepare small plates for soy sauce and wasabi.

6) Wrapping Temaki Sushi

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Do you know how to wrap temaki sushi? Here's how to make beautiful temaki sushi!

Place a small amount of sushi rice on the Nori, spreading it out in a thin layer along the base of the triangle.

Add your desired fillings on top of the rice. Starting from the base, fold the Nori over the fillings, creating a cone shape. Roll it gently, ensuring the filling is enclosed.

Also, here are some filling combination examples:

Maguro (Tuna) + Perilla + cucumber + White radish sprouts
Squid + Perilla + cucumber + Chopped Umeboshi
Tuna mayonnaise + Imitation Crab + Japanese omelet + lettuce

Be creative and choose your favorite ingredients!

7) Enjoying Temaki Sushi

Enjoy your homemade temaki sushi!

Tip: Temaki sushi is best enjoyed fresh, so serve and eat it right away.

Megumi Moriya

Megumi is a recipe writer based in Chiba, Japan. She carries a Bachelor in the Faculty of Foreign Studies and is interested in creating content about Japanese cuisine and traditional confectioneries. Megumi is most interested in making Japanese recipe content, and in her free time, she likes to play the piano, make handcrafted goods, and hula dance. She hopes to inspire Japanese Taste readers to make Japanese recipes at home and of course share more about Japanese culture.

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