Name: How To Make Temaki Sushi (Hand Rolls)
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

Main Party food Sushi Seafood Easy

When you ask people from overseas about their favorite Japanese food, most of the answers tend to be “Sushi.”

The word "Sushi" typically brings to mind "Nigiri-zushi," considered authentic sushi with raw fish on top and rice on the bottom, or "Maki-zushi," commonly known as sushi rolls in English. However, Japan offers various other types of sushi.

In this recipe, we will introduce you to one sushi style familiar to Japanese people: “Temaki-sushi”!

Temaki-sushi is a casual sushi style rolled by hand, often enjoyed at gatherings such as birthdays or family get-togethers. It's an ideal kind of sushi for making for a sushi party. Since the dish isn't completely prepared beforehand, you have the freedom to customize it to your liking. If you've never tried Temaki-sushi before, this unique experience will undoubtedly provide you with a fresh perspective on sushi culture!

When making Temaki-sushi, there are various ingredients to prepare, including raw fish, vegetables, pickles, cooked egg, etc., along with vinegar rice and Nori seaweed. If you're not familiar with raw fish, you can substitute them with fried chicken, boiled shrimp, bacon, sausage, etc. It's entirely okay to choose, so be creative and discover new ingredients that complement Temaki-sushi!

Each person should take a sheet of Nori seaweed, spread vinegar rice on it, and select their preferred ingredients to combine. You can choose whatever you like from the selection of ingredients and customize as you please. This element of choice and experimentation is what makes Temaki-sushi particularly enjoyable, as you can discover the best ingredient combinations.

Furthermore, Temaki-sushi is easy to prepare, and once you’ve mastered the technique, it can become one of your specialties. Additionally, on our website, you can find products that can make your sushi party more vibrant, creating a true Japanese atmosphere. Be sure to check them out!

Overview

Prep time: 30 mins

Cook time: 10 mins

Total time: 40 mins

Total servings: 3

Difficulty: Easy

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

Expert's Tip

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.

Instructions

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1) Gathering the Ingredients

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)

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2) Making Tamagoyaki

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)

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3) Preparing Vinegar Rice

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.

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4) Preparing the Fillings

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.

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6) Wrapping Temaki Sushi

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.

About the author

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.

View articles by Megumi Moriya