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What is Temakizushi?
Temakizushi, also known as hand-rolled sushi or temaki, is a type of sushi that is made by rolling various fillings and sushi rice in a sheet of nori (seaweed) to create a cone or cylindrical shape. The term "temaki" translates to "hand roll" in Japanese, reflecting the fact that this type of sushi is typically assembled by hand at the dining table.
Unlike other types of sushi, such as nigiri (sliced fish on top of rice) or maki (rolled sushi with seaweed on the outside), temakizushi is meant to be eaten immediately after it is made. It is a popular and casual sushi style often enjoyed at parties or in informal settings.
Temakizushi offers a customizable dining experience, as each person can create their own sushi cones by choosing from a variety of fillings. Common fillings include sliced raw fish (such as tuna, salmon, or yellowtail), cooked shrimp, crab meat, avocado, cucumber, and pickled vegetables. The fillings are placed on a bed of sushi rice and then wrapped in the nori, creating a portable and flavorful sushi roll.
To enhance the flavor, temakizushi is often served with soy sauce, wasabi (Japanese horseradish), and pickled ginger. The cone shape of temaki allows for easy handling and dipping into the accompanying sauces.
In this article, I'll teach you how to make temakizushi.
Preparing Ingredients
To get started, you need to prepare your ingredients.
- Sushi rice
- Nori (seaweed) sheets
- Assorted fillings (such as thinly sliced fish, cooked shrimp, avocado, cucumber, pickled radish, etc.)
- Soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger for serving
Prepare the sushi rice: Rinse the sushi rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Cook the rice according to the package instructions. Once cooked, let it cool to room temperature.
Prepare the fillings: Slice the fillings into thin strips or bite-sized pieces. You can use a variety of fillings based on your preference.
Rice Serving Bowl
For an authentic experience, you can place the sushi rice in a rice mixing bowl like the one made by EBM pictured here. If you get one of their cypress wood bowls, be sure to prepare it before using it.
Before the first use
- To reduce the bitterness of the wood, fill the bowl with hot water and about 180ml(6oz) of vinegar. Let the water sit until it gets cold.
- Pour the water out and then dry with a soft towel.
Before every use
- Dampen the inside of the bowl with a wet towel.
Set up a temakizushi assembly station
Place the sushi rice, fillings, nori sheets, a small bowl of water, and any additional condiments or sauces you want to include on a clean working surface.
Take a sheet of nori
Place a piece of nori on the palm of your hand or on a flat surface, rough side facing up.
Add sushi rice
Take a scoop of sushi rice and gently press it onto the nori sheet.
Add fillings
Place a small amount of your chosen fillings on top of the rice, near the top edge of the nori sheet.
Roll the temaki
Hold the filled edge of the nori sheet and begin rolling it into a cone shape, tucking in the fillings as you go. Make sure to hold the temaki firmly to keep it intact.
Seal the temaki
Use a grain of rice or a bit of water on the top edge of the nori sheet to seal the temaki and keep it from unraveling.
Serve and enjoy
Arrange the temakizushi on a platter and serve them with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger.
