California Rolls with Radishes and Greens
A couple weeks ago I received this delightful birthday card from my son Harper.
There’s lot of love in this card! There’s also soosee, which is a mostly phonetic version of—you may have guessed it—sushi! While Harper has had actual sushi before, at home I only make California rolls, or sushi made without raw fish, but sushi is A TON more fun to say, especially when you’re seven.
After receiving this card, I made a couple rounds of California rolls for my little guy, and he proceeded to have them for lunch three times the following week. I used kale or spinach for Harper’s filling, but you can use any veggie you want.
Before I get into the recipe, I’d like to give the disclaimer that I really know very little about sushi. I made sushi for the first time at a friend-of-a-friend’s house in Spain in 2005. I can’t remember the details, but I’m guessing we used bamboo mats and sushi rice and raw fish. Fast forward ten years, and I’m still making these little rolls, but in my own super-simplified way. Anyway, I may not know a lot about sushi or California rolls, but I do something about cooking with veggies. If you’d like advice from an expert, check out this Food and Wine post featuring sushi master Masahuru Morimoto.
While you’ll probably have most of the ingredients for California rolls in your house, there’s a good possibility you won’t have a key ingredient sushi-nori, or seaweed wraps.
Fortunately, our local grocery store Tysens does carry this ingredient in aisle 2, or you can purchase at least five different highly-rated nori on amazon.
To begin, set up your work space. I lay out two nori on a cutting board. Around the cutting board I arrange the rest of my ingredients: cream cheese, rice, sliced veggies, and a little bowl of water.
Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on the nori, stopping within an or so of the far end.
Next, dip your fingers in the water (this will keep the rice from sticking to your fingers), and add a layer of rice over the cream cheese. Most people use seasoned sushi rice, but since I’m often using these rolls as a meal for my child, I like to use organic long-grain brown rice. In the sushi world, there are probably rules forbidding this type of replacement; fortunately these rules don’t apply in my home.
Now it’s time for the fun stuff—veggies! Try any combination that sounds good to you. I’m going use produce from your share this week: radishes, radish greens, green onions, kale, and/or spinach. Slice the veggies into strips, then line them up in a row on the edge of the nori that’s closest to you.
Now, carefully and tightly roll the nori away from you, tucking in the veggies, continuing until the wrap is all rolled up except that empty inch at the end. Dip your finger in the water, run your finger along the edge of the wrap, and finish rolling.
Finally, use a sharp knife to slice the roll. I start from the middle and work my way to the ends. And because I don’t use a bamboo mat, my ends are often unsightly, so I feel compelled to eat them on the spot instead of waiting until dinner. Sometimes it’s tough being the cook.
California rolls are commonly served with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger. Dan’s the only one in our family who likes wasabi, so I keep some on hand for him. None of us are big fans of pickled ginger, but I recommend you at least give it a try once. And Harper and I prefer simply dipping our California rolls in soy sauce. What’s your favorite way to eat sushi or California rolls?
Photography and Food Styling: Anne Kingma
- 4 sushi-nori sheets
- 2-4 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup cooked long-grain brown rice
- 1 cup thinly sliced greens or vegetables (radishes, radish greens, green onions, kale, spinach)
- Lay out nori sheets on a cutting board or kitchen counter.
- Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on each sheet or nori, leaving one inch of space at the far end of the wrap.
- Dip your fingers in water, then spread a layer of rice over the cream cheese.
- Line up sliced vegetables or greens on the edge of the nori closest to you.
- Roll the nori away from you. Tuck in the vegetables, then continue a firm roll until you reach the empty inch at the end of the sheet. Dip your finger in water, run your fingers along the edge of the wrap, and finish rolling.
- Slice with a sharp knife.
- Serve with soy sauce, wasabi, and/or pickled ginger. Enjoy!
How delicious! Healthy…and colorful! I’ve been enjoying and making these sushi for a long time. My only guidance was a Korean cookbook a long time ago. Using cream cheese is a new one for me, but why not? I like to cook a few scrambled eggs in an 8X8″ baking dish and then cut them in thin strips to roll easily along with the rice. Also adding some thinly sliced cooked carrots and/or avocado. Yum! The Asian children would traditionally bring us (their teachers) a small box of these goodies when we went on a field trip! Tip: don’t skip the ginger or wasabi!
Thanks for sharing, Ellen! I’ve never tried eggs in these before, but what a great way to add protein and flavor–thanks for the suggestion!