Sushi Rice
Make all of your favorite sushi rolls at home, starting with amazing Sushi Rice! Whether you love Maki or Nagiri, this rice is a must-have!
Perfect for a fancy date night at home or a dinner party with friends, all amazing sushi starts with easy-to-make, light, and flavorful Sushi Rice! Grab a bag of sushi rice, some vinegar, salt, and sugar, and get ready to roll the most delicious sushi rolls you’ve ever had!
Let the Good Times Roll
I love how in my house, sushi either means a date night out or a fun dinner party activity to do with friends! Sushi is typically a pretty light meal and can feel adventurous when you try a new roll, or it can be an event filled with laughter when assembling rolls with friends. The perfect rolls or bowls always start with the perfect rice so this wonderfully flavored Sushi Rice recipe is a must-have that we use every time we make a variety of sushi rolls or fantastic Poke bowls!
The California Roll is perhaps the most famous and well-loved sushi roll, so it’s a “must-make”, along with a fun, crowd-pleasing appetizer of Tuna Avocado Sushi Cups!
Other Recipes to Serve with Sushi Rice
- Light and savory, Edamame Snap Pea Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing is the perfect side dish to enjoy with sushi or Poke bowls!
- Whip the crowd into a frenzy with everyone’s favorite Baked Bang Bang Shrimp dish!
Ingredients
Rice: Pick up a bag of sushi rice—it’s plump, short-grain rice, and the package will usually be labeled “sushi rice.” You cannot substitute jasmine, basmati, long-grain, or medium-grain rice for this recipe.
Wet Ingredients: To make this rice, you will need water and rice vinegar.
Seasoning: A little granulated sugar and salt are also needed to make this rice.
How to Make Sushi Rice
STEP ONE: The most important step in making rice for sushi is rinsing the rice. Add the rice to a large bowl and fill with water. Wash the rice with your hands and then drain the water. Repeat this process 3-4 times until the water remains clear.
STEP TWO: Add the rinsed rice and water to pot and soak the rice for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, bring the rice to a boil and then cover it with a lid and reduce the heat to a low simmer for 10 minutes. Don’t remove the lid or stir the rice while cooking. Once the rice has finished cooking, leave the lid on and remove the pot from the burner to rest for 10 minutes.
STEP THREE: Combine the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan and heat on low, stirring until the salt and sugar have dissolved.
STEP FOUR: Transfer the rice to a large bowl and pour the warm vinegar mixture over it. Fold the rice and vinegar together.
STEP FIVE: Cover the bowl with a damp towel and allow the rice to cool before using.
Tips for Success
- You may see “sushi vinegar” in your store, rice vinegar with added sugar, salt, and other ingredients such as MSG. You can use this instead, but following this recipe is just as quick and doesn’t have unnecessary additives.
- Sushi rice is great when made ahead of time, as it needs plenty of time to soak and cool. Make it up the night before or the morning of, and keep it covered until you are ready to use it. Store leftover rice in a sealed container in the fridge for up to three days.
What type of rice is sushi rice?
Sushi rice is a specific type of Japanese short-grain rice, and much of what we have available here in America is actually grown in California. Besides the slight difference in shape, sushi rice is a little more plump than most other rice. The biggest difference is the amount of starch naturally found in this rice. The higher starch content gives this rice the wonderful stickiness that is needed when making rolls, nigiri, or poke bowls.
Why does sushi rice need vinegar?
When it comes to making sushi, the most flavorful part isn’t just the fish or toppings used; it is a combination of all the ingredients! Sushi rice is a flavorful mix of sweet and sour, with a touch of salt. This delicious rice doesn’t just hold everything together. It also adds to the amazing flavors of whatever you choose to roll with it or top it!
More Asian Inspired Goodies to Devour!
Sushi Rice
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups sushi rice
- 2 ½ cups water
- ⅓ cup rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place the sushi rice in a large bowl. Cover the rice with cold water. Use your hand to stir the rice in a circular motion. Drain the water. Repeat 3-4 times until the water remains clear.
- Add the rinsed rice and 2 1/2 cups of water to a large pot. Let the rice soak for 30 minutes.
- Bring the water to a boil, cover the pot, reduce the temperature to medium-low, and simmer for 10 minutes. DO NOT open the lid.
- Turn off the heat and let the rice rest for another 10 minutes with the lid on.
- Meanwhile, add the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt to a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the sugar and salt have dissolved.
- Transfer the rice to a large bowl. Pour the vinegar mixture over the rice and fold carefully using cutting motions.
- Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let the rice cool down. It's ready to use for sushi when the rice is at body temperature.
