California Roll

4.4
(31)
17 Reviews
21 Photos

A California roll is a fresh take on traditional Japanese rice rolls. Filled with avocado, crab, and cucumber, it's fresh and crunchy and makes a filling meal. You can use real or imitation crab.

Submitted by Allrecipes
Updated on May 23, 2023
Tested by
Allrecipes Test Kitchen
Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen
The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself.
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Looking down at a bunch of California rolls.
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Prep Time:
1 hr
Cook Time:
20 mins
Additional Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 50 mins
Servings:
5
Yield:
5 rolls
Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

  • 4 cups water

  • 2 cups uncooked white rice

  • ½ cup seasoned rice vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon white sugar, or to taste

  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

  • ¼ pound cooked crab meat, drained of excess liquid and shredded

  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise

  • 5 sheets nori (dry seaweed)

  • 1 avocado, sliced

  • ¼ cup red caviar, such as tobiko

  • 1 English cucumber, seeded and sliced into strips

  • 2 tablespoons drained pickled ginger, for garnish

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce, or to taste

  • 1 tablespoon wasabi paste

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    All ingredients gathered to make California rolls.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Wrap a sushi rolling mat completely in plastic wrap and set aside.

    Sushi rolling mat completely covered in plastic wrap.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Bring water and rice to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer rice to a bowl and cut in vinegar using a rice paddle or wooden spoon. Season with sugar and salt. Allow to cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

    Cooked rice transferred to a bowl with vinegar, salt and sugar added.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Combine crab meat with mayonnaise in a small bowl.

    Crab meat mixed with mayo in a bowl.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Place nori sheet on a flat work surface. Spread a thin layer of rice on top of nori.

    Rice placed on top of nori.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Place nori, rice side down, on the prepared rolling mat. Place 2 to 3 avocado slices on top of the nori in one layer.

    Nori and rice flipped rice side down and a few avocado slices added to the nori.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Top with 2 to 3 tablespoons of the crab mixture.

    Crab mixture layered on top of avocado slices.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Spoon 1 to 2 teaspoons tobiko lengthwise on one side of the avocado-crab mixture, and 2 cucumber strips on the other side.

    Tobiko and cucumber strips added to either side of the crab-avocado mixture.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  9. Using the mat as a guide, carefully roll the California roll into a tight log. Remove the rolling mat. Top roll with more tobiko, cover with plastic wrap, and gently press the tobiko into the top of the roll.

    Carefully roll into a tight log and top with more tobiko.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  10. Remove the plastic and cut into 6 even pieces using a wet knife. Repeat with remaining sheets of nori and filling. Serve garnished with pickled ginger, soy sauce, and wasabi paste.

    Looking down at a sliced California roll, topped with tobiko.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

445 Calories
11g Fat
70g Carbs
15g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 5
Calories 445
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 94mg 31%
Sodium 1237mg 54%
Total Carbohydrate 70g 26%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 15g 31%
Vitamin C 8mg 8%
Calcium 95mg 7%
Iron 5mg 30%
Potassium 509mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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