I never thought…in a million years…that I would LOVE sushi!  My husband and I fell in love with a Japanese Steakhouse in our area and I tried it there for the first time.   It was amazing!  =)  I decided I liked it so much that I had to learn how to make it at home.  I spent lots of time watching some Japanese how-to videos for making it. Now….I will teach you.

Here are the ingredients that you will need:

• 1 avocado, sliced thinly
• 1/2 small cucumber, sliced thinly and seeds removed
• 6 Nori sheets
• 2 cups sushi rice
• 1 package Crab sticks
• 1/2 cup rice vinegar
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Bamboo Rolling Mat
• Plastic wrap
• Yum Yum Sauce

 First, we need to prepare the sushi rice.  

Rinse the rice and check for any small stones or odd looking pieces of rice.  Pick them out.  Next, fill pot with water up to an inch above the rice.  Let it soak for 30 minutes.  

Using a rice strainer, drain the water off of the rice and rinse until the water runs clear.  Then, fill a 2-qt pot with 2 1/4 cups of water. Bring rice to a boil and then turn heat down to low.  Cook until all the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.  It should be a sticky consistency.  

While the rice is cooking, it is a good time to make your vinegar mixture for the rice.  Boil vinegar, salt, and sugar, making sure that the salt and sugar dissolve.  Remove from heat and let cool.  Mix into rice with wooden spoon.  

While the rice is cooling. slice the cucumbers, avocado. and crab into thin strips.  Also, get bamboo mat ready.   Cover the mat with plastic wrap.  This keeps the sushi from sticking to it.  Not to mention, it makes clean up super easy!

 When rice has cooled, place 1 Nori sheet on the bamboo mat.  

Spoon rice onto Nori sheet, making sure to spread thinly. 

Now, pick up the Nori with sticky rice and place it rice down on the sushi mat, making sure to place it closer to the front of the mat.  This gives you plenty of room to roll the sushi.  

Place the crab, cucumber, and avocado off center on the Nori sheet. You want them to be closer to the front of the sheet.  This ensures a good roll.  

Begin to roll the front of the mat over the crab, avocado, and cucumber and squeeze mat firmly. Roll it 1/4 of the way.

Let go of the bamboo mat and roll it again a little more and squeeze it firmly again.

You are half way done rolling that tastiness!  

Let up on the mat again and roll a little more.  Squeeze firmly.

And, one last time, roll and squeeze.  

Now, your roll should look tight and compact.

 

Isn’t it purdy?

You can sprinkle the roll with sesame seeds to add little flavor and flair!

Cut roll by using a very sharp knife.  Cut in the middle of the roll. Then, place each half side by side.  This allows you to make each slice the same size.  Make three more cuts, being sure to cut through both halves at the same time.  

Here is the result!

Add a side of Yum Yum Sauce for dipping and you have a plate of perfection! 

Your friends will be impressed and you will love this dish.

Enjoy and bon appetit!