Cucumber Nori Rolls Recipes

CUCUMBER NORI ROLLS

Steps:

• Sushi Zu Preparation:
• Combine all of the ingredients in a small pot and bring to a boil. Take off of the heat and allow to cool.
• Rice Preparation:
• Rice volume increases 2-2 1/2 times as it cooks. Almost all the short grain rice needs to be washed before cooking, because of the starch on the surface of each grain. If you cook rice without washing, starch makes the texture and taste less palatable. The following is the procedure to prepare rice:
• Wash rice with care, putting rice in a big bowl and washing gently with cold running water for 10 minutes. Drain rice in a big colander and dry for 20-30 minutes. Place washed rice and water into a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover. Allow to cook for 15 minutes or until all the water has been absorbed. Turn off heat and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Place in a large bowl and pour over Sushi Zu mixture.
• Sushi Preparation:
• Place 1/2 sheet of seaweed (nori) lengthwise, shinny side down on a bamboo roller. Place approximately 3 ounces of sushi rice formed into a bar in the center of the seaweed, going lengthwise, spread rice evenly, covering entire nori except for about 1/2 inch at the top edge. Spread wasabi thinly in the center, on top of the rice, lengthwise from one and to the other. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top of rice, if desired. Then place a couple strips of cut cucumber in the center to fill the length of the roll.
• Bring seaweed and rice toward you to the edge of the bamboo roller and holding the edge of the bamboo roller with one hand and, holding the cucumbers in place with the other hand, lift up the edge of the mat closest to you. Begin rolling mat away from you, rolling over the cucumber and connecting rice to rice. Then stop to make sure you still have a 1/2 inch strip of just nori left over at the top (this is what seals the roll). Lift the edge of bamboo roller slightly and roll another 1/2 inch away from you connecting the seaweed to seaweed and sealing the roll.
• Gently squeeze both sides while pressing gently down on top with both index fingers. Cut roll in half, then turn one piece around so they are parallel to one another, line them up, then cut both pieces twice, to make 6 pieces. Cut remaining rolls and serve.

CUCUMBER AND AVOCADO SUSHI

Steps:

• Combine the water and rice in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, or until rice is tender and water has been absorbed. Remove from the heat and stir in the vinegar and a pinch of salt. Set aside to cool.
• Cover a bamboo sushi mat with plastic wrap to keep the rice from sticking. Place a sheet of seaweed over the plastic. Use your hands to spread the rice evenly onto the sheet, leaving about 1/2 inch of seaweed empty at the bottom. Arrange strips of cucumber and avocado across the center of the rice. Lift the mat and roll over the vegetables once and press down. Unroll, then roll again towards the exposed end of the seaweed sheet to make a long roll. You may moisten with a little water to help seal. Set aside and continue with remaining nori sheets, rice and fillings.
• Use a sharp wet knife to slice the rolls into 5 or 6 slices. Serve cut side up with your favorite sushi condiments.

KAPPAMAKI (HOSOMAKI) CUCUMBER ROLLS

Steps:

• Seed the cucumber and cut into sticks that are 1/8 inch wide and 7 1/2 inches long.
• Lay a half nori sheet textured-side up (smooth/shiny-side down) on a cutting board with one of the longer sides closest to you. Lightly moisten your fingers with ice water and gently spread 1/2 cup of the prepared sushi rice evenly over the nori, leaving a 1/2-inch strip without rice at the far (long) edge. Carefully place the nori, rice-side up, onto a makisu (sushi rolling mat) wrapped in plastic wrap. If you like, add a small swipe of wasabi lengthwise down the rice or sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
• Place 3 to 4 cucumber strips lengthwise in the center of the sheet. Use your thumbs to lift the edge of the makisu closest to you and roll the sheet inside the makisu until the edge meets the rice. Make sure you leave the edge of the nori without rice exposed.
• Lift the edge of the makisu off the sushi roll and continue rolling the sushi roll over until the seam is on the bottom. The nori strip without rice should seal the outside of the sushi roll. If it doesn't, dip one finger in the ice water and swipe a very small amount of water along the bare strip of nori and let the roll sit on the seam for a few seconds.
• Slice the roll into 6 even pieces. Repeat with the remaining ingredients, making 4 rolls. Sprinkle with sesame seeds to garnish. Serve with soy sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi if desired.