This Sushi Bowl Recipe is the answer for anyone who loves sushi but doesn’t want to fuss with rolling their own at home. Instead, simply layer seasoned sushi rice with imitation crab, crunchy veggies, nori, creamy avocado, and all your fave sushi toppings!
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A feast for the eyes—and the stomach!
If you like your meals poppin’ with color and texture, you’ll appreciate this sushi bowl recipe.
They’re not just here to look pretty, though, because they’re also delish, with all the sushi ingredients you love.
- If every sushi roll you try to make at home is lopsided, loose, and falls apart as soon as you cut it: I see you, I am you. Sushi bowls are EASY, with no rolling needed.
- Just like Burrito Bowls, Buddha Bowls, and any other meal bowl, homemade sushi bowls are made for customization. I share some of my favorite ideas below, but this is a recipe where you really can’t go wrong.
5 Star Review
“I made this for a friend and we loved it!”
— Lindsey —
My Tips for a Perfect Sushi Bowl
- Using Sushi Rice Is Important—But Not a Must. Sushi rice is a short-grain rice that’s stickier than long-grain options. Because we don’t necessarily need the rice to be sticky since we’re not making rolls, you can substitute another rice you have on hand, but the dish will lose some of its sushi-ness with a different type of rice.
- Make Perfect Sushi Rice. Use the tips in my How to Cook White Rice post to make sure it’s not soggy or crunchy. We want our sushi rice juuuust right!
- Keep the Avocado’s Ripeness in Mind. If you’re making sushi bowls the same day you’re shopping, buy a ripe avocado. If you’re making them later in the week, buy an unripe avocado. Using these sushi bowls as a meal prep lunch? Then you might want to skip the avocado or just dice it up fresh before serving.
How to Make a Sushi Bowl
Cook the Rice. Bring it to a boil with the water, then cover and simmer until it’s tender.
Make the Rice Seasoning. Microwave the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until the sugar and salt dissolve.
Season the Rice. Transfer the rice to a bowl and fold in half of the vinegar mixture, then add the rest.
Make the Spicy Mayo. Stir together the yogurt and sriracha.
Prep the Toppings. Dice the crab and avocado and slice the cukes.
Start Assembling. Add the rice to the bowls.
Finish. Add the toppings to the sushi bowls and drizzle with the sriracha mayo. ENJOY!
Sushi Bowl Variations
- Salmon Sushi Bowls. Use sushi-grade salmon, or you can cook the salmon a la these Salmon Bowls. Air Fryer Salmon Bites would also be excellent.
- Tuna Sushi Bowls. Again, you’ll want sushi-grade tuna if you’re using it raw. Canned tuna will work too.
- Vegan Sushi Bowls. Use your favorite plant-based yogurt for the mayo. Replace the imitation crab with Crispy Tofu, Baked Tofu, Baked Sweet Potato slices, or extra veggies.
Meal Prep Tip
This sushi bowl recipe makes a fabulous work-week lunch.
- Prep the rice and the toppings (minus the avocado) in advance and store them separately. If you have lunch containers with separate compartments (like these), that works great!
- Put everything together just before serving (this will make sure your avocado doesn’t turn brown).
More Satisfying Meal Bowls
- It’s everything you love about the burger, minus the bun. It’s a Burger Bowl!
- These Steak Bowls are extra satisfying thanks to tender, juicy steak.
- Greek Bowls are loaded with bright Mediterranean flavors and super easy to customize!
Sushi Bowl Recipe
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Ingredients
For the Sushi Rice:
- 2 cups sushi or Calrose rice or short grain white rice
- 2 cups water
- 3 ½ tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
For the Bowls:
- 1 pound flake-style imitation crab diced
- 4 Persian cucumbers thinly sliced or 1 English cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
- 2 carrots shredded (about 1 cup)
- 2 to 4 nori sheets or seaweed snacks thinly sliced or crumbled (the amount you need depends on their size and how much you like the flavor—I love one small sheet per bowl)
- 2 small avocados diced
- Sesame seeds optional
- Pickled ginger optional
- Soy sauce optional
For the Sriracha “Mayo”:
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt or mayo
- 1 to 2 tablespoons sriracha
Instructions
- Cook the sushi rice: Rinse the rice well with cold water; use a sieve and really swish it around. Transfer to a medium saucepan and add the water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat, cover, and let simmer until the rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let sit covered for 5 additional minutes.
- Combine the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup with a spout (heat in a small saucepan if you prefer not to microwave). Microwave for 30 seconds, then stir. Continue to microwave in 30 second bursts and stir until the sugar and salt dissolve (or simmer for about 2 minutes on the stove, stirring until it dissolves). Transfer the cooked rice to a large bowl and pour half of the vinegar mixture over the top. Fold gently to combine. Repeat with the remaining vinegar mixture. Let cool.
- While the rice cools, prep all of your toppings. Stir together the Greek yogurt (or mayo) and 1 tablespoon sriracha; taste and add more sriracha if you’d like it spicier.
- To assemble the bowls, place a scoop of rice in the bottom of a bowl. Top with the crab, cucumber, carrot, nori, and avocado. Add the sesame seeds and pickled ginger (if desired). Drizzle with the sriracha “mayo.” Enjoy with soy sauce to taste.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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I made this for a friend and we loved it! I didn’t realize I was out of rice vinegar so my rice was plain but it was still good! I made it with tofu instead of crab and I added crispy fried onions for some crunch. I will definitely be making this again!
So glad to hear you enjoyed it, Lindsey! Thank you!
My partner and I adore this recipe. Lately we’ve been substituting imitation crab with a can of tuna. We’ll mix some of the sriracha mayo with the tuna and we’ve found it to be a more filling and tastier substitution.
Yay! Great to hear, Nicole!