9 Best Sushi Recipes

More than most food categories, sushi can feel unapproachable. The mystique around the sushi chef, the fact that you're handling raw meat, and the eye-popping garnishes at restaurants all combine to create a mental block for most people that keeps them from trying to make it themselves. But it doesn't need to be this way. People have been making sushi for over a thousand years, and if they can do it, so can you.

In an effort to bolster the courage of beginner sushi chefs and spark the creativity of salt-worn hands, we've put together a list of nine sushi recipes that are sure to wow the dinner table. This isn't a list of the typical sushi rolls you'd find at a restaurant and how to make them. Some of them get a little creative with the sushi label. All the same, each of these dishes embodies our love of seafood (and vegetarian equivalents) and is perfectly suited to scratch the sushi itch when the restaurant scene is either weighing too heavy on your wallet or is just a little too far from home to bother.

Making sushi at home is different from ordering it at a restaurant. At a restaurant, it's a good idea to try the sashimi before ordering sushi rolls to get a sense of the quality. Since you're buying the groceries yourself, this step shouldn't be necessary. So, gather up all the essential ingredients you'll need for making sushi at home and throw on a cozy kimono. It's roll time.

The California roll is a great example of how sushi has changed as it's been mixed with Western dining culture. Originally created by Canadian sushi chefs looking for innovative ways to broaden their appeal, the California roll is borderline Asian fusion. This recipe developed by Jaime Bachtell-Shelbert of Wholly Nourished is pretty similar to the previous one since they both spotlight imitation crab meat as their main ingredient, but the California roll ditches the spicy mayo and adds avocado for a light but creamy texture. Sushi purists sometimes frown at the California roll, but you can't argue with how successful it's been.

Recipe: California Roll

This dish is like a California roll only it's even easier to make. Sushi is delicious, but rolls aren't always as filling as they could be for how much effort goes into making them. By imitating a poke bowl, we get all the flavor of sushi while also being time-efficient – something that is especially helpful when you're feeding a crowd. This recipe is enough to serve four, but it's much easier to double this recipe than it would be to double the number of rolls you're putting together. We even add the spicy mayo back in for a creamy kick.

Recipe: California Roll Bowl

If you've ever made sushi and wished the portions were just a little bit bigger, this ginger sushi burrito is here to grant your wish. This recipe developed by Kit Hondrum of Kit's Kitchen isn't turning the dial up to an 11 (trust us, that's a good thing), but merely taking it from a four to a six. Perfect for when one normal-sized roll isn't going to cut it but you don't have enough room in your lunchbox to fit two, this dish uses a combination of salmon and ahi tuna as its centerpiece while adding in avocado, cucumber, and carrot for some texture and flavor.

Recipe: Ginger Sushi Burrito

Although kimbap isn't actually a type of sushi, visually and structurally they work along similar lines. Kimbap will often include cooked meats and other proteins instead of raw fish, but this veggie version closes the gap between the two styles enough that you likely won't notice the difference. This recipe uses marinated tofu and a splash of maple syrup for an interesting twist on the classic sushi motif. Kimbap is also a great candidate for meal prep because they come together quickly and travel well.

Recipe: Veggie Kimbap (Korean Seaweed Rice Rolls)