If you want to learn how to roll sushi at home, the Spicy Crab sushi roll is a great recipe to start with. It’s simple to work with, simple to make, and simply satisfying.
When I first started learning how to be a sushi chef, this recipe helped me a lot with learning how to roll sushi. I could focus on getting consistent results without having to worry about rolling harder ingredients because the ingredients were simple. If you are new to rolling sushi, then you have come across the best recipe to start with!.
Crab meat makes a delicious filling for sushi rolls and hand rolls. Its sweet, succulent flavor pairs perfectly with rice and nori. While you can always opt for ready-made crab mixes from the store, making your own allows you to control the ingredients and spice levels Read on for a complete guide to making sushi with fresh crab meat at home
Choose Your Crab
The first step is selecting which type of crab to use. Popular choices include:
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Imitation crab: Made from fish like pollock, it’s affordable and comes pre-shredded. Great for beginners.
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Lump crab meat Premium white meat crab delicate flavor. From blue crab or snow crab.
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King crab: Hearty texture, sweeter taste. Ideal for hand rolls.
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Dungeness crab: Bold flavor, firmer chunks. Works well in rolls.
Prep the Crab Meat
For whole crab, cook, clean and remove the meat from shells. Refrigerate until ready to use. For store-bought crab meat:
- Drain any excess liquid
- Pick through for any bits of shell
- Gently squeeze to remove moisture
- Flake imitation crab into small pieces
Pro tip: Fold a paper towel around crab meat and squeeze to absorb moisture for the best texture.
Make Your Crab Mix
In a bowl, mix together:
- 8 oz crab meat
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Sriracha or chili oil (optional)
For extra flavor, add minced garlic, green onions, sesame oil or seaweed seasoning.
Cook the Rice
Use sushi rice or short-grain rice. Rinse until water runs clear before cooking. Add rice and water to a pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to steam with lid on for 15 more minutes.
Gather Supplies
You’ll need:
- Bamboo rolling mat
- Sharp knife
- Nori sheets
- Seasoned rice
- Fillings
- Condiments like wasabi, pickled ginger, soy sauce
Optional: plastic wrap, sushi molds, sesame seeds
Roll the Sushi
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Place a nori sheet shiny-side down on the mat.
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Spread rice evenly over nori, leaving a 1/2″ border on one long edge.
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Layer crab mix and other fillings like cucumber near the center.
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Using the mat, roll up the nori tightly around fillings.
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Slice roll into 1″ pieces with a sharp knife.
Shape Hand Rolls
For temaki hand rolls:
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Place a nori sheet on work surface.
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Spread rice to cover nori, leaving a 2” border at the top.
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Add crab mix and other fillings near the bottom third of the nori.
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Lift the bottom edge of the nori and wrap around fillings into a cone shape.
Mix Up Flavors
Some tasty crab sushi combinations:
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Spicy crab + cucumber + avocado
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Chili crab + mango + basil
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Lemon crab + salmon + green onion
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Curry crab + carrots + cilantro
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Wasabi crab + tuna + radish sprouts
Simple Recipes for Crab Sushi
Looking for easy crab sushi recipes to try? Here are a few flavorful combinations using crab meat:
California Hand Roll
- Imitation crab
- Avocado
- Cucumber
- Sesame seeds
- Mayonnaise
Spicy King Crab Roll
- King crab meat
- Sriracha mayo
- Crispy tempura bits
- Scallions
Crazy Crunchy Crab Roll
- Dungeness crab
- Tempura shrimp
- Chopped peanuts
- Shredded carrot
- Japanese mayo
Lemon Chilli Crab Temaki
- Lump crab
- Lemon zest
- Fresh chilli slices
- Butter lettuce
- Lemon mayo
Tips for Perfect Crab Sushi
Follow these tips for flawless crab sushi every time:
- Chill all ingredients before assembling
- Drain excess moisture from crab
- Spread rice thinly and evenly
- Roll tightly but not too snug
- Wet knife blade between slices
- Serve with wasabi and pickled ginger
- Refrigerate for up to 8 hours
With the right technique, you can create restaurant-worthy crab sushi at home. Impress family and friends with these artistic and appetizing crab creations. Your sushi skills will continue improving each time you prepare it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crab Sushi
Here are answers to some common questions about making sushi with crab:
What’s the best crab meat for sushi?
For rolls, Dungeness, blue crab, or snow crab work well. Sweeter king crab is ideal for hand rolls. Imitation crab is affordable and comes pre-shredded.
Should I cook the crab meat before using in sushi?
For raw sushi, you can use lump crab meat right from the package. For extra safety, you may blanch for 1 minute.
How do I stop crab sushi falling apart?
Remove excess moisture from crab by squeezing gently. Spread rice thinly. Don’t overfill rolls. Chill rolls 30 minutes before cutting.
What’s a quick crab sushi roll recipe?
Try Spicy Crab Roll: imitation crab, cucumber, sriracha mayo, green onion. Simple and delicious!
Can I freeze crab sushi?
Yes, freeze cut rolls in a single layer on a tray before transferring to airtight container. Thaw overnight in fridge before serving.
What sauce goes well with crab sushi?
Lemon mayo, sriracha mayo, Japanese mayo, eel sauce, ponzu, and creamy spicy sauce are all excellent with crab.
How long does crab sushi last in the fridge?
Properly stored rolls or temaki should last 24 hours. Crab mix keeps 3 days. Reheat crab rolls briefly before serving if needed.
Crab is a fantastic choice for sushi. With a savory crab mix, quality rice and some practice with rolling techniques, you can make incredible crab sushi creations at home. Use this guide for tips, recipes and answers to your sushi questions.
Making Spicy Crab Salad
The best thing about this recipe (besides how good it tastes!) is that it only needs spiced crab salad.
1. Open your two cans of sustainable crab meat and drain the water.
2. Once the water is gone, take a small amount of the crab meat and squeeze out as much water as you can over a sink. For each 6 oz. can, I grabbed 3 handfuls of crab meat and squeezed them out. Put the squeezed crab meat into a separate bowl.
It’s important to get as much water out of the crab meat as possible. If your crab salad has too much water, the nori will get soggy, and the pieces will fall apart when you cut the roll.
3. Add your heavy mayonnaise, Sriracha, and shichimi togarashi and mix together. I used two spoons to do this, but you can use whichever stirring utensils you would like.
how to make Crab salad for sushi rolls
How do you make a good crab sushi bake?
Here’s what you’ll need to make the best crab sushi bake. Keep in mind this is just a blueprint. Use what you have access to. Sushi Rice. Short-grain rice is best for this recipe. Water. To cook the rice in. Rice Wine Vinegar. The mild sweet-sour flavor adds complexity to the overall flavor of the sushi. Sugar.
Is sushi considered as healthy food?
Sushi is a healthier choice, but it depends on which variety of fish is used to make sushi. Fatty fishes like tuna and salmon adds much omega 3 fatty acids to the dish. Fish is high in protein and sushi is prepared with plant based proteins like tuna and other vegetables, so sushi is regarded as a high protein food. It also contain more vitamin D, B12, than other foods, provides a source of essential minerals like selenium, zinc and iodine, it is a good source of omega 3 fatty acids. Hence sushi is considered as a wholesome food with a store house of all the essential nutrients.
How do you make a sushi roll with Crab Mix?
To build a homemade sushi roll with the crab mix, cover a bamboo sushi mat with a sheet of plastic wrap and lay your sheet of nori over the mat, shiny side down. Dip your finger tips in water so they are a little damp, then spread about ½ cup rice over the nori sheet into a thin layer. Sprinkle the rice lightly with sesame seeds.
How long does crab sushi take to cook?
Place crab sushi bake in the refrigerator for at least fifteen minutes to let ingredients and flavors mesh. Remove from the refrigerator after fifteen minutes and top with favorite toppings such as sriracha, spicy mayo, green onion, fried onions, toasted sesame seeds and enjoy!