Sushi is a favorite food for many people. The combination of tender rice savory fish and zesty flavors makes sushi extremely crave-worthy. Shrimp is a popular sushi filling that pairs well with many ingredients. The sweet taste and delicate texture of shrimp complement the vinegared rice perfectly. While sushi may seem intimidating to make at home, it’s actually quite simple with the right techniques. In this article, I’ll provide tips on how to make two tasty shrimp sushi rolls in your own kitchen.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make shrimp sushi rolls at home, you’ll need:
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Sushi rice This short-grain white rice is seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt Well-made sushi rice forms the foundation of any good sushi roll
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Nori sheets: These paper-thin sheets made of dried seaweed wrap the rice and fillings. Look for toasted nori, which has a better flavor.
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Shrimp: Raw or cooked shrimp work well. Opt for wild-caught or sustainably farmed shrimp when possible.
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Other fillings: Avocado, cucumber, carrot, mango, and cream cheese complement shrimp nicely.
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Condiments: Soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger are traditional accompaniments.
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Equipment: A bamboo sushi rolling mat helps roll tight logs. You’ll also need a sharp knife to slice the rolls.
How to Cook Sushi Rice
Perfectly cooked rice is key for well-shaped rolls that hold together. Here’s how to make sushi rice:
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Rinse the rice several times until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch
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Soak the rinsed rice for 30 minutes before cooking.
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Cook the rice with a little less water than usual. It should be slightly firmer.
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Season the cooked rice with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt while still hot. Gently fold to combine.
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Allow the seasoned rice to cool before assembling rolls. Warm rice will get mushy.
Rolling Techniques for Shrimp Sushi
Once your rice is prepped, it’s time to assemble and roll. Here are two easy shrimp sushi rolls to try:
Spicy Shrimp Roll
This roll pairs shrimp with spicy mayo and avocado.
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Lay a nori sheet shiny-side down on the mat. Spread rice, leaving a 1-inch strip uncovered.
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Place chilled boiled shrimp and avocado strips down the center.
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Squeeze on spicy mayo made of mayonnaise and sriracha.
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Lift the edge of the mat over the fillings and roll away from you in one motion.
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Seal the roll with a little water. Cut into 6-8 pieces.
Shrimp Tempura Roll
Crispy fried shrimp tempura makes this roll extra indulgent.
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Make tempura batter and fry shrimp until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels.
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Spread rice on nori, then place tempura shrimp and avocado strips in the center.
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Roll up using the mat. Seal with water.
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Slice into 6-8 pieces. Serve with tempura dipping sauce.
Handy Tips for Shrimp Sushi Success
Follow these tips for picture-perfect homemade shrimp sushi:
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Dry shrimp thoroughly before using to prevent soggy rice.
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Cut shrimp and other fillings into long strips for easier rolling.
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Keep your knife sharp for clean slices without squishing the roll.
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Work swiftly while assembling rolls so the rice doesn’t get gummy.
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Use a light touch when rolling to avoid over-compressing the fillings.
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Store finished rolls tightly wrapped and eat within several hours.
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Chill rolls before slicing for the neatest cuts.
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Clean your knife blade between each slice for prettier presentations.
Take Your Skills Further
Once you’ve mastered basic shrimp rolls, try advanced styles like:
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Inside-out rolls with rice on the outside
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Fancy dragon rolls with shrimp tempura and colorful toppings
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Nigiri sushi with shrimp placed atop mounds of rice
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Sushi bowls featuring shrimp as the protein
The options for creative and delicious shrimp sushi are endless! I hope these tips help you roll stunning and tasty shrimp sushi rolls at home to impress friends and family. Once you get the basics down, you can let your inner sushi chef run wild with new fillings and flavors.
Shouldn’t I remove the shells before boiling the shrimp?
You could, but cooking the shrimp with the shells on will make them taste better, keep them from curling up too much, and make it easier to take the shells off. It’s really up to you when you want to remove the shells.
4. Make an ice bath by putting ice in a bowl and then adding cold water. Do this while the shrimp is boiling. Be careful, as shrimp only need to cook for about 120 seconds before they are done. When the shrimp are done, which is usually when they form a “C” shape (an “O” shape could mean they are overcooked), take them out of the boiling water and put them in the ice bath. This will stop the cooking process completely.
5. Now it’s time to peel and devein the shrimp. If you purchased shrimp that have already been peeled and deveined, you can skip to step 6.
- To peel a shrimp, begin at the bottom (or legs) and work your way up. For this tutorial, it’s okay to remove the entire shell.
- Make a very shallow cut along the length of the shrimp’s back with a small, sharp knife. Remove the two sides and look for a dark vein. This is shrimp poop and needs to be taken out for obvious reasons. You can just use your finger to wipe it off or run water over it.
In the pictures for this tutorial, I used shrimp that were already peeled and deveined. This resulted in my shrimp curling quite a bit.
6. Lay the shrimp neatly onto a paper towel and cover them with another paper towel. Gently press down on the top to absorb any excess water. This is a very important step! Let the shrimp dry for about 5 minutes before slicing.
7. Now we are ready to slice up our shrimp. For consistency, I like to slice the shrimp from head to tail before slicing them into smaller pieces.
8. Slice the shrimp into smaller pieces. I tend to make 4-5 slices on each shrimp. Longer pieces are easier to work with while rolling.
9. Next, put the shrimp slices into a bowl and add the Sriracha, togarashi, and masago mayonnaise. Mix thoroughly with a spoon.
Shrimp and Avocado Sushi Roll | How to make Restaurant Quality Inside-Out Sushi Roll (Uramaki)
FAQ
Can you put raw shrimp in sushi?
How to fry shrimp for sushi?
What does shrimp sushi have in it?
What is raw shrimp sushi called?
Is shrimp sushi easy?
Shrimp sushi is a surprisingly simple recipe that’s flavorful, fun, easy, and quick to make any night of the week! If you have kitchen helpers, get them involved with rolling up the sushi rolls! The yummiest easy shrimp sushi recipe is such a stellar meal for a fancy at-home dinner that isn’t complicated to make but is satisfying in every way!
Can I eat raw shrimp?
Eating raw shrimp is not recommended. Raw shrimp can contain bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It is also a good source of purines, which can trigger gout attacks. If you want to eat shrimp, cook it thoroughly to reduce the risk of food poisoning and to help prevent gout attacks. Cook shrimp until it is opaque and pink to ensure that it is safe to eat.
How do you make shrimp tempura sushi?
Step 1 On a bamboo sushi mat, arrange 1 nori sheet shiny-side up. Using wet fingertips, spread about 1 cup rice over surface of nori, leaving a 1/2″ border at the top. Step 2 Arrange 2 pieces of shrimp tempura on long edge closest to you, letting tail ends poke out the sides. Place half of avocado next to shrimp.
Can you eat raw shrimp in sushi?
No way, Jose! At least, not in this recipe. The shrimp in this recipe is deliciously cooked in garlic butter so it’s flavorful and rich — and not raw! Although, some traditional sushi rolls are served using raw fish. They’re pretty good — give one a try at a good sushi spot next time!