It’s really simple to make this Kani Sushi, which is great for a fun sushi night at home! It has layers of creamy, spicy fake crab, avocado, and fresh cucumber. With my simple step by step guide, anyone can make it!.
If you love sushi, you are going to love this Kani Sushi recipe. Its made with simple and affordable ingredients, which is super yummy and so fun to make,without raw fish. It might seem hard to make your own sushi, but I’ve written out a simple step-by-step guide to help you. You dont need to be a professional to make delicious homemade sushi. Bear in mind, Im not a professional sushi maker myself, but I love the process and experimenting. As it goes with many things, practice makes perfect so just have fun with it!.
I’ve always been fascinated with Japanese culture and cuisine, and I love sushi. Especially the beautiful detailing in the presentation which is so admirable. Apart from Persian and Italian cuisine, Japanese is definitely in my top 5 favorite cuisines. Since 2017, I started transitioning to a mostly plant based and vegetarian diet. I still, however, occasionally eat seafood, along with sushi and love experimenting at home. Another DIY Japanese inspired dish you must try is my spicy tuna crispy rice and spicy kani salad.
This recipe for kani sushi is based on the famous California roll, which is a big hit at many sushi restaurants. Instead of just adding plain fake crab sticks, I’ve dressed the kani in a creamy, spicy mayo dressing that goes so well with the crab’s sweetness. Its then layered with slices of avocado and cucumber strips. Its basically the flavors of the popular spicy crab salad, made into a kani roll!.
The word Kani translates to “crab” in Japanese, and is used to make many variations of sushi rolls. Its usually made with surimi which is an imitation crab meat from processed white fish, typically aslaska pollock. It’s flavored, colored and shaped to resemble more expensive seafood such as crab, lobster and shrimp. [feast_advanced_jump_to].
Crunchy crab rolls have become a popular sushi item on many restaurant menus. Their combination of flavors and textures makes them an appetizing choice. But what exactly is in these rolls that gives them that irresistible crunch? And can you make tasty crunchy crab rolls at home?
The Components of a Crunchy Crab Roll
A traditional crunchy crab roll contains the following ingredients:
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Crab meat – Usually imitation crab meat or surimi Real crab can be used too It provides sweet flavor,
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Cucumber – Thinly sliced and sometimes seeded cucumber gives refreshing crunch.
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Avocado – Sliced avocado contributes creaminess,
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Rice – Short or medium grain sushi rice. It’s seasoned with rice vinegar and wrapped around the fillings.
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Nori – Sheets of dried seaweed that encase the rice and fillings.
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Tempura bits – Battered and fried bits usually made from shrimp or vegetables. They provide crunch.
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Spicy mayo – A spicy, creamy sauce made from mayo and sriracha. It often tops the roll.
The crab meat, cucumber, and avocado form the filling, while the rice and nori wrap around it. Tempura bits add textural contrast. Spicy mayo ties everything together.
How to Make Crunchy Crab Rolls at Home
While sushi rolling takes practice, you can make tasty crunchy crab rolls at home without advanced skills. Follow these steps:
Cook the Sushi Rice
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Rinse rice until water runs clear. Combine with water in a pot.
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Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 15-20 minutes until tender.
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Mix in seasoned rice vinegar. Cool before using.
Prepare the Filling
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Drain crab meat and mix with mayo and sriracha.
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Thinly slice cucumber and avocado.
Make the Crunch Coating
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Crush panko or potato chips.
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Mix with a bit of oil or mayo to lightly coat exterior of rolls.
Assemble the Rolls
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Place a nori sheet shiny-side down. Spread rice, leaving 1 inch uncovered.
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Layer crab mixture, cucumber, and avocado across center.
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Roll up tightly, sealing with water.
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Coat exterior with crunchy panko or chips.
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Chill, then slice to serve.
With the right preparation, you can absolutely make restaurant-quality crunchy crab rolls at home. Play with different crunchy coatings like panko, crushed chips, or even corn flakes. And feel free to mix up the fillings too.
Variations on Crunchy Crab Rolls
While the classic version spotlights crab, you can also try these tasty variations:
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Spicy Tuna Crunch Roll – Swap in spicy tuna for the crab mixture.
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Shrimp Tempura Roll – Use tempura shrimp instead of imitation crab.
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Veggie Crunch Roll – Omit the crab and use veggies like avocado, cucumber, carrot, and pickled daikon radish.
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Rainbow Roll – Top with various fish like tuna, salmon, and yellowtail.
So go ahead and get rolling with these fun crunchy crab roll recipes for your next sushi night! The combination of soft rice, creamy avocado, savory crab, and crispy crunch is sure satisfy.
What is Kani Sushi?
Kani sushi literally translated to “crab sushi” in Japanese, as the word Kani or Kanikama translates to crab. This doesnt however mean it always uses real crab meat.
Typically, Kani sushi uses imitation crabmeat which is also known as surimi or crabsticks. This also makes different kinds of kani rolls, like kani maki (regular sushi rolls), kani uramaki (inside out rolls), kani nigiri (small pieces of rice topped with kani that you can bite into), and kani hand rolls.
You can add more toppings and ingredients to make popular rolls like a California roll or a spicy kani roll (like this recipe), which is a spicy crab roll made by shredding fake crab and seasoning it.
- When you make sushi, you need sushi rice for the best texture. Japan rice that you can get at Asian markets and most grocery stores
- “Kani” is made with imitation crab sticks, which are also called surimi. It adds a delicious crab-like flavor and texture. Which is white fish that has been processed, usually Alaska pollock, and doesn’t taste strongly of fish?
- This is Japanese mayonnaise called Kewpie mayo. It is thick and creamy. You can use regular mayonnaise, but Kewpie mayo will make it taste more like the real thing.
- To make kani sushi spicy, Sriracha chili sauce is added. It goes so well with the sweet and creamy fillings. Adjust the amount to your preference, or omit it entirely.
- Sticks of avocado and cucumber give it a creamy, fresh, and crunchy texture. You can also use carrot sticks, lettuce or sliced mango.
- Nori seaweed sheets wrap the sushi rolls. You can find them in the Asian section of your grocery store.
- Rice seasoning has vinegar, sugar, and salt in it to give cooked sushi rice its own unique taste. You can also buy sushi vinegar or seasoning for sushi rice that is already made.
- Adding sesame seeds to an uramaki roll makes it look nicer and gives it a slightly nutty taste and crunch.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy to make: there is a simple step-by-step guide to help you.
- Cheap: You can get the cheap ingredients you need at most grocery stores, so it’s much cheaper than buying sushi at a store.
- Family-friendly: Great for kids and adults who don’t like raw fish or picky eaters.
- Sushi night at home is a lot of fun with family, friends, and even kids that will love it.
How to Make Spicy Crab Roll (Spicy Kani Roll Sushi)
FAQ
What is a crunchy roll made of?
What is a crab roll made of?
What’s in a Krispy Krab roll?
What are the Crunchies they put on sushi?
What is a spicy crab roll?
This Spicy Crab Roll is creamy, spicy, and absolutely delicious. It’s very easy to make with our simple tips, video tutorial, and step-by-step instructions. The Japanese kani crab stick is shredded and seasoned with sriracha spicy mayo, then wrapped in nori seaweed sheets and seasoned sushi rice.
How do you make a sushi roll with crab meat?
Spread a thin layer of the sticky sushi rice over the top as in the lower part of the photo above. Turn the sheet over with the rice side down. Squeeze excess water out of the crab meat, then place a couple of cucumber spears, some avocado, and crab meat as in the photo above. 4. Carefully roll the sushi into a tube-shape.
What do you need to make a crab roll?
If you are a fan of fried food and sushi, you will adore this recipe. To make this dish, you will need brown rice, crab meat (imitation or the real thing), nori, cucumber, avocado, oyster sauce, spicy mayo, and what sets this recipe apart from the traditional crab roll, fried onions.
What is crunchy Roll Sushi?
Crunchy roll sushi is a unique variation of the classic California Roll. It’s a type of maki sushi (rolled sushi) made with crispy shrimp tempura or imitation crab and tasty avocado. It’s an inside-out roll, meaning the rice is on the outside. What truly sets this roll apart is the crunchy topping of toasted Panko breadcrumbs.