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Sushi is a Japanese dish made from rice and seafood. Makki sushi or rolls are sushi wrapped in nori in the form of a cylinder and cut into several pieces.
I offer you a recipe for delicious vegetarian rolls without fish , in which all the ingredients are perfectly combined with each other. They are not at all difficult to prepare, as it might seem at first glance. It just takes some skill.
I advise you to definitely try vegetarian sushi , as they are very impressive, tasty and perfect for a holiday table. And if you like dishes with nori seaweed, then look at other recipes for vegetarian fish soup, vegetarian “fish”, “fish” cutlets.
Vegetarian sushi rolls
General information
Japanese cuisine is now very popular not only among lovers of exotic dishes.
She has won the hearts of both those who love exotic cuisine and people who want to practice healthy eating. Sushi and rolls are especially popular now. It is interesting that initially these dishes were food in Japan, popular among not very rich people. However, currently sushi and rolls are the most ordered dishes in different countries of the world. After all, these dishes are prepared from ingredients that are healthy for the body. Rice, seafood, fish - all these foods are healthy and quite nutritious. However, the fact that there are many recipes for sushi and fish rolls does not negate the opportunity for vegetarians to enjoy this dish.
Vegetarian rolls are easy to prepare, and they turn out no less tasty than traditional fish ones. Which recipe to choose so that the rolls turn out both tasty and original, what components are needed for this, will be discussed in this article.
Beauty is in simplicity
The Japanese know how to make real masterpieces from the simplest products. It’s no wonder that one of the most popular types of sushi in the Land of the Rising Sun is the humble maki. By eating them, you can enjoy the original taste of the main ingredient without being distracted by the details.
Vegetarian sushi fits perfectly into this concept. But not only poppies are prepared from vegetables, but also many other varieties, which include a large number of components. They are not only delicious, but also very beautiful thanks to the pieces of colorful vegetables. A neatly decorated vegetarian sushi set looks like a magical kaleidoscope.
Rolls and sushi: variety
So, sushi and rolls are nutritious and healthy dishes, the history of which goes back several centuries. But, despite the existence of certain cooking traditions, new recipes for these dishes are constantly appearing, including vegetarian ones. There are many vegetarian recipes for both sushi and rolls.
The difference between rolls and sushi is that the former are wrapped in nori seaweed, and the latter in fish. This is why vegetarian rolls are easy to prepare, but every classic sushi recipe must contain fish as ingredients.
Nori seaweed is a very healthy product for the body, as it contains a lot of potassium and vitamins . They go harmoniously with rice and have a beneficial effect on digestive processes. There is a special technology for preparing nori: first, this seaweed is cut, then dried on a special mesh. The result is a flat sheet, one side of which is matte. The filling is placed on it when the rolls are prepared.
Nori is a vegetarian product, like rice. Therefore, using these two components, you can experiment at home, preparing rolls for vegetarians with a variety of ingredients. After all, almost any vegetables go well with each other and with rice. To diversify the set that is prepared at home, you can use green salad, cucumber, avocado, sweet peppers, tomatoes, etc. Such rolls will turn out not only tasty, but also beautiful.
Can you order vegan sushi at any sushi restaurant?
Given the situation, every restaurant should be able to offer vegan sushi as long as it has the ingredients.
However, no restaurant can prepare a customized menu, even if it has the ingredients.
Because in some restaurants, sushi is prepared in large quantities and then divided into small portions.
Before entering a restaurant, it is best to first ask the waiter whether they can serve vegan sushi or not.
Large restaurants usually only serve what's on the menu. So if you see vegan options on the menu, you'll be fine. Otherwise, it is better to try your luck in small restaurants.
Also, you may want to know in advance which sushi is vegan because the waiters may not know or recommend vegetarian options that you don't want.
However, your best chance to get the most out of vegan sushi is to visit a traditional sushi bar, where each piece of sushi is personalized and personally served by an experienced chef.
Not only will the sushi seem even more beautiful, but you'll also have more freedom to ask the chef to prepare vegan-only sushi.
Calorie content and benefits
In some ways, rolls are healthier for vegetarians. After all, not everyone can consume fish; moreover, cases of poisoning occur much more often when consuming sushi with fish. Vegetarian rolls are much safer, and the consumption of vegetables has virtually no contraindications.
Not only do they look very colorful and beautiful, but they also turn out very tasty. Moreover, such healthy food contains approximately 100 calories (in one standard roll). Therefore, such a dish can rightfully be considered dietary and very healthy.
All components of such rolls are beneficial for the body:
- Rice contains a large amount of B vitamins , so its consumption has a positive effect on the condition of the skin, nervous system, hair, and nails. This product also contains a lot of vegetable protein, important amino acids , complex carbohydrates, a number of minerals, etc. The absorbent properties of rice are also important - in the body it absorbs toxins and salts that accumulate as a result of an unhealthy diet. Therefore, rice is considered a very healthy dietary product, and its consumption not only does not threaten excess weight , but also promotes weight loss.
- Any vegetables are good for the body, as they enrich it with a number of essential substances. Therefore, no matter what ingredients are chosen for filling vegetarian rolls, they will be healthy and will not add a significant amount of calories to this dish.
- Nori is a seaweed that contains a lot of iodine , as well as calcium, phosphorus, vitamins A and C. Nori is good for the heart and blood vessels, bone tissue, strengthening the immune system , etc. In addition, this seaweed helps reduce the so-called “bad » cholesterol in the body and has a positive effect on the digestive system, as well as brain activity. Like rice, nori helps remove harmful substances from the body.
Since the consumption of nori is not contraindicated for pregnant and nursing mothers, with the correct selection of ingredients, vegetarian rolls can be eaten during pregnancy and lactation.
Vegetarian sushi: set of products, secrets
In true Japanese culinary fashion, vegetarian sushi is a shining example of delicious simplicity. Minimum ingredients and processing! Let's take only rice, vegetables and cheese. Please note that this dish does not contain a sheet of nori, unlike rolls! You will need 200 grams of rice. And better - “nikishi”, but you can take any one.
Special secret: adhesive marinade
Why is sushi so delicious? And why do good cooks make them so smooth and do not fall apart even without a sheet of nori? It's all about the “adhesive” marinade. And it is prepared from 4 tablespoons of pink rice vinegar, a tablespoon of sugar and 2 tablespoons of sea salt. And you will need to let it brew in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes.
Preparing vegetarian rolls: general recommendations
Vegetarian rolls must be prepared taking into account the basic rules for preparing this Japanese dish. But there are still some differences that need to be taken into account.
Cooking rice
Whatever recipes for vegetarian rolls are used, you first need to properly prepare the base of the dish - rice. It is best to cook special rice for sushi. It is important to adhere to the correct proportion: take eight parts of water to five parts of rice. That is, if you need to cook two glasses of rice, then add 2.5 glasses of water.
Also, when cooking, you will need rice vinegar (for the indicated serving of rice - 120 ml) and a small strip of kombu seaweed.
First, the rice is thoroughly washed, doing this until the water becomes completely clear. Next, you need to decant it and dry it for an hour, laying it out on the table surface. Place the dried cereal in a thick-bottomed pan and fill it with boiled water. Place kombu on top. True, you can do without seaweed, but it is used in traditional Japanese cuisine. This algae contains glutamic acid , which gives rice a special aroma and taste. In addition, it is rich in a variety of vitamins and nutrients.
You need to cook the rice over medium heat, covering it with a lid. After the water boils, the seaweed must be removed. Next, the rice should be cooked over very low heat for another 20 minutes. After this, turn off the heat and leave the cereal on the stove for another 20 minutes without opening the lid of the pan.
Next, you need to transfer the rice into a convenient bowl, add rice vinegar to it and mix carefully with a wooden spatula. In this case, you need to make chopping movements so that the grains are separated from each other and at the same time the vinegar gets on all the grains. Next, you need to cover the rice with a towel and move on to preparing other ingredients. But you can’t keep the rice for too long - it must be fresh.
Filling
To prepare vegetarian rolls, you can use different fillings. For example, you can make rolls with avocado, cucumber, lettuce, sesame seeds, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Other vegetables that the person prefers will also work. When it comes to preparing rolls for the holiday table, it is recommended to select vegetables that contrast in color. Then the resulting dish will look very impressive.
Manufacturing
Place the cooked rice on a sheet or half a sheet of nori, then lay out the prepared filling and wrap the makisu with a bamboo mat. The resulting “sausage” needs to be cut into pieces about a centimeter thick. It is important to place all the components evenly on the seaweed sheet and not make the rolls very thick. They should be such that it is convenient to eat one piece at a time.
Recipes
Philadelphia for vegetarians
Philadelphia, popular among lovers of Japanese cuisine, can also be prepared in a vegetarian version.
Required: sushi rice, Philadelphia cheese (for those who consume dairy products), avocado, rice dressing, soy sauce, ginger, wasabi, nori.
Preparation: Initially you need to prepare the rice using the technology described above. If there is no special cereal, you can take the most ordinary short-grain rice. After the cooked cereal has cooled, add sushidze rice dressing to it. Cut the cheese and avocado into long strips. Place a sheet of nori on a bamboo mat, shiny side down, and place a ball of rice on it, after wetting your hands in water. Place the rice over the seaweed on one side, leaving a gap of about one centimeter.
Place the filling in the middle and use a mat to form a tight roll. If cheese is used, it should be squeezed out next to the filling into a thin strip using a piping bag. You need to roll it up so that there is no air left in the middle. Press down on the roll until it becomes round. Next, cut into 6-8 pieces. When cutting a roll, you should wet the knife in water every time. Serve with soy sauce, ginger and wasabi.
Vegetarian rolls with tofu
Required: round rice - half a glass, water - two-thirds of a glass, nori - three sheets, avocado, carrots, cucumber - 1 piece each, tofu - 150 g, wasabi, ginger, sesame seeds, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar.
Preparation: Toast the sesame seeds until they turn golden. Boil rice properly. Peel the carrots and cut them into strips lengthwise. Boil for a few minutes in salted water to soften it. Prepare a dressing for rice by mixing 1 tsp. salt, 2 tbsp. l. sugar and 4 tbsp. l. vinegar. Mix the cooled rice with half of the prepared dressing. Peel and cut the cucumber and avocado into strips.
Cut the tofu into cubes. Place the rice on the nori, as in the previous recipe, and spread the filling evenly in the middle. Sprinkle sesame seeds over the entire surface of the rice. Roll out using a mat. Cut into 6-8 pieces. Serve with ginger, soy sauce and wasabi.
Roll recipe with cheese, avocado and cucumber
Let's look at an example of preparing vegetarian sushi. Peel two medium cucumbers and slice lengthwise. Cut the avocado in half, remove the bone, and use a tablespoon to scoop out the flesh from the skin. If the fruit is ripe, the pulp can be mashed with a fork, turning it into a paste. You will need 200 grams of cheese for the specified amount of food and 400 g of rice (Philadelphia is best). To make the rolls more juicy, you can use a small amount of Japanese mayonnaise.
Lay out a bamboo mat and place a sheet of nori on it. Press the rice firmly onto it, spreading it in an even layer over the entire surface. Place the filling on the edge: cheese, avocado, cucumber. Roll the roll tightly, tucking the mat.
You need to cut the roll into pieces with a very sharp knife.
Spring rolls
This unusual dish is very easy to prepare. At the same time, it can be confidently classified as a healthy and dietary food, and it is very tasty. Outwardly, they look like an envelope or a tube.
Required: rice paper - 6 pcs., avocado, cucumber, carrots - 1 pc., purple cabbage, dill - a bunch, basil - several branches, ginger, salt. If desired, you can use other vegetables - daikon, cabbage, broccoli, avocado, tomatoes, etc. You can also add greens, tofu, sprouted wheat or lentils to the rolls.
Preparation: wash all vegetables and cut into thin strips. Moisten the rice paper with water on both sides with your hands. You should not soak the paper too much, as it will have time to get wet during the process of laying out the vegetables. Form a roll by placing all the vegetables on paper in random order. The roll needs to be tightly loaded into a tube, then cut in half. You can serve these rolls with soy sauce or any other sauce you like.
You can also make fruit spring rolls using any vegetables you like. Yogurt or berry puree is used as a sauce for this dish.
Lavash rolls
For those looking for a more traditional recipe, you can make pita rolls. To do this, instead of nori, they take thin pita bread into which various fillings are wrapped.
Lavash stuffed with the selected mixture should be rolled into a tight roll and cut into several pieces. To form a roll, you can wrap it in cling film and put it in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
With vegan cheese
The pita bread should first be greased with vegan cheese, then sprinkled with grated carrots and pre-cooked broccoli.
With pepper
Peel, cut and fry 2 peppers in vegetable oil. Chop a cucumber and 10 olives, mix with pepper and spread evenly over the pita bread. Place spinach leaves on top.
With champignons
Peel and finely chop 6 large champignons. Also cut the medium onion. Mix everything and blanch in vegetable oil. Add finely chopped dill, pepper and salt to taste. Place the filling on the lavash.
With avocado
Thinly slice an avocado and two cucumbers. Apply a little soy sauce and olive oil evenly onto the pita bread, add cucumber and avocado. You can add herbs to taste.
conclusions
Thus, vegetarians can prepare very different rolls using numerous recipes. Despite the fact that delivery of such sushi also exists in many establishments, homemade rolls are more original, since you can experiment with them and improve recipes. Different vegetables give this dish different flavors.
The rolls must be served with soy sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi. Of course, you need to eat them with chopsticks, as is customary in Japan.
This dish is recommended to be included in the diet not only for vegetarians, but also for those who adhere to a diet. After all, it is healthy and contains a minimum of calories. But at the same time, such rolls are very tasty and often become one of the favorite dishes for vegetarians.