Vegan California Roll • It doesn’t taste like chicken

This simple vegan California roll recipe tastes just like the original, but is completely vegan! Making homemade sushi is so fun, so affordable, and so delicious! The filling is made with 6 simple ingredients that combine to taste just like a classic California roll but without any fish damage 🙂

California rolls are traditionally made with imitation crab, and although it’s not real crab, it’s made from fish, so it’s not vegetarian. My homemade vegetarian imitation crab is made from hearts of palm. You can easily find canned hearts of dates at most grocery stores. It is flaky, has a tender texture, is mild in flavor and slightly bland, so it makes a great fish substitute. Just slice hearts of palm into thin strips and mix them with vegan mayonnaise, paprika (for color) and salt, and you won’t believe how similar it is to imitation crab! It is very simple but so delicious.

Vegan imitation crab rolls with cucumber and avocado to make the most delicious vegan California rolls. In the photos, I show you how to roll sushi inside-out (where the rice is on the outside). This is how California rolls are usually served, but keep in mind that this is the technique for rolling sushi very Tricky.

So if you’re new to sushi making, or not interested in the fussier technique of inside-out rolls, I highly recommend making a regular sushi roll with the seaweed on the outside. They are much easier to roll, and taste exactly the same! I’ve included photos of how to make a regular sushi roll below.

How to Make a Vegan California Roll:

To prepare the sushi rice:
Cook rice according to package directions. I simply added rice to my rice cooker and hit the “Sushi Rice” button. If you don’t have a rice cooker, try my stove-top sushi rice method. Once the rice is cooked, transfer the rice to a large bowl and pour over the seasoned rice vinegar. Stir and fold in the rice vinegar, it will start to stick. As the rice cools, keep fluffing it regularly. Allow rice to cool to room temperature before using.

To make vegan imitation crab meat:
Heart of palm comes in the form of a long tube. Cut the hearts of dates into thin long strips using a sharp knife.

In a large bowl, add the strips of hearts of palm with the vegan mayonnaise, paprika and salt. Toss gently to mix everything together.

For Inside-Out Roll Vegan California Rolls (Hard Method):

Cut a sheet of nori in half. Place a sheet of plastic wrap down. If you have a sushi mat, you can wrap it in plastic wrap (I don’t have one). Place the nori halves in plastic wrap. Wet your fingers to prevent the rice from sticking, then take some sushi rice and press the nori into a thin even layer covering the surface of the nori.

Sprinkle a few pinches of sesame seeds over the rice and press gently into the rice.

Invert the nori into the plastic wrap with the rice side down. Add a few slices of cucumber and avocado slices in the center of the nori. Top with a few strips of vegan imitation crab. Sprinkle some extra paprika for color if desired.

Lift the edge of the plastic wrap and use it to roll the nori and rice around the filling. Gently press the roll into the plastic wrap to hold it together.

With the plastic wrap still holding the roll together, wet a sharp knife, then use a gentle sawing motion to cut through the plastic wrap, cutting the roll into pieces. (I picked up the tip to leave the plastic wrap on to make it easier to cut at a sushi restaurant). Once cut, gently peel off the plastic wrap. Now you have beautiful homemade vegan California rolls!

For regular sushi rolls (easy method):

Place a full-sized sheet of nori on a clean work surface. Wet your fingers to prevent the rice from sticking, then take some sushi rice and press it onto a sheet of nori, leaving about 2 inches of exposed nori on top. Add a few slices of cucumber and avocado to the middle of the nori. Top with a few strips of vegan imitation crab. Sprinkle some extra paprika and some sesame seeds for color. Carefully roll the sushi, and when you reach the top, lightly wet the exposed nori with water to help glue the roll closed, then finish rolling. Dip a sharp knife and use a gentle sawing motion to cut the sushi round.

This vegan California roll recipe is…

• Easy and cheap
• Very tasty (I could eat it everyday)
• Fun to do!

More vegan Japanese-inspired recipes:

Spicy Watermelon Vegan Sushi
How to Make Perfect Sushi Rice
Vegan Sushi Bowl
Miso Udon Noodle Soup
Skillet Roasted Edamame
Easy Sticky Teriyaki Tofu
Tangy Miso Salad Dressing
Carrot Ginger Salad Dressing

If you try this recipe, let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don’t forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.

Hungry!

Sam Turnbull.

More Vegetarian Seafood Recipes You May Enjoy…