I’m not sure about you, but I associate homemade sushi with way too much time, effort and precision needed… When I saw this idea on Instagram, I was like, hmmm, interesting, and literally RAN to my kitchen (okay, maybe not that literally, BUT I was excited to give it a crack, as I am quite fond of sushi)
Lazy sushi is essentially all the good bits of sushi thrown into a container, pressed together and flipped onto a plate!
No sushi-rolling skills required.
The beauty of this one is that you can mix and match the protein, veggies and sauces depending on what you have in the fridge. I’ve shared three combinations below to get you started, but I feel the possibilities may be endless on this one, so if you get any groundbreaking flavour combination ideas, PLEASE share!
🐟 Smoked Salmon, Avo & Cucumber
½ cup cooked sushi/short-grain rice
~75-100 g smoked salmon
½ avocado, sliced
½ cucumber, sliced
~½ sheet nori
Soy sauce, to serve
Optional: lemon or lime and sesame seeds
🌱🍗 Teriyaki Tofu or Chicken & Avo
½ cup cooked sushi/short-grain rice
~110 g pre-cooked chicken (home-cooked, or I just used the Mr Barker roast chicken breast, also coated in teriyaki sauce)
~150 g firm tofu (home-marinated in teriyaki sauce OR there are pre-marinated tofu options you can get at the shops for an even simpler option), sliced into long sheets, pan fried/baked or air-fried and then cooled
½ avocado, sliced
1-2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce, for coating the protein source
~½ sheet nori
Sesame seeds, optional
🍋 Lemon Pepper Tuna, Avo & Cucumber
½ cup cooked sushi/short-grain rice
1 tin of lemon pepper tuna, mixed with 1-2 tsp mayo or yoghurt
½ avocado, sliced
½-¾ cucumber, depending on the size of the cucumber, sliced
Lemon juice, to taste
Cracked black pepper, to taste
~½ sheet nori
Soy sauce, to serve
Feeling funky? Optional additions
Pickled ginger
Pickled carrot
Kimchi
Sesame seeds
Edamame
Method
Prepare your sushi rice according to the packet instructions. OR, if we are truly embracing the lazy sushi lifestyle, use microwave rice. I support you.
While the rice is cooking, prepare your protein and slice up your avocado and cucumber.
Grab a small container (I use a 1 L glass container and make 2 servings per container) and line it with Glad Wrap. Layer your fillings in first avocado (I did add a squeeze of lemon to the bottom of the container to avoid potential browning of the avocado) and/or cucumber, followed by your protein of choice.
Add the cooked rice on top and press everything down firmly using the back of a spoon or wet hands.
Cut the nori to the size of the container (I used scissors), place the piece over the top, then carefully flip the container onto a plate.
Give it a little press, remove the container and admire your very low-effort sushi masterpiece.
When you are ready to eat, flip it and cut it into your desired portions.
Top with anything your heart desires: sesame seeds, spring onion, your favourite sauce, etc.
There are no sushi rules here!
The whole point of this recipe is convenience, so use whatever rice, protein, veggies and sauces you already have in the fridge!
Want to mix it up? Here are some other flavour combo ideas…
Crispy chicken + cream cheese + avo
Salmon + cream cheese
Teriyaki chicken + avocado + mango + cucumber
Spicy salmon + avocado + sriracha mayo
Any other ideas you’d like me to know about?
