It’s time for another glorious Virtual Vegan Potluck. This time around I’m bringing an appetizer. After poring over pictures of food, specializing in the hors d’oeuvres and appetizer varieties, I decided upon something in the sushi domain.
A friend of mine had a great make-your-own-sushi party. It was a ton of fun. It opened my eyes. Sushi really isn’t that tough to make, is incredibly accepting of ingredients, and is great for parties.
I didn’t get into eating sushi that much until this year, mostly because I’m not a big rice fan. However, the sushi store in the food court at the building where I work is one of the last decent food stands around that serves some vegetarian/vegan options. So, I thought I’d give sushi my own twist by taking out the rice component, and voila.. I don’t have one of those fancy bamboo rolling mats (although they are pretty cheap and relatively easy to find), but I’d recommend one to make it easier.
This is probably the easiest recipe to experiment with to date. I usually try two to three different takes on the recipes before I post them to ensure maximum satisfaction for those brave enough to take them on. This one, oh this recipe, was beautiful. Each roll became another combination of vegetable goodness until I had just the right ingredients. That said, you’ll still take at most a third of the time it took me to make all seven rolls, but I encourage you to experiment with whatever you have in your cupboards. Let me know what you put in!
Because this isn’t really sushi, I thought I’d share a band that isn’t really Japanese but certainly embody the aesthetic to some degree. They’re called IO Echo, a duo from Los Angeles, and they just released their debut album, Ministry of Love, a couple of months ago. This song, “When The Lillies Die”, is from that album.
Simply Nori-shing Vegetable Rolls
Makes 42 small rolls, good as appetizers for potlucks of 20 people or dinner party of 8.
Thanks to Annie, Somer, Jason, Lidia and all the hands that helped for all the work she did organizing this. And thank you for stopping by. Enjoy the rest of the potluck!
I think that’s funny that it was the rice that kept you away, not the nori. I think for most people it’s the nori. Thanks for the inspiring recipe. I never thought of leaving out the rice. 🙂
Yeah! I’ve been eating seaweed for a long time but it did take a bit to get used to. If you want something with carbs but not rice you can use quinoa with a bit of rice vinegar in it. Other grains might work too.
Homemade vegan sushi is the best! Yours looks awesome and chock full of good ingredients.
I’m definitely making these again and trying some other fresh veggies… but always the ginger. Very important.
Those look so good! I love rolling my own homemade rolls! I’ll have to try your recipe!
Please do… but feel free to throw in your own twists 😉
Tasty and healthy!
Absolutely! A very good combination.
You made a great & tasty entry for this VVP! I loved it all! The sushi rolls look very tasty too! I also joined this year in the dessert section! Have fun exploring us all! 🙂
Rhubarb and pear is such a brilliant combination. I can’t wait to try your recipe.
Mmmm. I’ve never made my own sushi, but your recipe has convinced me to give it a go 🙂
Awesome! Best of luck.
I like that the rice isnt in here! So much more crunch!!!
And a bit less work too!
These looks fabulous! I never thought to add sprouts to sushi but I’ve got to try it. Happy VVP!
– alexis
http://www.sugarcoatedvegan.com
Sprouts have so much flavour packed in. I recommend it.
I am yet to try making my own sushi but it looks less difficult than I thought so I really must try it soon!! Love the ingredients you’ve chosen, avocado and ginger especially! Yum!
Yeah. I was worried about not having a bamboo sushi rolling mat but it worked out fine. The most time consuming part was julienning all the vegetables.
I’ve got a friend round this weekend to have a sushi making party 🙂 can’t wait to make these!!
Very skilled and very colourful. I love the illustration picture too! 🙂
Thank you 🙂 I’m trying to draw more this year… a drawing a day was my New Years resolution.
What a great resolution! It definitely beats exercise more and cut down on chocolate!!
I will be trying this. Love that it’s without rice.
-Ula
http://broccoliaddict.wordpress.com/
Cool! I hope you like it.
Beautiful! I’ll be trying these for sure 🙂
Awesome! Good luck.
Sushi is a great thing for a potluck! They look great and I kinda like that there is no rice.
It does work really well for a potluck. I also like the “sushi bar” where people can add what they like and make their own roll and then share it.
Still haven’t tried rolling my own (hehe)! What a great dish to bring – thank you so much for participating! (Fun that you included a video, too.)
I’ve never made my own but this looks SO awesome!
You should try! Best of luck.
Great pics, I especially appreciate the how-to pics. What a great addition to the potluck. Healthy, fresh, yummy finger food!
I LOVE this. We have sushi for dinner a lot, but only when I remember to make brown rice and get veggies AND have time to roll (though it is usually pretty quick). Forget that, I’m making mine straight veggie next time!
Yay! Do it!
I love these! Happy VVP!
HAPPY VVP DAY!
Those are really beautiful and creative! Never tried sushi rolls before..these are very convincing!!
These are a bit easier than ones with rice in them. Best of luck if you give them a try.
These look lovely. Your illustrations are wonderful, I love your stylish blog! Happy VVP!
Well, thank you and thanks for stopping by.
I really like the idea of adding shiitake mushrooms. They are my favourite fungi. I sometimes like leaving the sushi to “rest” for a bit and then the nori goes a bit chewy. The shiitakes will make it even chewier…I like! Thank you
You are very welcome! I like the idea of letting sushi rest for a chewier result. That sounds tasty.
Yum! You just instantly convinced me that I need to try adding sprouts to my homemade maki-zushi. Beautiful photos and recipe!
Do it, it’s great.
These are gorgeous!! They look straight out of a sushi restaurant!! I was given VERY nice knives for Christmas and have been waiting for the perfect sushi recipe to try them out with. Gotta have good knives for a good sushi cut! YUM!
I can at times be found at the Japanese knife store in town admiring the beautiful hand-made knives! They cut like nobody’s business.
I have nori in the pantry to try this with! I was going to add quinoa to mine!
Yeah! Quinoa would be a great touch. Have fun 🙂
I’ve tried sushi a few times before and I have a hard time getting past the nori. However, they were rolls that were pre-made in a package or from a buffet, so I’m thinking that I should try making my own. Maybe fresh is really really the only way to go. Thanks for sharing!
Maybe! Seaweed does have a really strong and sometimes overpowering flavour. If you try homemade sushi just back it really full and use something like ginger or wasabi so the taste of nori isn’t the strongest aroma in the mix.
Hurrah for more Calgary vegheads! I can’t believe I’m just discovering your blog now.
I’ve always been a homemade sushiphobe, I love the stuff but I’m worried I won’t do it justice, it’s about time I got over it because yours look fab!
It’s different enough from the stuff you can buy that there’s not much to compare to… therefore no disappointment, right?
Fabulous vegetable rolls, they look so delicious! And thank you for the music 🙂
Oh! You are welcome. Music with every recipe… or at least, that’s what I try to do.
Music and good food..you certainly know how to entertain:) These rolls look great.
Thanks! I love the name of your blog – I think it is inspiration for the enjoyment life. Perfect.
I’m impressed with anyone who tries to make sushi. These look delish! Love your artwork, too. Happy VVP!
You should try it, it’s not too hard. And you have a great little drawing of yourself, I must say! I’m excited to try your schnicker bars 🙂
Thanks! A friend of mine did that…Average Joe Art. He’s awesome! I wish I could draw… Happy VVP! 🙂
I love recipes that are easy to experiment with! Thanks for sharing! – Kerry (from The Split Plate)
Me too! It’s so much fun.