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Easy Vegan Sushi Recipe

Easy Vegan Sushi Recipe – delicious sushi bursting with quick pickled carrots and fresh vegetables topped in a spicy mayo

  • Serves 5 pople
  • Prep 20 minutes
  • Cook 25 minutes
  • Total 45 minutes
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Easy Vegan Sushi Recipe
sushi with rice, avocado, cucumber and carrot with sesame seeds

At Ajpal, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

Vegan Sushi

If you love vegan California rolls, cucumber rolls, or other sushi rills that don’t have any fish – you’re going to love this delicious recipe for vegan sushi you can make at home!

We’re also including a spicy vegan mayo sauce that is perfect with sushi – or in wraps and in sandwiches.

We hope you love this recipe as much as we do.

Please click here to see our web story for this recipe.

sushi with rice, avocado, cucumber and carrot with sesame seeds

Easy Vegan Spicy Mayo

This spicy mayo is perfect for sushi – but great in wraps and on sandwiches, too!

Vegan mayo can keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Three bowls with ingredients for a vegan sushi recipe.
A bowl of peanut butter with a spoon on a white surface.

Spicy Vegan Mayo Ingredients

  • ½ cup vegan mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons sriracha, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce, optional
  • 1 teaspoon lime juice, optional

Mix all ingredients well, and use to top sushi!

Quick Pickled Carrots

These quick pickled carrots give a tart, fresh flavor to the sushi – in a fraction of the time you’d normally pickle carrots.

A bowl of carrots, flour, sugar, and butter.

Quick Pickled Carrots Ingredients

  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 large carrots, cut into matchsticks

How To Quick Pickle Carrots

  • Place the apple cider vinegar, water, sugar, and salt in a small, heatproof bowl.
  • Microwave until the sugar has dissolved– about 2 minutes.
  • Place the carrots in a large jar or other airtight container.
  • Pour over the liquid mixture and transfer the carrots to the fridge to cool for at least ten minutes.
sushi with rice, avocado, cucumber and carrot with sesame seeds

Perfect Sushi Rice

Since vegan sushi is reliant on only a few ingredients, it is essential to have perfect flavor for each.

Sushi Rice Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups sushi rice (see notes)
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Vegan sushi recipe featuring white rice served in a pan with a spoon.
A vegan vegetable sushi recipe featuring a sheet of rice and vegetables on a cutting board.
Vegan sushi rolls on a white background.
A roll of vegan sushi on a cutting board.

How To Make Sushi Rice

  • Rinse the rice until the water runs clear– about 2 minutes.
  • If using a rice cooker, add the rice and water and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • If using the stovetop, add the rice and water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer on low for 15 minutes, then turn off the heat and allow the rice to sit for 10 minutes.
  • Combine the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small, microwave safe bowl. Microwave until the sugar and salt have fully dissolved– about 1 minute.
  • Pour the mixture over the rice and stir the rice constantly for 5-7 minutes, or until it is cool to the touch. Cover with a damp towel and set aside until ready to use.

What Do You Need To Make Sushi

This sushi is pretty easy to make, but there are a few specialty things you need to be able to make sushi.

To find our top picks for each, please click my affiliate links below:

  • Nori (seaweed sheets)
  • Sushi Kit
  • Sushi rice

Other Vegan Recipes

If you love vegan food – or you’re looking for delicious meat free dishes – we’re spotlighting more of our favorite vegan dishes below:

Freezer Vegetable Soup

Air Fried Broccoli

Tahini Roasted Cauliflower

The Best Air Fryer French Fries

Fattoush Salad

Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Easy + Crispy)

Vegan Charro Bean and Rice Soup

Vegan Hashbrown Soup

For our completevegan recipe index, click here.

sushi with rice, avocado, cucumber and carrot with sesame seeds

Recipe FAQs

Make sure to use a Japanese short grain rice (also known as “sushi rice”). It’s available in the international section of most grocery stores– you must use this rice.
Regular long grain or jasmine rice cannot be substituted.

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sushi with rice, avocado, cucumber and carrot with sesame seeds

The recipe

Easy Vegan Sushi Recipe

Easy Vegan Sushi Recipe – delicious sushi bursting with quick pickled carrots and fresh vegetables topped in a spicy mayo sauce.

  • Serves 5 pople
  • Prep 20 minutes
  • Cook 25 minutes
  • Total 45 minutes

Ingredients

For the Quick Pickled Carrots

  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 large carrots (cut into matchsticks)

For the Spicy Mayo

  • ½ cup vegan mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons sriracha (or to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon lime juice (optional)

For the Sushi Rice

  • 1 ½ cups sushi rice (see notes)
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Sushi Filling
  • 5 sheets of Nori

Quick Pickled Carrot

  • 1 cucumber (cut into matchsticks)
  • 1 avocado (sliced)
  • Sesame seeds (for garnish)

Method

  1. 1

    For the Quick Pickled Carrots

  2. 2

    Place the apple cider vinegar, water, sugar, and salt in a small, heatproof bowl. Microwave until the sugar has dissolved– about 2 minutes.

  3. 3

    Place the carrots in a large jar or other airtight container. Pour over the liquid mixture and transfer the carrots to the fridge to cool for at least ten minutes.

  4. 4

    For the Spicy Mayo

  5. 5

    Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside until ready to use.

  6. 6

    For the Sushi Rice

  7. 7

    Rinse the rice until the water runs clear– about 2 minutes.

  8. 8

    If using a rice cooker, add the rice and water and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

  9. 9

    If using the stovetop, add the rice and water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer on low for 15 minutes, then turn off the heat and allow the rice to sit for 10 minutes.

  10. 10

    Combine the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small, microwave safe bowl. Microwave until the sugar and salt have fully dissolved– about 1 minute.

  11. 11

    Pour the mixture over the rice and stir the rice constantly for 5-7 minutes, or until it is cool to the touch. Cover with a damp towel and set aside until ready to use.

  12. 12

    To Make the Sushi

  13. 13

    Wrap a sushi rolling mat with plastic wrap (this will help keep it clean).

  14. 14

    Place a sheet of nori on the rolling mat. Press about ? cup of sushi rice onto the mat, making sure to go all the way to the edges on three sides, but leaving about 1” of exposed nori on the side farthest away from you.

  15. 15

    Add a few slices of carrot, cucumber, and avocado to the nori on the side closest to you.

  16. 16

    Starting from the side closest to you, roll the Nori up over the filling and continue rolling (as tightly as you can) until you reach the end of the rice.

  17. 17

    Brush the last 1” of nori with water and then roll it to seal. Use the sushi mat to seal the roll tightly.

  18. 18

    Using a sharp knife, cut the sushi into 6-8 slices, depending on how large you like them. Garnish with sesame seeds and spicy mayo.

  19. 19

    Enjoy immediately.

Notes

Make sure to use a Japanese short grain rice (also known as “sushi rice”). It’s available in the international section of most grocery stores– you must use this rice! Regular long grain or jasmine rice cannot be substituted! You can put anything you like in the center of the rolls– radish, marinated tofu, and mango are all great options!

Equipment

  • Kokuho Rice Sushi, 5 Lb
  • ISSEVE Sushi Making Kit, Bamboo Sushi Mat, All In One Sushi Bazooka Maker with Bamboo Mats, Bamboo Chopsticks, Paddle, Spreader, Sushi Knife, Chopsticks Holder, Cotton Bag, DIY Sushi Roller Machine
  • Daechun(Choi’s1), Roasted Seaweed, Gim, Sushi Nori (50 Full Sheets), Resealable, Gold Grade, Product of Korea

Nutrition

  • Serving1 g
  • Calories466 kcal
  • Carbohydrates62 g
  • Protein5 g
  • Fat21 g
  • Saturated Fat3 g
  • Polyunsaturated Fat1 g
  • Monounsaturated Fat4 g
  • Sodium1896 mg
  • Potassium421 mg
  • Fiber5 g
  • Sugar10 g
  • Vitamin A4181 IU
  • Vitamin C9 mg
  • Calcium34 mg
  • Iron1 mg

Questions

Do I have to use sushi rice for sushi?

Make sure to use a Japanese short grain rice (also known as “sushi rice”). It’s available in the international section of most grocery stores– you must use this rice. Regular long grain or jasmine rice cannot be substituted.