Homemade Sushi
Make restaurant-style sushi rolls at home with simple ingredients.
Sushi doesn't have to belong to restaurants; with a little prep it rolls together at home from ingredients you can easily find. This version leans on cooked fillings and no raw fish — crisp air-fried chicken fingers, crab sticks and crunchy vegetables — paired with Egyptian rice seasoned with rice vinegar and a creamy, spicy sauce that brings together mayonnaise, soy and sriracha. It's a fun, family-friendly plate that marries Asian flavour with easy home cooking.
How to Prepare
Boil the rice with the oil and water until cooked.
While still warm, stir in the rice vinegar, sugar and salt, then let it cool.
Mix all the sauce ingredients (mayonnaise, liquid cheese, labneh, ketchup, soy sauce and sriracha) into a smooth sauce.
Air-fry the chicken fingers until golden.
Lay a nori sheet on a sushi mat and spread an even layer of rice over it.
Arrange the carrot, cucumber, crab sticks and chicken along one edge and add a little sauce.
Roll tightly using the mat.
Sprinkle with nigella seeds, slice into pieces and serve with the sauce.
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Wet your hands with a little vinegar water when handling the rice so it does not stick.
Ingredient Swaps
If you can't find rice vinegar, white vinegar is a fine substitute, as the recipe notes.
Vary the filling to taste: cooked shrimp in place of the chicken, or a vegetables-only filling for a vegetarian option.
Adjust the sauce's heat with more or less sriracha, or leave it out for a milder taste that suits children.
Common Questions
Why stir in the vinegar, sugar and salt while the rice is still warm?
Warm rice absorbs the seasoning better, taking on sushi rice's signature flavour and sheen.
Why use Egyptian short-grain rice?
Its sticky grains hold together well when rolled, so the rolls stay firm and don't fall apart when sliced.
How do I roll the sushi tightly?
Spread an even layer of rice over the nori, arrange the filling along one edge, then roll with even pressure using a sushi mat.
Does this sushi need raw fish?
No — the filling here is fully cooked (grilled chicken, crab sticks and vegetables), making it a family-friendly choice.
Can it be made ahead?
It's best served fresh, as the rice loses its softness if kept too long in the fridge.
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