These lazy sushi rolls deliver all the flavor of a sushi night with none of the rolling: seasoned rice, sweet crab, crisp cucumber, and creamy cheese layered in a dish, chilled, and sliced into squares. It is a playful, crowd-pleasing way to enjoy sushi at home on a busy weeknight. If you love seafood dinners, try our Lazy Layered Sushi Cake, Creamy Baked Salmon Pasta, or Pineapple Seafood Fried Rice.
Ingredients
- 240 g (1 1/4 cups) sushi rice
- 600 ml (2 1/2 cups) hot water
- 5 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 150 g (5 oz) imitation crab sticks (or lightly salted salmon)
- 1 fresh cucumber, julienned
- 100 g (3.5 oz) cream cheese
- 2 sheets nori
- 50 ml (3 tbsp) soy sauce, for serving
Instructions
- Rinse the rice and boil it in the salted hot water for about 15 minutes until tender.
- Stir the rice vinegar and sugar into the hot rice and mix gently; let cool for 15-20 minutes.
- Line a small dish with cling film and press in half the rice; layer with crab sticks, cucumber, and cream cheese, then cover with the remaining rice and chill briefly.
- Cut the nori into thin strips and sprinkle over the top.
- Unmold, slice into squares, and serve with soy sauce for drizzling.
Tips
- Rinse the rice until the water runs clear — this removes excess starch and keeps the grains separate. Serious Eats explains why this step matters for perfect sushi rice.
- Let the seasoned rice cool to room temperature before layering, or the cream cheese will melt and the layers will slide.
- Use a sharp, slightly damp knife for clean slices, wiping the blade between cuts — a tip Allrecipes recommends for tidy layered dishes.
Nutrition: per 100 g: 141.8 kcal, protein 5.7 g, fat 3.9 g, carbs 21 g