Family Fun Easy Sushi Bar

Family Fun Easy Sushi Night is one of my favorite traditions!  If you think sushi is complicated and difficult, you’ve never done it like we do!  I simply lay out the ingredients, and we all line up at the counter to set up our plates.  It’s almost like a build-your-own sushi bar.  We usually make a few pieces, sit down and eat them, then get back up to make some more!

I’ll start with the list of ingredients, then give you some tips on how to make it easy and tasty.  One thing I love about sushi ingredients is that they are fresh and healthy.  When my kids have fun and are involved in the making of the food they are more likely to eat the vegetables and other nutrient rich things.  For example, my two older kids only eat seaweed when we have it in sushi, and the younger ones are more likely to eat shredded cabbage when it’s served this way.   All of my kids love cucumbers, but they are way more fun to eat when you’ve used a  mandoline with the spiralizer attachment to make noodles out of them!  Incorporating fun involvement into your meal planning will help to encourage healthy habits in your children.  Keep them interested!!!

The basic technique is to place a piece of seaweed on your plate, put a scoop of brown rice on it, then top it with fish and other toppings.  You can then bend the sides of the seaweed in, pick it up, dip it in gluten free soy sauce and wasabi, and pop it in your mouth!  You can either place all of the ingredients on your plate and build as you go, or build at the counter, and eat it at the table.

Before we get to the recipe for the sushi, I want to invite you to join with others who are making healthy changes.  I’d love to walk alongside you in your journey towards wholeness and health! Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full!”  Freedom from food addictions is part of having a truly full life.  

Ingredients:

• Fish (see tips 4 and 5 below)
• Brown Rice
• Small Seaweed Rectangles
• Cucumber Noodles or Slices
• Shredded Carrots
• Shredded Cabbage
• Avocado
• Pickled Ginger
• Wasabi
• Gluten Free Soy Sauce
• Roasted Sesame Seeds

Helpful tips:

1. Make sure to double up your seaweed pieces to avoid breakage as you fold the sushi up.  This is especially important if you roll them!
2. If you roll them make sure not to put too much filling in there!  It’ll burst open.
3. Try adding a little rice vinegar and salt when you cook your brown rice for flavor.  I found short grain brown rice at Sprouts.  Sushi is normally made with short grain white rice.
4. I usually use cooked salmon, but sometimes I find sushi grade ahi at Sprouts.  Be sure to verify that your fish is sushi grade if you’re going to serve it raw.
5. If you use cooked salmon it will taste the best if you do not freeze it, but use it within a couple days of buying it.  Cook it with the skin on to include those healthy fats in your meal… just sprinkle with lemon juice, sea salt, and pepper, then heat in a skillet or in the oven (skin side up).
6. Make a few vegetarian ones…it’ll encourage your kids (and you) to eat more veggies!
7. Try piling extra veggies and ginger in the middle of your plate.  I like adding it to each bite of sushi!
8. Serve your soy sauce and wasabi in these cute little bowls!