Halloween is right around the corner and I’ve got lots to plan! Besides shopping for affordable decorations for our yard and deciding which princess my daughter is going to dress up as this year (or whether she’d finally put on that Maleficent costume), I’ve been trying to figure out what fun things I can do with my kid’s bento boxes and cool snacks to share when guests are over. For this reason, I thought I’d share with you my Halloween Sushi recipe / how-to instructions!
I put this video together around Halloween of last year and it was a super fun activity to do, with or without kids. Never would I have imagined that you can create so many Halloween characters with rice and nori and colorful toppings like salmon and avocado, using sauces like Kewpie mayo for more intricate detailing.
MAKING SUSHI RICE
To make sushi rice, you must use Japanese-style short grain white rice. Using the appropriate grains is the first step to achieving the sticky rice that is necessary for making impeccably looking sushi. Its natural sticky texture upon cooking allows you to easily mold the rice into various shapes and sizes, for monstrous Frankensteins or teeny black cats.
Sushi rice is also lightly seasoned with sushi vinegar, which is made with rice vinegar, sugar and salt. This balanced, yet subtly flavored rice will give it an edge over plain white rice, but doesnβt allow itself to overpower toppings like fish.
Sushi Rice Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Rice Cooker
Ingredients
- 3 cups uncooked sushi rice
- 3 cups water
FOR THE RICE VINEGAR
- ΒΌ cup rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Place the uncooked sushi rice into the inner pot of a rice cooker. Wash the rice 3-4 times and drain well.
- Add 3 cups of water into the same pot, or fill the pot until it reaches the line marking for 3 cups of sushi rice. If you do not own a rice cooker, you may cook it on the stovetop or use an Instant Pot.
- While the rice is cooking, combine the rice vinegar ingredients and mix until the sugar and sea salt are dissolved.
- After the rice is cooked, transfer it into a large mixing bowl. Immediately pour the vinegar onto the rice and fold the vinegar into the rice with a rice paddle until evenly distributed.
- Cover the mixing bowl with a damp cloth or towel until the rice is cooled to room temperature. It is now ready to be used for sushi!
After the rice is cooked, seasoned and cooled to room temperature, it is ready to be molded into various Halloween sushi.
PREPARE YOUR STATION
Decide which Halloween characters you’d like to create sushi of, then gather all the ingredients by your working station. I cut out triangles for the pumpkin, strips for ninjas, circles and ovals for eyes and mouths and spikey hair for Mr. Frankenstein. You may also want to consider toppings like sushi grade salmon and avocado. OH and a bowl of water will be helpful in getting the sticky rice off of your hands!
SMALL CUTOUTS
Cutting strips and multiple shapes with dried seaweed, in advance, was extremely helpful. After I molded the sushi rice into shapes of ghosts, balls and cubes, I simply topped or wrapped the rice with nori to create my Halloween creatures.
HERE ARE SOME IDEAS:
If you’re drawing a blank, here are some Halloween sushi inspiration. Use sushi grade salmon for pumpkin, avocado for the Frankenstein, kewpie mayo to draw the face of a black cat, and simply wrap your sushi rice with nori ribbons to create a ninja.
MOST IMPORTANTLY…
Remember to have fun! If you tried out my sushi rice recipe or made Halloween sushi, please share them with me on social media and tag @rackoflam and #rackoflam! Also leave me a comment below to share your feedback and experience! Enjoy your Halloween!