Homemade Maki Sushi (classic and inverted)
Homemade Maki Sushi (classic and inverted) is a medium Japanese recipe that serves 4. 400 calories per serving. Recipe by Cooking by Nissou on YouTube.
Prep: 1 hr 40 min | Cook: 19 min | Total: 2 hrs 14 min
Cost: $15.32 total, $3.83 per serving
Ingredients
- 500 g Japanese short-grain sushi rice (Rinse until water is clear)
- 550 ml Water (About 1.1 times the volume of the rice)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 tablespoons Rice vinegar (Small coffee cup)
- 3 tablespoons Sugar
- 0.5 tablespoon Salt (for the vinegar)
- 4 Nori seaweed sheets (Shiny side down)
- 1 can (140 g) Canned tuna (in water) (Drained)
- 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
- 1 medium Cucumber (Peeled, seeded, cut into sticks)
- 1 medium Avocado (Pitted, sliced)
- 100 g Smoked salmon
- 2 tablespoons Mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Sweet chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon Chili sauce
- 1 small handful Fried onions (For garnish)
Instructions
Rinse the rice
Place the rice in a large bowl and rinse under cold water, rubbing with your hands until the water runs clear.
Time: PT5M
Drain the rice
Pour the rinsed rice into a fine sieve and let it drain well for 2 minutes.
Time: PT2M
Add water and salt
Transfer the rice to a saucepan, add about 550 ml of water (slightly more than the rice volume) and 1 teaspoon of salt, then stir quickly.
Time: PT1M
Cook the rice
Bring to a boil over medium heat, cover, then reduce to low heat as soon as the liquid boils. Cook for 10‑12 minutes until the water is fully absorbed.
Time: PT12M
Prepare sushi vinegar
In a small saucepan, combine rice vinegar, sugar and 0.5 tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil while stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved, then remove from heat.
Time: PT7M
Season the rice
Pour the hot vinegar over the cooked rice, then gently fold with a wooden spoon using cutting motions so as not to crush the grains.
Time: PT2M
Cool the rice
Spread the seasoned rice in a wide dish, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Time: PT30M
Prepare the vegetables
Peel the cucumber, remove the seeds and cut into thin sticks. Halve the avocado, remove the pit, then slice into strips.
Time: PT8M
Prepare the tuna mixture
In a bowl, crumble the canned tuna, add 1 tablespoon soy sauce and mix until homogeneous.
Time: PT3M
Prepare the sushi mat
Unroll the sushi mat and cover it with a sheet of plastic wrap to ease rolling and cleaning.
Time: PT1M
Moisten your hands
Fill a small container with water and briefly dip your hands before handling the rice to prevent sticking.
Time: PT1M
Assemble classic maki (tuna)
Place a nori sheet, shiny side down, on the mat. Spread a thin layer of rice over the upper half of the sheet, leaving a 2 cm margin at the top. Arrange the tuna mixture, a few cucumber sticks and avocado strips. Roll firmly using the mat, tightening with each turn.
Time: PT20M
Assemble inverted maki (smoked salmon)
Place a nori sheet, shiny side down, on the mat. Spread rice over the entire surface, sprinkle with chopped chives. Flip the sheet (the rice becomes the outer face). Lay smoked salmon strips and avocado in the centre, then roll firmly as before.
Time: PT20M
Prepare the spicy sauce
In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce and chili sauce. Adjust seasoning to taste.
Time: PT2M
Cut the rolls
Moisten the knife with water, wipe excess, then cut each roll into 6 to 8 equal pieces with clean, swift motions.
Time: PT5M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 400
- Protein
- 15 g
- Carbohydrates
- 45 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fiber
- 3 g
Dietary info: Pescetarian, Gluten‑free (if using gluten‑free soy sauce)
Allergens: Fish, Eggs, Soy
Last updated: April 7, 2026






