Avocado Cucumber Sushi Roll

Learn how to make sushi with this easy sushi recipe! Filled with mango, avocado & cucumber, it makes a healthy, delicious sushi roll.

vegan / gluten free

We love sushi. We love it so much that we rarely make it at home, well, because Uchi is just down the street. But this homemade sushi recipe is a fun kitchen project to do with your significant other when you’re looking for something new to do together in a Friday night. Plus, making this sushi roll is way less expensive than ordering sushi at a restaurant.

Sushi Roll-Making Tips!

First things first – don’t be scared! The only thing required for “sushi date night” is a bamboo mat and a positive attitude. You need to be in the kind of mood where you can laugh at each other when you get rice stuck all over your fingers and when your sushi rolls don’t turn out perfectly but they’re delicious anyway.

When you’re ready to start cooking, prep your components: the sushi rice and your fillings.

How to Make Sushi Rice

While white rice is traditional, I opt for healthier short grain brown rice which works great. Here’s how to make it:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the rice, water, and olive oil and bring to a boil.
2. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for 45 minutes.
3. Remove the rice from heat and let sit, covered, for 10 more minutes.
4. Fluff with a fork and fold in the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Cover until ready to use.

Sushi Recipe Fillings

I love to make my veggie sushi roll with avocado and cucumber… but the special ingredient here is mango! I like how it replaces the soft texture of raw fish, and it adds a wonderful sweet pop of flavor. You could also play with the fillings here and try blanched asparagus, boiled sweet potato, thinly sliced red cabbage, scrambled egg, or tofu.

Make sure you slice your fillings thinly so that a little of each ingredient will fit nicely in the center of the sushi roll.

P.S. if you’re intimidated by rolling sushi, you can make a deconstructed sushi rice bowl using this same delicious ingredient combination. 

How to Make Sushi

When the rice and the fillings are ready, it’s time to roll!

1. Place a small bowl of water and a kitchen towel near your work area as your hands will get sticky.
2. Place one nori sheet, glossy side down, onto a bamboo mat and press a handful of rice onto the lower two-thirds of the sheet.
3. At the bottom of the rice place your toppings (see picture). Don’t overfill or it will be more difficult to roll.
4. Use the bamboo mat to tuck and roll the nori. Once rolled, use the bamboo mat to gently press and shape the roll. Place the roll to the side, cut side down.
5. Use a sharp chef’s knife to cut the sushi. Wipe the knife clean with a damp towel between cuts.
6. Serve with soy sauce, ginger, and sesame seeds or yummy coconut peanut sauce and enjoy!

If you love this sushi roll recipe…

Try this variation with roasted shiitakes, or make a bigger meal complete with miso soup and a salad with carrot-ginger dressing!

5.0 from 8 reviews

Avocado Cucumber Sushi Roll

  PrintPrep time 30 minsCook time 45 minsTotal time 1 hour 15 mins Learn how to make sushi with this easy sushi recipe! Filled with mango, avocado, and cucumber, it makes a healthy, delicious sushi roll.Author: Jeanine DonofrioRecipe type: Appetizer, main dishCuisine: AsianServes: 4IngredientsSushi rice

• 1 cup short grain brown rice, rinsed well
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

For the Rolls:

• 1 cucumber, sliced into long strips
• 1 ripe mango, sliced into vertical strips
• 1 avocado, sliced
• ⅓ cup micro greens, optional
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, optional
• 4 nori sheets

Serve with

• tamari or ponzu sauce
• Coconut peanut sauce from this recipe, optional

Instructions

1. Make the sushi rice: In a medium saucepan, combine the rice, water, and olive oil and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for 45 minutes. Remove the rice from heat and let sit, covered, for 10 more minutes. Fluff with a fork and fold in the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Cover until ready to use.
2. Assemble the sushi rolls: Place a small bowl of water and a kitchen towel near your work area as your hands will get sticky. Place one nori sheet, glossy side down, onto a bamboo mat and press a handful of rice onto the lower two-thirds of the sheet. At the bottom of the rice place your toppings (see picture). Don’t overfill or it will be more difficult to roll. Use the bamboo mat to tuck and roll the nori. Once rolled, use the bamboo mat to gently press and shape the roll. Place the roll to the side, cut side down. Repeat with remaining rolls.
3. Use a sharp chef’s knife to cut the sushi. Wipe the knife clean with a damp towel between cuts.
4. Serve immediately with tamari or ponzu sauce and coconut peanut sauce, if using.

3.4.3177
 

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22 comments

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1. Lisa in MN
   01.18.2023

   What/how much olive oil in cooking rice?

   Reply ↓

   • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
     01.20.2023

     Oops! Good catch! We use 1 teaspoon olive oil for 1 cup of rice.

     Reply ↓

2. Jeanna
   07.04.2020

   Hi! How far ahead can the sushi rice be made? Thank you! Can’t wait to try this amazing recipe!

   Reply ↓

   • Jeanine Donofrio
     07.10.2020

     Hi Jeanna, I like to make it just before I’m ready to use it, otherwise it gets dry.

     Reply ↓

3. sushi restaurant in palma de mallorca from rubas-restaurant.com
   12.29.2018

   Sushi looks very tasty and yummy..!

   Reply ↓

4. Steve Taylor
   09.18.2017

   This sushi looks amazing!!! I love making sushi at home with my sushi making tools because it is much cheaper than at the restaurant and so much fun too. I hope I can make the perfect avocado & mango brown rice sushi for my kids with the help of this article. Thanks for sharing such an amazing sushi recipe.

   Reply ↓

5. Cassie Autumn Tran from superfitbabe.wordpress.com
   08.28.2017

   I have REALLY been craving sushi, but I prefer brown rice sushi for more nutrient-dense rolls! This looks amazing, and I definitely have to try it!

   Reply ↓

6. Zozora from zozora.net
   08.14.2017

   I’m so glad I found your blog on Google! I just found out recently that I have Gluten allergies and now I have to change my diet. Now there is a collection of Gluten free recipes that I can reference YAY! I also love sushi so this is the perfect post for me. Thank you so much keep the great work =)

   Reply ↓

7. Bridget
   04.23.2017

   Thanks for share this article, it very useful for me.
   I look forward to your new article.

   Reply ↓

8. linda
   02.09.2017

   could you use spicy creamy sushi sauce on these rolls? http://www.simplywhisked.com/spicy-sushi-sauce/

   Reply ↓

9. Andy from fitnessatrium.com
   07.26.2016

   I love sushi, especially the ones with mangoes in it, but I’m extremely lazy at making it. These are lovely, but I’ll probably go ahead and just mix everything up in a “deconstructed” sushi bowl like you said, and eat everything with a spoon. 😉

   Reply ↓

10. Jessi F.
    07.21.2016

    Oh my, these turned out great! I added a little mirin to the mango, and that give it just a little more ‘pop.’ This is my new favorite veggie sushi, and I’m sure I’ll make it often. Thanks!

    Reply ↓

11. Marina from Saladmenu.com
    06.27.2016

    I like how this sushi is cute and has a bit of bright color!

    Reply ↓

12. Helen
    06.16.2016

    This is exactly the recipe I wanted! I tried the whole foods avo cucumber brown rice maki last week and fell in love, so this is perfect!

    Reply ↓

13. Sharon Vasquez from cooker.guru
    05.29.2016

    Wonderful recipe! Thank you for sharing a lot of amazing recipes. I just purchased a new rice cooker, so the first try will be the rice for sushi in this recipe.

    Reply ↓

14. Lisa Favre from marblecrumbs.com
    05.18.2016

    This looks wonderful although I’d have to replace the avocados (tear!) because of my intolerance.

    Reply ↓

15. Celeste | The Whole Serving from TheWholeServing.com
    05.17.2016

    I just purchased a new sushi set and I’m excited to use it making this yummy recipe.

    Reply ↓

16. Jess @ Nourished by Nutrition from nourishedbynutrition.com
    05.17.2016

    Ah this is my favorite sushi combination! I’m so glad you shared a recipe for it!! It’s definitely time to find out if I have some hidden sushi rolling skills. If not deconstructed rice bowls will be the way to go!

    Reply ↓

17. Raffaella Scola from cucchiaiovegan.it
    05.17.2016

    Very cute!

    Reply ↓

18. Kari from sweetteasweetie.com
    05.16.2016

    Mango is so good in a sushi roll. I wish more rolls had it!
    Kari
    http://www.sweetteasweetie.com

    Reply ↓

19. Roxana from atreatsaffair.com
    05.16.2016

    What a great combination of flavors! I love the idea of rolling your own Sushi. Very brave of you. Not sure I would have the patience, but I want to try it!!

    Reply ↓

20. Fernando @ Eating With Your Hands
    05.16.2016

    Cute sushi that you made! Looks easy to roll as well 🙂

    Reply ↓