Sushi night at home just got a lot easier with this California Roll in a Bowl recipe. All the fresh and light flavors of a California roll, but in a deconstructed bowl version. Best of all, it can be made in less than 30 minutes and can be made keto, paleo, and even whole30
Ingredients
- Lump crab meat: California rolls are traditionally made with imitation crab meat, but I prefer the real thing. It is delicious both ways. (more crab recipes)
- Furikake: This is Japanese rice seasoning (see note below). If you do not have any on hand, you can use black and white sesame seeds and crumbled dried seaweed snacks instead. (get it here)
- Sushi rice: this is typically a short grain rice that is seasoned with a mixture of vinegar, salt and sugar.
- Dried seaweed snacks or nori: You can use either for this recipe. I used a wasabi flavored dried seaweed snack and sliced it into strips. But you can also use a nori sheet.
- Soy sauce: If you do not eat soy, you can substitute coconut aminos. This is my favorite brand.
Step by step Instructions
How to make a California Roll in a Bowl
- Whisk together the rice vinegar, sugar and salt. Add the cooked rice to a mixing bowl and pour the vinegar mixture over top. Toss to mix.
- Divide the rice between two bowls. Arrange half of the crab, avocado, seaweed, cucumber, and carrots on top of each of the bowls. Alternatively, you can mix up all of the ingredients before placing them on top of the rice.
- Drizzle some Yum Yum sauce over the top and then sprinkle on the furikake.
Serving Suggestions and Substitutions
- Make ahead: This California Roll in a Bowl recipe can definitely be made ahead of time. I would just recommend keeping all of the ingredients separate and then arranging the sushi bowls when you are ready to serve.
- Seafood: Instead of the crab, you can make this California Roll in a Bowl with fresh sushi grade salmon or tuna also. Better yet, use all three.
- Spicy mayo: Instead of using Yum Yum Sauce, you can mix up some sriracha and mayo for a spicy mayo topping. Wasabi mixed with mayo is also a great choice.
- Make it keto: Make this a keto sushi recipe by using steamed or sautéed cauliflower rice in place of the sushi rice and sweetener in place of the sugar. Simply sauté the cauliflower rice until it is tender and then toss it in the vinegar, sweetener mixture. I find the longer you saute cauliflower rice, the more it will take on a rice like texture and taste. (more keto recipes)
- Make it paleo: To make this a paleo sushi recipe, use cauliflower rice in place of the sushi rice and use coconut sugar in place of the sugar. (more paleo recipes)
- Make it whole30: To make this a whole30 approved sushi recipe, simply use cauliflower rice in place of the sushi rice and omit the sweetener. You may also need to tweak or omit the Yum Yum sauce.
- Wasabi and Pickled Ginger: Serve this with a side of wasabi, soy sauce, and pickled ginger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Furikake is a Japanese seasoning that is usually made with toasted sesame seeds, nori, salt, and sugar.
Imitation crab is a highly processed food used to mimic the flavor, color and texture of real crab meat. It is full of questionable and unnecessary ingredients - Alaska Pollock, Water, Egg Whites, Corn Starch, Sugar, Sorbitol, Contains 2% or Less of: King Crab Meat, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Refined Fish Oil, Rice Wine, Modified Tapioca Starch, Sea Salt, Carrageenan, Yam Flour, Potassium Chloride, Disodium Inosinate, Sodium Pyrophosphate, Soy Lecithin, Carmine, Paprika, Color Added.
Other Recipes You Might Enjoy
California Roll in a Bowl
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Sushi night at home just got a lot easier with this California Roll in a Bowl recipe. All the fresh and light flavors of a California roll, but in a deconstructed bowl version. Best of all, it can be made in less than 30 minutes and can be made keto, paleo, and even whole30
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar (get it here)
- 2 teaspoons sugar (monk fruit for low carb) code peace for 20% off
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 cups cooked sushi rice (cauliflower rice for low carb)
- 8 ounces lump crab meat
- 1 medium avocado, pitted and cubed
- 4 dried wasabi seaweed snack sheets or 1 nori sheet, sliced or crumbled
- ½ cup chopped English cucumber
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- 2 tablespoons furikake (get it here)
- Yum Yum Sauce, for serving (get the recipe here)
- Soy sauce, for serving
Instructions
- Whisk together the rice vinegar, sugar and salt. Add the cooked rice to a mixing bowl and pour the vinegar mixture over top. Toss to mix.
- Divide the rice between two bowls. Arrange half of the crab, avocado, seaweed, cucumber, and carrots on top of each of the bowls. Alternatively, can mix up all of the ingredients before placing on top of the rice.
- Drizzle some Yum Yum sauce over top and then sprinkle on the furikake.
Notes
- net carbs per serving: 43g
- For a low carb version, substitute cauliflower rice for the sushi rice and your favorite low carb sweetener in place of the sugar.
- Furikake is a Japanese rice seasoning. If you do not have any on hand, you can use black and white sesame seeds and crumbled dried seaweed snacks instead.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Seafood
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Sushi Bowl
- Calories: 436
- Fat: 17.1g
- Carbohydrates: 52.2g
- Fiber: 9.3g
- Protein: 20.4g
Keywords: keto sushi, low carb California roll, keto sushi bowl, California roll in a bowl, California roll recipe, sushi recipes, how to make sushi at home
Emma Duncan says
This was amazing. So simple, but crazy good and none of the hassle of trying to make my own rolls.
★★★★★
Michelle says
I made this for a keto dinner and it was delicious. I used cauliflower rice to lower carbs, and lump crab meat. The recipe comes together in about 10 minutes and works great with the cauliflower rice hot or cold. Found the furikake at Whole Foods and it added a nice salty/nutty flavor to the dish. If you’re craving sushi on Keto, this is a great option.
★★★★★
Michelle C. says
Made this for dinner! My 14 year old loved it!
I served it with a side of edamame and some homemade egg rolls.
Seriously you guys try this!
★★★★★
Cheryl Medlin says
Definitely a fave! I made it the first time with crab meat and cauliflower rice. Tonight I made it with boiled shrimp and cauliflower rice. If you prep ahead of time, it's a fast meal prep. Quickly becoming a regular in my house.
★★★★★
Mindy Carroll says
This recipe was awesome. I made the keto yum yum and it was perfect. I basically used the recipe exactly and it came out great
★★★★★
Lisa says
This recipe was so easy and delicious! All the ingredients were easy to find. My husband was very impressed..
★★★★★
Wanda says
I love bowl food and I adore crab so definitely going to make this on the weekend!
★★★★★
Nathan says
I think this recipe would be really dangerous for me, the only thing stopping me from making my own sushi all the time is all of the rolling and this completely eliminates that! Can't wait to try it out!
★★★★★
Emily Flint says
I love this meal, it was to make and I didn't feel guilty afterward. Great recipe!!
★★★★★
Leslie says
I'm drooling over that Yum Yum sauce! I love that you can easily throw this together and enjoy everything wonderful about sushi! Genius!!
★★★★★
Michelle says
This is basically my favorite lunch right now. The sauce is so good
★★★★★
Sage says
So amazing!! Definitely scratched my sushi itch -using cold cauli rice with the rice vinegar, lakanto and salt made the perfectly seasoned sushi rice sub!!
Kyndra Holley says
So happy you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for coming back to let me know
Amanda Starr A. says
Super easy and amazingly delicious!!!
★★★★★
Sue says
Kyndra is a brilliant chef! Thanks for bringing us wonderfully creative, delicious, and healthy food options that are easily made by home cooks. I've yet to try one of your recipes that I haven't absolutely loved.
★★★★★
Meghan says
This was terrific! I made it with sugar substitutes and cauliflower rice to stay low carb. Cooked the “rice” in the same pan I briefly sautéed the crab. Can’t wait to have the leftovers!
★★★★★
Crystal says
Sooooo yummy! I made it with cauliflower rice and also added shrimp. I added extra yum yum sauce and it was delightful!!! This will be made often!!
★★★★★