Tutorial 11 Mastering Temaki: The Art of Sushi Hand Rolls

Temaki, or hand rolls, are a quick and easy way to enjoy sushi. This guide will walk you through the process of making Temaki and introduce a fun variation called "sushi tacos."

Basic Temaki

Ingredients

• Half sheet of nori

• About 1 oz of sushi rice

• Fillings of choice (e.g., spicy tuna, California roll ingredients, Philadelphia roll ingredients, shrimp tempura)

Steps

1. Hold the nori sheet with dry hands to prevent sticking.

2. Spread about 1 oz of rice on one side of the nori, leaving space in the top corner for presentation.

3. Add fillings:

   • Start with loose ingredients (e.g., lettuce, cucumber)

   • Top with main ingredient (e.g., spicy tuna) to hold everything in place

4. Rolling technique:

   • Take the bottom left corner of the nori and rotate it to the top

   • Slowly tuck it in with one hand and roll with the other

   • The final shape should resemble an ice cream cone

5. Optional: Use a piece of rice to seal the end of the roll

Tips and Tricks

• Eat Temaki immediately after making for the best texture

• Temaki is typically made to order in restaurants to preserve the crispy seaweed texture

• Any Uramaki roll ingredients can be adapted for Temaki

Sushi Taco Variation

Ingredients

• Quarter sheet of nori (half of a half-sheet)

• Sushi rice

• Fillings of choice (e.g., spicy salmon with scallion, fried fish, shrimp)

Steps

1. Cut a half-sheet of nori in half again

2. Sandwich sushi rice and ingredients between the two quarter-sheets of nori

Benefits

• Easy to make

• Great for involving kids in sushi-making

• Perfect for sushi parties with minimal skill required

Why Make Temaki?

• Quick and easy to prepare

• Versatile - can use a variety of ingredients

• Great for casual dining or parties

• Allows for personal customization of each roll

Common Fillings

• Spicy tuna

• California roll ingredients (crab, avocado, cucumber)

• Philadelphia roll ingredients (smoked salmon, cream cheese)

• Shrimp tempura

• Spicy salmon with scallion

• Fried fish

• Vegetables (lettuce, cucumber, avocado)

Remember, Temaki is all about quick preparation and immediate enjoyment. It's a perfect way to introduce people to sushi-making in a fun, interactive way. Don't be afraid to experiment with different ingredients and combinations!