If the slightly fishy taste from seaweed (nori) is the primary reason you avoid consuming sushi, it's time to try soy paper. This alternative to seaweed paper comes in various colors and is flavorless, so it's the perfect option for picky eaters or those who don't enjoy the taste of seaweed. While not all sushi restaurants offer the option of soy paper sushi, some do. All it takes is a quick search for soy paper wrap sushi, and you'll see options pop up near you.
Where To Buy Soy Paper
Soy paper is typically made from soybeans that have been compressed. This ingredient goes by various names like mamenori and soybean paper. It's a delicate sheet easily dyed in multiple colors, making it a fun alternative to nori.
Soy paper usually is semi-translucent paper and comes in a white color. It is nearly flavorless and only offers a slight aroma, allowing the other sushi ingredients like the rice and fish to shine through.
Regarding soy paper calories versus nori calories, it has slightly more. However, it is lower in carbs. The main reason people consider eating soy paper as a healthier choice is that soy paper is a gluten-free option. However, it's always necessary to read package ingredients, as certain flavoring can contain gluten.
As mentioned, seaweedhas a stronger flavor. If you want a more traditional sushi roll, you can use nori instead of soy paper. However, if you want to be able to taste the seafood and veggies more fully, you can use soy paper.
Soy paper and rice paper are very similar. Rice paper is typically made from rice starch; like soy paper, it does not have a strong flavor. This is the closest alternative to soy paper. You can also use it to make rice paper rolls.
The ingredients for soy paper vary depending on the brand. However, the common ingredients are sesame seeds, soybeans, soy flour, soybean oil, organic rice syrup, and food coloring (for options other than white).
Slice your soy paper in half. Then, add some sushi rice and press down. Add your fillings and roll. Wet your fingertips and run them along the edges to help the soy paper stick together. Slice the log into rolls and serve!
Since soy paper is thin, it can easily be affected by moisture and temperature. Once a soy paper package is open, you'll want to seal it tightly and keep it in a dry, cool environment. You'll need to use an open package of soy paper within two weeks. Otherwise, it won't be fresh.
Most grocery stores carry soy paper for sushi in the Asian aisle. If you can't find it in your regular grocery store, you'll likely find it in an Asian marketplace or online. For any other Asian grocery needs, you can look at Bokksu Market. Purchasing items from Bokksu Market allows you to have Asian groceries delivered right to your door.
1. Whereas foods made from soybean powder have a characteristically unpleasant odor, J-Oil uses whole soybeans, resulting in a sweet-smelling product.
2. Mamenorisan dissolves gently when eaten, unlike many other soybean sheets that feel stiff and paper-like on the palate.
3. Mamenorisan is very thin (2.2-2.3mm), making it easy to hand roll. However, it is not so delicate that it breaks apart.
4. The main ingredient is separated soy protein. Each sheet Mamenorisan contains more than 90% protein.
5. Separated soy protein's fat content is less than 0.1%, while soy powder contains two to three times this amount.
MUST be refrigerated at all times.We have made our very own natto without plastic. We were so fed up with the plastic involved with natto that we decided to make our own and pack it in a paper cup. It is 100g per cup which can be 2-3 servings per cup.
Fermented in Kennedy Town, Hong Kong. We hope you enjoy this as much as we do!
The best natto I am glad to find in HK. It is healthier than those sold in the supermarket where most of them have high fructose corn syrup & too much seasonings that I don't like.. At Foodcraft, I like the plain & unpasteurized Home made natto
Soy paper, usually contains a variety of components, not only soy. These include compressed soybeans, soybean oil, and soy flour. You can also find more ingredients like sesame seeds. Ingredients may vary based on the maker or the method of production.
Many companies employ natural colors such as turmeric for yellow paper. They use paprika for orange and spinach for the green paper. If you shun away from artificial ingredients, make sure you read the label.
However, you can use soybean paper for more than just spring rolls. You can use it to make some dumplings. You can also wrap sweet things, such as fruit or pudding. The sweetness blends well with their neutral flavor.
Are you still wondering what is soy paper for sushi and soy paper vs. Seaweed? Soy paper and nori serve the same purpose in sushi. It binds the rice and other ingredients together while enhancing the flavor.
Hello,
The rice paper linked to in your recipe is out of stock at Amazon. Do you know of an equivalent rice paper that can be used for your recipe? I recently got rice paper from a Chinese food store, to make rice paper bacon. But it is not the 'clingy' kind that your rice paper appears to be, and which seems better to use for this recipe.
Hi Brittany, I am making these today to take to a halloween party potluck. Little nervous about the rolling. I was thinking of wrapping in wax paper to breath, any other suggestions? Put into covered container but don't seal?
Hi Tali! They're best enjoyed right away as the papers continue to absorb moisture from the vegetables but I've prepped them up to 2-3 days ahead of time. They just tend to get a little messier to eat as they sit (which isn't a big deal to me.) If you want to prep further ahead than that I'd just prepare all the ingredients and assemble them in rice papers every couple of days. I hope that makes sense?? Let me know if you have any other questions!
I was a bit nervous to work with the rice paper wrappers but between your instructions and the gif I got everything to work perfectly! These are just like the ones that we get at a local restaurant and I am thrilled that I can now make them at home! Great recipe and I am very glad that I found your site!
Hi Lindsay! I find they last about 2-3 days. The ingredients will still be good after that but the rice paper continues to absorb moisture so you might prefer the texture when they're freshest. If you want to prep more to last a bit longer I'd just have all the ingredients prepped and roll them in 2 batches (1st day and again on the 3rd day or so - I hope you know what I mean!) To store, I just lay them on a plate and put a sheet of plastic wrap between layers. Let me know if you have any other questions!
One little sidenote though : that is not how you rehydrate rice papers.
The right way is to dip each piece of rice paper in water, so that both sides are wet, shake off the excess, move it to a plate (or whatever support you're using) while it's still rigid, let it rest until it finishes rehydrating. You do not leave it to soak in water, because then when it's soft and pliable, you're left dealing with something slippery and hard to work with (as your pictures show).
Check out this video if you want to see the technique.
My Mom is Vietnamese & we make rice paper/Spring rolls often & she showed me a little trick. You don't ever soak rice paper. Take 2 pieces of rice paper out of the package, set 1 beside your sink & hold 1 in your hand under a running stream of cold water & take your free hand & as you wet each side (front/back) use your free hand to smooth over the whole rice paper to make sure it's all wet. Then take the other rice paper & place it on top of the already wet 1 & wet the other side under the running faucet. Make sure to even them up & once it's wet hold it over the sink to let the excess water drain then place it on a plastic picnic plate-the kind from the Dollar section/Dollar store that you put a paper plate on. ( A paper plate holder) Set it aside to let the water activate the rice paper & do this process again for however many Spring rolls you are making. You can buy paper rice in circles large or small & in square sizes large or small. So basically, 2 spring roll wrappers wet together equals 1 wrap for 1 Spring roll. Then when it's time to make the Spring Roll, just make it on that plate holder, roll it up & presto you have your Spring roll ready to go. It's easier to wrap this way. Then just start the process all over again & these paper plate holders wash real easy. Then when your paper plate holders are dray, place the stack in a plastic bag & tie the handles & store them in a closet/cabinet until next time. You can wet a whole stack then as they are done, just pile the plates on top of each other & let your guest get a few plates stacked up to let them roll their own. You can stack 4 or 6 plates on top of each other when the rice paper is completely hydrated. Hope this helps.
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