This California sushi bowl has all of the beloved flavor from the sushi classic in an easy-to-make, meal prep friendly weeknight dish.
If you love California rolls, you are in for a treat! These delicious little bowls have all of the beloved flavors of a California roll but with no rolling or fancy technique required. These actually came from our Prep Dish Super Fast meal plans, meaning they're specifically designed to be meal prep friendly and easy enough for a weeknight.
So how does the California sushi bowl come together?
You'll start by cooking some rice. While it's cooking, you can peel and dice your cucumber. This is a great step for the kids to help with if they're nearby! (Find tips on getting kids involved in the kitchen here.)
Next you'll make the sushi bowl dressing, which pretty much makes this recipe so don't even think about skipping it! To make the dressing, simply whisk together avocado mayo, sriracha and sesame oil.
You'll then slice your avocados and tear your nori sheets into smaller pieces.
Finally, it's time to build the bowls! Simply top rice with cucumber, flaked crab meat, avocado and nori sheet pieces and drizzle with that dressing. That's all there is to it!
And if crab isn't in budget or isn't your thing, you can substitute cooked shrimp. They're delicious here as well!
California Sushi Bowl
Ingredients
For the Sushi Bowl Dressing:
- 1/2 cup avocado mayonnaise
- 2-3 tsp sriracha
- 1 tsp sesame oil
For the California Sushi Bowl:
- 1 English cucumber
- 1 cup rice
- 2 avocados
- 2-4 sheets nori seaweed (or, sub baby kale)
- 8 oz flaked crab meat (or, sub cooked shrimp)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
Instructions
For the Sushi Bowl Dressing:
- In a medium bowl combine 1/2 cup mayo, 2-3 tsp sriracha & 1 tsp sesame oil.
For the California Sushi Bowl:
- Add 1 cup rice to 2 cups water in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, cover, turn heat to low & simmer ~20 mins or until liquid is absorbed.
- Peel & dice cucumber.
- Cut 2 avocados into slices.
- Tear 4 nori sheets into smaller pieces.
- Build bowls: rice + flaked crab + avocados + cucumbers + nori sheet pieces. Drizzle w/ soy sauce & sriracha mayo to taste
Notes
Nutrition
How to Make a Sushi Bowl w/ Meal Prep
Meal prep makes this California sushi bowl quick and easy enough for a weeknight. To prep this recipe ahead, peel and dice your cucumber and store in the fridge.
You can also make the sushi bowl dressing ahead of time and store in the fridge. If you like, you can make the rice ahead of time as well and simply reheat when you're ready to serve. Or, make the rice on dish day, whatever you prefer. Personally, I use a rice cooker, which makes it super easy to cook rice while I'm putting together the rest of dinner.
What's the nutrition like for this easy sushi bowl recipe?
Crab (Vitamin B12, Copper, Selenium, Zinc, Omega-3s)
Crab is super high in vitamin B12 and is also an excellent source of protein, copper, selenium and zinc. Crab is also a great source of Omega-3s. Just make sure to get real crab meat, rather than imitation crab, to get these nutrients!
Cucumber (Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Potassium, Manganese, Magnesium)
Studies show that cucumbers may help with blood sugar control. Cucumbers also have a super high water content and can help you stay hydrated. Keep in mind that, like many fruits and vegetables, much of the nutrition is in the peel.
Avocado (Vitamin K, Folate, Vitamin C, B Vitamins, Potassium, Folate, Healthy Fats)
Loaded with nutrients like potassium, folate and healthy fats, avocados are good for your heart, your eye health, and even your mood. Moreover, they also benefit your brain, bone density and blood sugar levels.
Seaweed (Iodine, Thiamin, Iron, Copper, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Folate, Zinc, Calcium, Magnesium)
Seaweed, such as nori, contains antioxidants as well as many vitamins and nutrients. It's also good for gut health, reducing heart disease risk and may support weight loss.
One potential concern is seaweed's high iodine levels. Be cautious of this if you eat seaweed regularly and if you're concerned about iodine levels.
Avocado Mayo (Oleic Acid, Lutein, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Antioxidants)
This recipe calls for avocado mayo, the main ingredient of which is avocado oil. Avocado oil provides substantial amounts of oleic acid, a quite healthy type of fatty acid believed to be very good for your heart. In addition, avocado oil's Vitamin A and Vitamin E make it good for your skin. Its lutein content supports good eye health. Finally, extracts from avocado oil may help combat arthritis.
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FAQ – Common Questions about this California Sushi Bowl Recipe
What is a California sushi bowl?
A California sushi bowl is simply a deconstructed version of a California bowl. Toppings such as crab, cucumber, avocado and nori are layered atop a bowl of rice.
Are California roll bowls healthy?
Yes, California roll bowls can be quite a healthy meal. As detailed above, mine includes significant nutrients.
How is a California roll different from sushi?
Unlike traditional sushi, California rolls do not include raw fish. They generally feature cooked crab as the protein instead.
Where can I get crab meat?
You can find crab meat at most grocery stores. Watch out for imitation crab meat, which is made primarily from fish and does not taste the same. You can also buy crab meat on Amazon here. You can also sub cooked shrimp in these California sushi bowls.
What sauce is good on California sushi bowls?
A simple mix of avocado mayo, sriracha and sesame oil makes a delicious sauce for California sushi bowls. You can also sprinkle with soy sauce or tamari.
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