10+ Sushi Recipes to Try at Home for Fun and Flavor

Sushi recipes are a great way to enjoy fresh, tasty food at home. They’re fun, creative, and honestly, who doesn’t like rolling their own dinner now and then?

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve already rolled a few, you’ll find simple recipes here for every taste.

You can make sushi with just a handful of ingredients and a few easy steps—even if you’ve never tried before. Making sushi at home means you get to decide what goes in, and you can play around with flavors you actually like.

Let’s get you rolling (literally) with some basic ingredients and straightforward recipes.

Ingredients for Sushi Recipes

• Sushi rice (short or medium grain)
• Rice vinegar
• Nori sheets (seaweed)
• Fresh fish or vegetables
• Soy sauce
• Wasabi (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse and cook sushi rice following the package instructions.
2. Mix the rice with rice vinegar while it’s still warm.
3. Place nori on a bamboo mat or just a flat surface.
4. Spread the rice evenly over your nori.
5. Add your favorite fish or veggies.
6. Roll it up tight and slice into pieces.
7. Serve with soy sauce and wasabi if you’re into that.

1) Classic California Roll with crab and avocado

The Classic California Roll brings together crab, avocado, and cucumber for a fresh, crowd-pleasing bite. It uses nori and sticky sushi rice—no raw fish required.

You can use imitation crab or real crab meat, whatever you’ve got. Avocado gives it that creamy texture, and cucumber keeps things crisp.

It’s honestly pretty easy to make at home with a bamboo mat. Slice it up and dip in soy sauce, or throw on some wasabi or pickled ginger if you want more kick.

Ingredients

• 4 sheets nori (seaweed)
• 2 cups sushi rice, cooked and seasoned
• 1 cup imitation crab or lump crab meat
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 1/2 cucumber, julienned
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Cooking Instructions

1. Lay a sheet of nori on your bamboo roller.
2. Spread a thin, even layer of rice over the nori.
3. Sprinkle sesame seeds on the rice.
4. Flip the nori and rice so the nori faces up.
5. Line up crab, avocado, and cucumber near one edge.
6. Roll tightly using the mat.
7. Slice into 6-8 pieces.
8. Serve with soy sauce or your favorite sushi extras.

Want more tips? Check out this detailed California Roll recipe.

2) Spicy Tuna Roll with sriracha mayo

Making a spicy tuna roll at home is easier than you’d think. Just mix sushi-grade tuna with a creamy sriracha mayo for that perfect spicy kick.

Spread the tuna mix on a nori sheet, add rice, and roll it up tight. The spicy mayo ties everything together and goes so well with the tuna.

You can adjust the sriracha to make it as mild or fiery as you want. Honestly, it might even beat your favorite takeout.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked sushi rice
• 3 oz sushi-grade tuna, minced
• 2 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise (like Kewpie)
• ½ tbsp sriracha sauce
• Nori sheets

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix tuna, mayo, and sriracha in a bowl.
2. Place a nori sheet on a bamboo mat.
3. Spread rice evenly over the nori.
4. Add the spicy tuna mix in a line across the rice.
5. Roll tightly and slice into pieces.

3) Vegetarian Avocado and Cucumber Roll

This roll is as simple as it gets—just creamy avocado and crunchy cucumber for a clean, refreshing bite. Perfect if you want something light or you’re skipping meat.

Wrap nori around sticky rice, then add strips of cucumber and avocado. You don’t need much else.

Serve it with soy sauce, wasabi, or pickled ginger if you want a little extra zing. No cooking besides the rice, so it’s super easy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sushi rice
• 1 ¼ cups water
• 4 sheets nori
• 1 ripe avocado, sliced
• 1 cucumber, peeled and sliced thin
• Soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse sushi rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
2. Cook rice with water in a rice cooker or on the stove.
3. Let rice cool a bit.
4. Place a nori sheet on a bamboo mat.
5. Spread a thin layer of rice, leaving a border.
6. Lay avocado and cucumber strips on the rice.
7. Roll tightly with the mat.
8. Slice into pieces.
9. Serve with whatever dipping sauces you like.

4) Salmon and Cream Cheese Philadelphia Roll

The Philadelphia Roll is a classic—smoked or sashimi-grade salmon, cream cheese, and cucumber. You get creamy, crunchy, and fresh all at once.

All you need is nori, sushi rice, and those three fillings. Want a richer roll? Toss in some avocado.

Ingredients

• 4 oz smoked or sashimi-grade salmon
• 4 oz cream cheese, cut into strips
• ½ cucumber, julienned
• 1 cup sushi rice, cooked and seasoned
• 2 sheets nori seaweed

Cooking Instructions

1. Lay one nori sheet on your bamboo mat.
2. Spread an even layer of rice over the nori.
3. Arrange salmon, cream cheese, and cucumber in a line near one edge.
4. Roll up tightly with the mat.
5. Slice into 6-8 pieces and serve right away.

5) Eel and Cucumber Dragon Roll

The Eel and Cucumber Dragon Roll looks impressive and tastes even better. You’ll use eel, cucumber, and avocado for that signature look and flavor.

Start with crab meat and cucumber inside, then layer avocado slices on top to look like dragon scales. Grilled eel and a drizzle of sweet unagi sauce finish it off.

It’s a fun roll to make, especially if you want to show off a little.

Ingredients

• 2 cups sushi rice
• 4 sheets nori
• 4 oz grilled eel (unagi)
• 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1 avocado, thinly sliced
• 4 oz crab meat
• Unagi sauce
• Sesame seeds (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook sushi rice and let it cool.
2. Place nori on your bamboo mat.
3. Spread rice on nori, then flip it over.
4. Add crab meat and cucumber on the rice side.
5. Roll tightly using the mat.
6. Layer avocado slices on top.
7. Add grilled eel over the avocado.
8. Drizzle unagi sauce.
9. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if you want.
10. Slice and serve.

6) Shrimp Tempura Roll with crunchy bits

Shrimp Tempura Roll brings a satisfying crunch both inside and out. You fry the shrimp in a light batter for that crispy texture.

Add fresh cucumber and avocado for balance. Tempura flakes sprinkled on the outside make it extra crunchy, and a drizzle of eel sauce gives it a sweet-savory finish.

Just make sure your shrimp tempura is hot and crispy before you roll—trust me, it makes a difference.

Ingredients

• 5-7 shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 cup sushi rice, cooked and seasoned
• 1/2 cucumber, sliced thin
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 1 sheet nori
• Tempura batter (flour, egg, cold water)
• Tempura flakes
• Eel sauce

Cooking Instructions

1. Prepare sushi rice and let it cool.
2. Mix tempura batter, dip shrimp, and fry at 350°F (175°C) until crispy.
3. Lay nori on a bamboo mat, spread rice evenly.
4. Add shrimp tempura, cucumber, and avocado.
5. Roll tightly, sprinkle tempura flakes outside.
6. Drizzle with eel sauce.

Need more details? Here’s a Shrimp Tempura Roll recipe.

7) Rainbow Roll with assorted sashimi

Rainbow Roll is all about color and fresh fish. Start by rolling crab, avocado, and cucumber inside rice and nori.

Then, lay slices of salmon, tuna, and white fish on top for that rainbow effect. It looks fancy but it’s actually pretty easy to pull off at home.

Ingredients

• Sushi rice
• Nori sheets
• Crab meat or imitation crab
• Avocado
• Cucumber
• Assorted sashimi (salmon, tuna, white fish)

Cooking Instructions

1. Prepare sushi rice and let it cool.
2. Place nori on a bamboo mat, spread rice evenly.
3. Add crab, avocado, and cucumber in the center.
4. Roll tightly, then lay sashimi slices on top.
5. Roll again gently to cover the fish.
6. Slice and serve right away.

Want to see more? Check out this Rainbow Roll Sushi recipe.

8) Vegetarian Sushi Stack with spicy mayo

You can whip up a tasty vegetarian sushi stack with just a few simple ingredients—think cooked sushi rice, cucumber, avocado, and mango. Layer them in a cup or small bowl so the stack holds together when you flip it onto a plate.

For the spicy mayo, just mix vegan mayo and sriracha (or your favorite chili sauce). Drizzle this over the top for a little kick.

A sprinkle of black sesame seeds adds crunch and a hint of nuttiness. It’s honestly a fun, fuss-free way to enjoy sushi at home—no rolling mats or slicing needed.

Ingredients:

• Sushi rice
• Cucumber
• Avocado
• Mango
• Vegan mayo
• Sriracha
• Black sesame seeds

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook the sushi rice and let it cool.
2. Mix vegan mayo with sriracha to make spicy mayo.
3. Chop cucumber, avocado, and mango into small pieces.
4. Layer rice, cucumber, avocado, and mango in a cup.
5. Flip the stack onto a plate.
6. Drizzle spicy mayo on top.
7. Sprinkle with black sesame seeds.

9) Salmon Nigiri with wasabi

Salmon nigiri is all about letting the fish shine. Shape small balls of sushi rice, then press a thin slice of raw salmon on top.

Add a dab of wasabi between the fish and rice for a little heat. Make sure to use sushi-grade salmon—it really does make a difference.

Serve your nigiri with soy sauce and pickled ginger if you like. I’m a fan of a little extra wasabi, but go easy if you’re not into spice.

Ingredients

• 250-300g sushi-grade raw salmon
• 300g sushi rice
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• Wasabi (to taste)
• Soy sauce (for serving)
• Pickled ginger (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook sushi rice and season with rice vinegar. Let it cool.
2. Slice salmon into thin pieces, about 1/4 inch thick.
3. Wet your hands and shape oval rice balls, about 2 inches long.
4. Put a dab of wasabi on each rice ball.
5. Press a salmon slice on top of the rice.
6. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.

10) Tuna and Avocado Hand Roll

Tuna and avocado hand rolls are a great way to enjoy sushi without much fuss. Creamy avocado and fresh tuna get wrapped up in a crisp nori sheet.

You don’t need any fancy gear—just cook some sushi rice, slice the avocado and tuna, and layer everything onto the seaweed. If you want a little heat, add some spicy mayo.

Rolling by hand keeps things casual and a bit messy, which is honestly part of the fun. Toss in extra cucumber or sesame seeds if you’re feeling adventurous.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sushi rice
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 sheet nori (seaweed)
• 4 oz fresh tuna, sliced
• 1/2 avocado, sliced
• Spicy mayo (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse the sushi rice until the water runs clear.

2. Cook the rice with water. Simmer on low heat for 18 minutes, or bake at 350°F (175°C) if you’re using the oven.

3. Mix rice vinegar, sugar, and salt together. Fold this gently into your cooked rice—don’t rush it.

4. Cut a nori sheet in half.

5. Place a small handful of rice on the nori.

6. Add tuna slices and avocado on top.

7. If you’re feeling it, add some spicy mayo.

8. Roll the nori into a cone shape by hand.

9. Serve fresh. Enjoy your hand roll while it’s still crisp.

For more tips, check this Tuna Avocado Roll recipe.