How to Make Sushi Balls Recipe for Fun and Tasty With 16 Ingredients

Sushi Balls are exceptionally small, unpretentious, and fun-sized sushi rolls. Whether you want to set the mood at a party, get a fabulous and healthy lunch for school, or maybe just fancy something that’s totally sushi but with a twist and no rolling, then these addictively scrumptious sushi balls are a fantastic way to enjoy the fun flavors of sushi without the mess, the rolling and the fuss of wrapping conventional sushi rolls. These mini sushi bites always invoke a wow factor and suit almost any occasion as they are easy to make and never fail to please a crowd.

In the following paragraphs, I will describe the ingredients needed to accomplish the suitable groundwork for making’ the sushi balls.

Ingredients for Sushi Balls Recipe

For the Rice

1. 2 cups short-grain sushi rice
2. 2 ½ cups water
3. 3 tbsp rice vinegar
4. 2 tbsp sugar
5. 1 tsp salt

For the Toppings and Fillings

1. 200g fresh salmon sashimi, thinly sliced
2. 200g fresh tuna sashimi, thinly sliced
3. 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
4. 1 avocado, sliced
5. 2 tbsp soy sauce (for dipping)
6. Pickled ginger (optional, for garnish)
7. Wasabi (optional)

Optional Garnishes

1. Sesame seeds
2. Chopped green onions
3. Nori strips (seaweed)
4. Fish roe (tobiko or masago)

16 Ingredients Pictures for Sushi Balls Recipe

For the Rice

short-grain sushi rice

 water

rice vinegar

sugar

 salt

For the Toppings and Fillings

 salmon sashimi, thinly sliced

fresh tuna sashimi, thinly sliced

 cucumber, thinly sliced

avocado, sliced

soy sauce (for dipping)

Pickled ginger

Optional Garnishes

Sesame seeds

Chopped green onions

Nori strips (seaweed)

Fish roe (tobiko or masago)

Nutrition Information (Per Serving)

Note: Nutritional values are approximate and depend on the specific toppings used.

Essential Equipment For Sushi Balls Recipe

1. Rice cooker or pot for cooking the sushi rice
2. Sharp knife for slicing fish and vegetables
3. Plastic wrap to shape the sushi balls
4. Small bowls for serving toppings
5. Chopsticks for an authentic experience

5 Essential Equipment Pictures For Sushi Balls Recipe

Rice cooker or pot 

Sharp knife

Plastic wrap

Small bowls

Chopsticks

Preparation Process For Sushi Balls

1. Cook the Sushi Rice

Rinse the sushi rice in cold water until the water is completely clear. This process removes the extra starch that can make the sushi rice too sticky and gives it a better texture. You can also wash it a couple of times just to be sure.

In a rice cooker or a pot, combine the rinsed rice and the appropriate amount of water for cooking sushi rice (follow the rice package’s instructions for water since water may vary depending on the type of sushi rice). If you are using the stove method to cook sushi rice, be sure to bring the rice to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and cook with a lid on the pot for about 20 minutes or until the rice becomes tender and fluffy.

Once the sushi rice is properly cooked, place it in a large bowl and allow it to cool for several minutes to warm. Cooling the rice is a very important step if one wants to get perfectly round shiny sushi rice.

To enhance the taste of your sushi rice, let’s prepare the sushi vinegar blend. In a small-sized bowl, combine rice vinegar, sugar, and salt then mix them well together. You can adjust the ratio of vinegar, sugar, and salt according to your preferences.

Use a wooden spoon to gently incorporate the mixture into the rice without mashing it up or breaking the grains. Such action will produce a great fragrant and flavored rice. When done, cover the rice with a soft, colourful, and damp cloth to retain the moisture in it and at the same side keep it protected.

2. Prepare the Ingredients

Slice the salmon, tuna, avocado, and cucumber into thin, even pieces. Make sure to make them thin so the thickness of the fish won’t deviate much. A knife also should be well-sharpened to make smooth cuts and keep the fish fresh and looking nice.

Once you get the toppings in long sticks, set them up in small bowls or cups so that you can get them easily. The efficiency of having as many toppings neatly laid down will smoothen the process of making the sushi and will assist you a lot if you are making more than one kind of sushi.

3. Prepare Your Workspace

The last step in the preparation process of sushi rolling is to prepare an appropriate workspace. You need to lay a clean countertop surface to avoid the contamination of your sushi rolls. It is very important to make sure that you have all your ingredients and tools in order before starting to make sushi in order to always get sushi that is beautiful and delicious without unnecessary distractions.

Thoroughly clean your hands or even better, use a pair of gloves made of plastic. Additionally, use some water in a small bowl on the table and keep it because this will prevent the rice from sticking to your hands while preparing different rolls.

Cooking Process: Assembling the Sushi Balls

Shape the Rice Balls

To form the sushi rice balls that will serve as the base for your sushi, take a rounded tablespoon of sushi rice and take a piece of plastic wrap, lay the rice in the center of the plastic wrap. The plastic wrap will allow for perfect and even shaping of the rice balls.

Gently squeezing and shaping the rice together, ensure that the rice is tightly packed and a smooth, compact ball is formed, approximately about two to three inches in diameter. This is important to ensure that the sushi balls maintain their shape while being eaten, thus it is recommended to pay attention to how the rice is packed in the ball. Repeat this process for every portion of sushi rice until all have been shaped.

Add Toppings

Take a delicious slice of fish like salmon or a creamy slice of avocado or a refreshing slice of cucumber and place it on top of each tasty rice ball and add some zing to your formation.

Now, with the gentle touch of the giant squid, very carefully place the sushi and toppings prepared on those rice balls into the yellow lollipop of a plastic sleepsuit, going pinch so that it is made to touch everything closely and snug in a limited way but without crushing it.

Garnish the Sushi Balls

To give the sushi balls a little extra zing, consider sprinkling some sesame seeds, green onions, or perhaps even a few pieces of fish roe amongst the rice. These little additions can offer not only a burst of flavor but also some amazing visual appeal to the sushi. The seafood should be fresh as it will appear the freshest on the sushi balls.

Garnish the Sushi Balls If you want to make your sushi rice balls even more fun and enticing, you cannot go wrong with a thin strip of nori wrapped around the sushi rice ball before serving them, adding a touch of color, texture and taste. 

Serve and Enjoy For Sushi Balls

For a beautiful presentation, arrange the sushi balls on a platter in a way that’s visible to everyone. Don’t forget to include some soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger on the palate-cleansing side for your guests to enjoy as they eat.

Tips for Perfect Sushi Balls

Pick Out Only the Freshest Ingredients: The essence of making good sushi is all about using only fresh ingredients. Opt for the best quality fish and vegetables available; these will mostly affect your end product.

Keep Your Hands Moist: Keeping your hands moist while forming each sushi ball will help you keep them shaped perfectly. If your hands are dry, the rice itself will stick to them and lead to a very hard product.

Try Out Different Combinations of Toppings: To give your sushi balls different flavor profiles. Some interesting combinations include topping on top with smoked salmon, spreading some cream cheese or adding spiced mayo over them for variety.

Serve the Sushi Immediately: Sushi is best enjoyed as fresh as possible, which is why you should roll up the delicate balls, then place them on a plate just before serving.

Think outside of traditional sushi (or even ‘maki ’ rolls) with these little wonders called sushi balls! These bite-sized treats pack all those delectable Japanese cuisine flavors into vibrant shaped morsels that are easier to make than any kind of sushi roll! Aesthetically they stand out due to their colorful filling toppings and attractive circular form.