In the mood for Sushi but don’t have the time? Problem solved with this easy Stacked California Sushi Roll filled with shrimp, fresh cucumbers, and avocado. Sushi night just got better!
I haven’t always liked sushi. Well really, I haven’t always liked seafood.
When Mike and I were dating I think it was his personal goal to get me to like seafood. Anything I decided I didn’t like or didn’t want to try he would get me to do. Which is why we are so perfect for each other.
I can remember easing my way into the seafood arena with fried everything! Fried Shrimp, Fried Calamari, Fried Fish .. anything fried is good. Right?
Moving into the non-fried arena was a little more challenging for me and sushi was something I thought was far off in the distance.
I can remember going on our honeymoon, laying on the beach and looking at the lunch menu one day. Mike saw that this particular place had sushi rolls and he knew I hadn’t tried them before so he wanted to order them.
I’m very much a texture person, if things are too mushy I get grossed out and spit it out. I was hesitant when he ordered the sushi rolls but was willing to give them a try. He started off easy by picking simple ones, he got a California Roll and a Philadelphia Roll (which has cream cheese in it.)
I put the Philadelphia roll in my mouth, started to chew and immediately spit it out into the sand.
NOT a good start!
The texture was way to mushy for me and the cream cheese was warm! I didn’t have anymore that day or that trip! But have since started to dabble in sushi again. And now I LOVE it! Sushi rolls are light, refreshing, and if you pick the right one; have a little bit of everything in it! I’ve even had raw Tuna Stacks before with caviar and LOVED it, which was a total surprise to me! Just goes to show ya, try everything before you write it off as “not good.”
California Rolls are probably one of my favorites! I love the crunch from the cucumbers and how simple it is. All you need to amp this roll up a little bit is a soy sauce (or tamari if you’re going gluten free) a smidgen of wasabi and fresh pickled ginger for a little zing!
The best part about this Stacked California Sushi Roll is you don’t have to roll it! Woot Woot! I’m pretty sure if I tried to roll it it would turn into a hot mess! So instead I just decided to take a mini cheesecake spring form pan, pop the bottom out and create something that looks like a show stopper!
When I was moving my board to photograph these my husband just went “wow.. is that what we’re having for dinner? Looks awesome babe!”
Seee … it looks fancy!
Plus there are less than 10 ingredients involved in this dish, it comes together in minutes, and it is very healthy for you!
If you’re a sushi lover I challenge you to make your own at home and if you don’t want to roll it put it into a stack like this! I guarantee you’ll fall in love and you’ll end up with more “at home” sushi nights!
Bon Appetit my friends and happy Friday!
PrintStacked California Sushi Roll
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Sautéed
- Cuisine: Japanese
Description
A light and refreshing California Sushi Roll is made with creamy avocado, crunchy cucumber, and tender shrimp.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of cooked jasmine rice
- 1 lb. raw shrimp, shells removed and deveined
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cups diced cucumber
- 2 avocados, sliced
- black sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup diced chives
- tamari sauce
- optional: wasabi and fresh pickled ginger
Instructions
- In a medium bowl add shrimp, garlic powder, salt, and ground pepper. Toss to coat.
- Heat a large skillet to medium high heat. Add in the sesame oil and shrimp. Cook shrimp for 2 minutes on each side.
- Remove from pan and dice into smaller pieces.
- Using mini cheesecake spring forms (4×4 pan) with the bottom removed (if you don’t have that you could use a measuring cup and flip over or a ring mold).
- Put 1/2 cup of rice in the bottom of the mold. Using a spoon press down, next add 1/2 cup of cucumbers and press down, add in 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup of shrimp and press down. Top with sliced avocados. Garnish with black sesame seeds and chives.
- Serve tamari sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger on the side.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stack
- Calories: 398
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 27 g
Filed Under:
IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, BE SURE TO SNAP A PIC AND HASHTAG IT #JOYFULHEALTHYEATS. I LOVE SEEING WHAT YOU MAKE!
Want More Seafood Recipes?
Spice Rubbed Cedar Plank Salmon with Strawberry Salsa
Cajun Shrimp with Smoked Gouda Grits
Caribbean Grilled Salmon Kabobs
34 comments on “Stacked California Sushi Roll”
I could NEVER get tired of sushi–it’s delicious! These little sushi stacks look so artistic!
I know right, so fresh and light! Thanks Cassie!
This is seriously the most beautiful food I’ve ever seen in my life. I wanna make it but I know I can’t make it as gorgeous as you did!
Ohh… thanks so much Amanda, you are too sweet! I have faith, you can make it gorgeous and probably even more! 🙂
Oh boy….this is the best thing I have seen in a while. What a great recipe…and great presentation. So appetizing!
Thank you so much! It’s delicious and comes together so fast!
Yum! This is the kind of sushi I can get behind!
right!? No rolling necessary… just eating!
These are beautiful, I think they’re much more enticing than the actual roll!
Right! Just so pretty! 🙂 Thanks Heather!
I love that these are stacked! California rolls are my fav!
It’s definitely a fun way to eat sushi and less labor intensive 🙂
These are gorgeous! I still haven’t jumped on the sushi train yet (I’m a texture person too!), but these look so good I might just have to break out of my comfort zone and try them!
haha.. well these stacks are a great way to start. You’ll get all the flavors but only have to eat as much as you want. Instead of putting an entire roll in your mouth and getting stuck with it! 🙂
Way to spice up the dull california roll. Delicious!
hahaha.. thanks! 🙂
I have a very similar story around how I started eating seafood. I was basically limited to popcorn shrimp and Craig slowly eased me in. Sushi is still touch and go for me, but I’d definitely get down on these stacked rolls!
It was all about the amount of sushi for me. Some of the rolls are too big, so if I cut them in half and ate it I was good to go every time. I’m such a texture person so halving it worked for me. But this stack to perfect and makes it super easy too!
Looks fun and delicious! What size cheesecake pan was used?
it was a 4×4 mini springform pan
My kids and I love California Rolls, and I love how you made these easy! Now we can try making our own. 🙂
Thanks Dee! These are so fun to make, you and the kiddos will love it!
I’m allergic to shrimp but I’m going to substitute with some fish cause I wouldn’t be able to say no to these rolls, ever!
that’s a smart move … even lobster or crab would be awesome in this! 🙂
I’m literally feasting my eyes on your photos! What a delicious looking sushi roll!!! Your husband is a lucky guy 🙂
Ohh thanks so much girl! You are too sweet!
I will admit that sushi scares me. I am totally a texture person too, and the raw fish texture just scares me!! But this – THIS I could do!! Looks so pretty too!
You could SOOOO do it! You’ll love it and it’s soo easy to make!
This is seriously the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen. Beautiful photos!
Ohhh.. thanks so much girl!
Right now I am wishing that I could just reach into the computer and grab a few of those for lunch! Your pictures are stunning and of course I have a hard time resisting California Rolls anyway!
I don’t blame ya, these are so delicious Michelle! And thank you so much Michelle, you are so sweet!
I got my start loving Japanese food with the California Roll. It’s kind of the perfect entrance into a cuisine of eel, jelly fish, and sea urchin. I love how you deconstructed the roll to make a tower. Really inventive.
Ohhh sea urchin! Eek… I’ll have to at least give it a try. I actually stepped on one of those when I was little!
So glad you liked the recipe Matthew!