California-Style Crab and Avocado Inside-Out Roll

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-27 · Updated 2026-04-27

Classic California roll featuring fresh crab meat, creamy avocado, and crunchy cucumber wrapped inside-out with seasoned sushi rice and toasted sesame seeds. This japanese-inspired sushi ready in about 50 minutes pairs sushi rice, rice vinegar, sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 300 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups sushi rice
• 3 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 6 oz imitation crab meat
• 1 medium ripe avocado
• 1 small cucumber
• 4 sheets nori sheets
• 3 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• for serving soy sauce
• optional, for serving wasabi paste

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 1/4 cups sushi rice under cold water until clear; drain well. Cook rice in 1 1/2 cups water in a rice cooker or pot until tender, about 18 minutes, then let rest covered for 10 minutes.
2. Step 2: Stir together 3 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp sugar, and 1 tsp salt until dissolved. Fold this seasoning into the cooked rice, fanning to cool until slightly warm.
3. Step 3: Slice 6 oz imitation crab meat into thin strips. Peel and slice 1 medium avocado and 1 small cucumber into thin strips about 3 inches long.
4. Step 4: Place a bamboo mat on a flat surface and cover with plastic wrap. Lay 1 nori sheet shiny side down on the mat. Wet your hands and spread about 1/2 cup of sushi rice evenly over the nori, pressing gently, then sprinkle 3 tbsp toasted sesame seeds evenly over the rice.
5. Step 5: Carefully flip the nori so the rice side is down on the plastic wrap. Arrange crab, avocado, and cucumber strips in a line about 1 inch from the bottom edge.
6. Step 6: Roll sushi tightly away from you using the mat, pressing firmly to seal the roll. Remove the mat and slice into 6 pieces with a sharp wet knife.
7. Step 7: Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 4 rolls. Serve with soy sauce and optional wasabi paste.