Inside-Out California Roll with Avocado and Crab

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-29 · Updated 2026-04-29

A classic California roll featuring creamy avocado and savory crab, wrapped inside-out with seasoned sushi rice and toasted sesame seeds. This Japanese-inspired sushi recipe, ready in about 80 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

• 2 cups sushi rice
• 3 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 ounces imitation crab meat
• 1 medium ripe avocado
• 1/2 medium cucumber
• 4 nori sheets
• 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• for serving soy sauce
• for serving wasabi
• for serving pickled ginger

The chef’s knife we’d prep this with → Best Chef's Knives for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 2 cups sushi rice under cold water 3 times until water runs clear, soak 30 minutes, then cook with 2 1/4 cups water until tender, about 18 minutes; rest 10 minutes.
2. Step 2: Mix 3 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp sugar, and 1 tsp salt until dissolved and fold gently into cooked rice; cool to room temperature.
3. Step 3: Slice 4 ounces imitation crab meat into thin strips.
4. Step 4: Peel and slice 1 medium ripe avocado into thin strips.
5. Step 5: Peel, deseed, and julienne 1/2 medium cucumber into matchsticks.
6. Step 6: Place a bamboo sushi mat on a clean surface, cover with plastic wrap, and place 1 nori sheet on top.
7. Step 7: Spread a thin, even layer of sushi rice (about 3/4 cup) over the nori, pressing gently, then sprinkle 1/2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds evenly over the rice.
8. Step 8: Carefully flip the nori and rice so the nori side is facing up.
9. Step 9: Arrange crab meat, avocado, and cucumber strips in a horizontal line across the bottom third of the nori.
10. Step 10: Using the bamboo mat, roll the sushi tightly away from you, pressing firmly to seal the roll; set seam side down.
11. Step 11: Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 4 rolls.
12. Step 12: Using a sharp, dampened knife, slice each roll into 8 pieces.
13. Step 13: Serve with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger.