Inside-Out California Roll with Avocado and Imitation Crab

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-28 · Updated 2026-04-28

Classic California roll featuring creamy avocado and crisp imitation crab, rolled inside-out with sushi rice and toasted sesame seeds. This Japanese-inspired sushi recipe (vegetarian friendly), ready in about 65 minutes, pairs sushi rice, rice vinegar, granulated sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 290 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 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5 nori sheets
• 6 ounces, shredded imitation crab sticks
• 1 medium, sliced into 1/4-inch strips ripe avocado
• 1/2 medium, julienned cucumber
• 2 tablespoons toasted white sesame seeds
• optional, for serving wasabi paste
• for serving soy sauce

The rice cooker we’d use for this → Best Rice Cookers for 2026: Fuzzy Logic, Induction & Basic Picks for Perfect Grains

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 2 cups sushi rice under cold water until clear, then cook with 2 1/2 cups water in rice cooker or covered pot for 18 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes.
2. Step 2: Stir together 3 tablespoons rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt until dissolved. Fold into cooked rice in a large bowl, fanning to cool to room temperature.
3. Step 3: Lay 1 nori sheet shiny side down on a bamboo rolling mat. Spread a thin, even layer of 1 cup prepared sushi rice over the nori, pressing lightly to adhere.
4. Step 4: Sprinkle 2 teaspoons toasted white sesame seeds evenly over the rice.
5. Step 5: Carefully flip the nori and rice so the nori side is up on the mat.
6. Step 6: Arrange 3 ounces shredded imitation crab, 1/4 sliced avocado, and 1/4 julienned cucumber in a line across the center of the nori.
7. Step 7: Using the bamboo mat, roll the sushi away from you, tucking the filling tightly as you go to form a roll.
8. Step 8: Using a sharp, wet knife, slice the roll into 8 equal pieces. Repeat with remaining ingredients for 4 rolls total.
9. Step 9: Serve rolls with soy sauce and optional wasabi paste.