Quick Nori Roll with Cucumber and Avocado Recipe | Chocolate & Zucchini (2024)

It all started with this photo on Gena’s Instagram feed. Gena is the author of the excellent blog The Full Helping, and she has long extolled the virtues of the vegetable nori roll as a quickly and easily assembled snack: her site offers almost a dozen examples, including this latest version.

The process is not unlike that which leads to maki, but here you forgo the seasoned rice altogether — this saves time and effort, and also means you don’t have to plan ahead — in favor of fresh vegetables, lots of them.

I was so inspired by that latest shot that I went out and got some cucumbers and sprouts the very next day to make my own, and I have been weaving variations on that theme about twice a week since then — that’s how enthused I am.

Although Gena likes to apply a thick layer of some sort of spread — think hummus or cashew cheese — directly on the nori sheet, I start with the sliced cucumbers as I prefer my nori to stay as crisp as possible* — the drier, the crisper — and find it most pleasing to bite into the crunchy layer of cucumbers first.

My Take on Nori Roll

Having played around with various ingredients, I have now determined the foundation I like to build on (cucumber, avocado, sprouts, sesame), and will add whatever little things I have on hand — leftover chicken or fish, tofu, spread or dressing, crudités, greens, and herbs. I have a great fondness for the mango and jicama version I make as an affectionate nod to the maki served at Bob’s Kitchen.

These make for a lovely item to add to the mix when we’re composing a lunch or dinner from sundry elements (see “leftovers night” in my ). You could offer them as finger food as well, cut into maki-style slices, and I’ve been known to fix myself a nori roll as a refreshing afternoon treat, too.

* For optimal texture, I like to eat the roll the moment it is made, but of course it’s fine to let it sit while you make the others, or if you’re packing them for lunch at the office or a picnic.

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Quick Nori Roll with Cucumber and Avocado Recipe | Chocolate & Zucchini (3)

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Cucumber and Avocado Quick Nori Roll Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Makes 4 rolls.

Quick Nori Roll with Cucumber and Avocado Recipe | Chocolate & Zucchini (4)

Ingredients

  • 4 sheets nori seaweed (available from natural food stores and Japanese markets)
  • 450 grams (1 pound) cucumbers, thinly sliced with a mandolin slicer (I don't peel my cucumbers; see note)
  • toasted sesame seeds
  • ground chili powder (optional)
  • 1 ripe avocado, sliced into thin wedges
  • 100 grams (3 1/2 ounces) tofu, or cooked chicken, or fish (raw and super fresh, or cooked), cut into strips
  • long-stem sprouts or sprouted seeds
  • soy sauce, for serving
  • Optional additions

  • simple tahini sauce
  • raw cashew cheese or other spread
  • pink radishes, thinly sliced with a mandolin slicer
  • large handful of small salad leaves, such as baby spinach or baby kale
  • fresh herbs, especially shiso or cilantro
  • 1/2 ripe mango, sliced into strips
  • 1/2 small jicama, peeled and cut into strips

Instructions

  1. Have all the ingredients ready and portioned out into four equal servings before you begin, and have a small bowl or glass of water close at hand.
  2. Place a sheet of nori on a clean and dry cutting board, shiny side facing down and longest edge facing you.
  3. Starting from the left edge, arrange the cucumber slices in overlapping rows on the nori, leaving a 3-cm (1-inch) margin of uncovered nori at right.
  4. Sprinkle with sesame and ground chili powder, if using.
  5. If using tahini sauce or cashew cheese, drizzle or smear over the cucumber now.
  6. If using sliced radishes or salad leaves, arrange in a single layer on top of the cucumber now.
  7. Arrange the bulkier fillings -- avocado, tofu, sprouts, herbs, mango, jicama -- in an even, vertical pattern, about 5 cm (2 inches) from the left edge.
  8. Quick Nori Roll with Cucumber and Avocado Recipe | Chocolate & Zucchini (5)

  9. Rotate the cutting board by a quarter of a turn counter-clockwise so the uncovered strip of nori is furthest from you. Using both hands, start rolling the sheet of nori from the edge closest to you, folding it up and over the fillings, then rolling it snugly away from you (see note).
  10. Just as you're about to reach the uncovered strip of nori at the end, dip your fingertips in the bowl of water and dab the nori lightly so it will stick.
  11. Set aside, seam side down, and repeat with the remaining ingredients to make three more rolls.
  12. Quick Nori Roll with Cucumber and Avocado Recipe | Chocolate & Zucchini (6)

  13. Slice into halves or thick slices using a sharp chef knife. Serve with soy sauce for dipping.
  14. Quick Nori Roll with Cucumber and Avocado Recipe | Chocolate & Zucchini (7)

Notes

  • The exact variety of cucumber matters little for this recipe. What's more important is to pick smaller cucumbers that feel heavy for their size and are nice and firm throughout -- older cucumbers start shriveling up from the tips. Before slicing any cucumber, give it a taste to make sure it's not bitter. If it is, it will probably be more palatable peeled.
  • I find it unnecessary to use a sushi-rolling mat here. Just use both your hands with your fingers splayed out to cover the width of the roll; you'll quickly get the hang of it.

https://cnz.to/recipes/vegetables-grains/cucumber-and-avocado-quick-nori-roll-recipe/

Unless otherwise noted, all recipes are copyright Clotilde Dusoulier.

Quick Nori Roll with Cucumber and Avocado Recipe | Chocolate & Zucchini (8)

This post was first published in May 2014 and updated in August 2017.

Quick Nori Roll with Cucumber and Avocado Recipe | Chocolate & Zucchini (2024)

FAQs

How many calories are in an avocado cucumber sushi roll? ›

Sushi Do Avocado Cucumber Roll (9 pieces) contains 51g total carbs, 49g net carbs, 4.5g fat, 4g protein, and 260 calories.

Do I wet nori before rolling? ›

Dip your fingers into the water and transfer a small portion onto the bare nori (This is a major difference between the Uramaki and the Hosomaki). Make sure to use just enough water to change the nori from being crisp to being damp. Quickly, use the same technique of rolling as the Uramaki.

How to make nori not chewy? ›

Toasted. If you toast the sheets of nori it provides a crisp texture and adds more flavour (a delicious nutty taste). Simply spray both sides of the nori sheet with oil or moisten a paper towel with oil and gently wipe onto the sheet. Then either toast the sheet under the grill or over a gas stove using tongs.

Is cucumber avocado roll healthy? ›

For the seafood-shy or vegetarians, veggie rolls (with things like avocado, cucumber, carrot, mushroom, onion, asparagus, and tofu) are healthy and readily available in supermarkets and sushi restaurants.

Are cucumber avocado rolls good for you? ›

As you can see, these tasty Cucumber Avocado Sushi Rolls are pack a good punch of healthy vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats.

What side do you put rice on nori? ›

With the shiny side down, place ½ cup of rice in the upper left corner of your nori. 3. Place the ingredients on top of the rice.

Is nori good for you? ›

Nori contains a lot of vitamins, especially vitamin A, B1, B2, C; 10-100times more than that of ordinary vegetables. Eating 2 sheets of nori will get you enough vitamin A, B1, B2 for a day. Nori contains various minerals; potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, etc.

Why is my nori not crunchy? ›

If you do decide to store it, keep in mind that it requires a dry environment to stay crisp and delicious. Nori can absorb moisture, causing it to become soggy and appear to melt and stick together. That's not something you want to eat! It is best to store the seaweed in the refrigerator.

Should nori be refrigerated? ›

Refrigerated (Best All Round, Best Flavor)

First and foremost, storing nori in the fridge is your best bet. Make sure to press out the air before sealing your bag shut, and place that bag inside another. A silica sachet should be placed in with the nori to absorb excess moisture or condensation.

How to make nori crunchy again? ›

Here's what you do it:
  1. Separate the nori sheets as delicately as possible if able. (If not, use as is.)
  2. Gently heat a frying pan over low heat.
  3. Using tongs, place a sheet of nori on the hot surface for a few seconds. ...
  4. Flip and toast the other side, another few seconds.
  5. Remove from heat.
Aug 4, 2020

How many sheets of nori can I eat a day? ›

2 sheets of Nori nutrition provide daily values of fiber, mineral and vitamin (few types) for an adult.

Is nori good for diabetics? ›

It may help with diabetes

Fiber-rich foods may help with diabetes. This is because high amounts of fiber help regulate blood sugar levels and insulin levels. Adding seaweed to the diet may help boost a person's fiber intake without a large increase in calories.

How many sheets of nori can you eat? ›

Upper limit iodine: what we recommend
Type of seaweedMaximum amount
Kombu5-6 cm per day
Nori15 g per day
Nori crinkels15 g per day
Sushi nori15 g per day
4 more rows

How many calories are in an 8 piece avocado sushi roll? ›

On average, though, an avocado roll may have about 339 calories in a six- to eight-piece serving. Don't forget to factor in any soy sauce, which has about 11 calories per tablespoon, or pickled ginger, which has about 15 calories per tablespoon.

How many calories are in one avocado sushi roll? ›

The avocado roll is a vegetarian sushi dish made with avocado, pickled ginger, sesame seeds, and wasabi — a spicy horseradish paste — wrapped in seaweed ( 7 ). Two to three pieces of avocado roll (100 grams) contain ( 7 ): Calories: 140. Protein: 2 grams.

How many calories in 8 piece cucumber sushi roll? ›

There are 185 calories in 8 pieces of Cucumber Maki.

How many calories is an avocado sushi roll? ›

1. Avocado Roll. The Avocado Sushi Roll contains the lowest amount of calories because it is one of the simplest rolls to order. An avocado roll contains 140 calories, 5.7 grams of fat, 28 grams of carbohydrates, and 2.1 grams of protein.

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