Sugar-Free Temaki Sushi

Discover the art of creating vibrant, customizable sushi cones with our Sugar-Free Temaki Sushi recipe—a healthy twist on the Japanese classic! Perfect for sushi lovers who want to cut back on added sugars, this recipe uses a simple rice vinegar and salt blend to season the sushi rice, letting the fresh, bold flavors of the fillings shine. With nutrient-packed ingredients like crisp cucumber, sweet carrot, creamy avocado, and your choice of protein—such as tofu, shrimp, or salmon—each hand-rolled cone is both wholesome and satisfying. Ideal for a fun DIY meal, these temaki sushi rolls are easy to make, entirely gluten-free when served with tamari, and ready in just 40 minutes. Serve them with optional soy sauce, pickled ginger, and wasabi to elevate the flavor and enjoy a restaurant-quality experience at home.

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:25 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 cup Short-grain sushi rice
• 1.25 cups Water
• 3 tablespoons Rice vinegar
• 0.5 teaspoons Salt
• 6 sheets Nori sheets (roasted seaweed)
• 1 medium Cucumber
• 1 medium Carrot
• 1 medium Avocado
• 6 ounces Cooked protein (e.g., shrimp, tofu, or cooked salmon)
• 2 tablespoons Soy sauce or tamari (optional, for serving)
• 2 tablespoons Pickled ginger (optional, for serving)
• 1 teaspoon Wasabi (optional, for serving)

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the sushi rice thoroughly in cold water until the water runs clear. This helps remove excess starch for better texture.

Step 2

Combine the rinsed rice and 1.25 cups of water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 15 minutes, or until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.

Step 3

While the rice cooks, prepare the sushi vinegar mix by combining rice vinegar and salt in a small bowl. Stir well until the salt dissolves completely.

Step 4

Once the rice is done, transfer it to a wide, shallow dish to cool. Gently fold in the sushi vinegar mixture, being careful not to crush the grains. Allow the rice to cool to room temperature.

Step 5

Meanwhile, prepare the filling ingredients: julienne the cucumber and carrot into thin matchstick-sized strips. Slice the avocado into thin slices. If using tofu or cooked salmon, cut them into thin strips as well.

Step 6

Cut each nori sheet in half to create smaller sheets for hand-rolling.

Step 7

To assemble the temaki sushi, place one half-sheet of nori shiny-side down on a clean surface. Spread a small handful (about 2 tablespoons) of sushi rice onto the left half of the nori, leaving about 1 inch of space around the edges.

Step 8

Add a few pieces of cucumber, carrot, avocado, and protein of your choice onto the rice. Avoid overfilling to make rolling easier.

Step 9

Fold the bottom corner of the nori up and around the filling, rolling it into a cone shape. Use a small dab of water on the edge of the nori to seal it closed, if needed.

Step 10

Repeat the process with the remaining nori sheets and ingredients.

Step 11

Serve the temaki sushi immediately with soy sauce or tamari for dipping, pickled ginger, and wasabi on the side if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1193.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	820.1

Total Fat 27.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 3.7g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.8g
Cholesterol 332.2mg	0%
Sodium 3812.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 95.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 16.9g	0%
Total Sugars 7.9g
Protein 58.7g	0%

Vitamin D 304.2IU	0%
Calcium 251.0mg	0%
Iron 4.4mg	0%
Potassium 2086.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 28.8%

Protein: 27.1%

Carbs: 44.2%