What is Sushi Rice?
Sushi is gaining popularity at a rapid rate these days. It’s the kind of thing that once you try you’re hooked! We’ve made many friends and family sushi believers over the years, and most of that is due to this sublime Sushi Rice. At the base of any good sushi recipe is the rice. Its chewy texture and unique flavor creates restaurant-worthy recipes that turn out perfectly every time! Sushi rice is sometimes called sticky rice, because of its sticky, starchy texture. It’s perfect in these gorgeous California Rolls, Shrimp Tempura Godzilla Rolls (so yummy!!!) or even SPAM Musubi.
What is the Best Kind of Rice to Use for Sushi?
Not all rice is created equal. To make the best homemade sushi rice you’ll need to find the right rice. Lucky for all of us, it’s a wonderful time to be alive because Sushi Rice is available right at your regular grocery store! It’s generally made from short-grain white Japanese rice or medium-grain California rice. It should say “sushi rice” right on the bag. But if you can’t find sushi rice, Calrose rice works terrifically too.
What Ingredients Do You Need to Make This Sushi Rice Recipe?
Now that you know what kind of rice to start with (see above) the rest is easy! All you need is:
- Japanese Rice Vinegar – This will give your sushi recipe a rich, slightly sweet flavor that is to die for! If you’re in a pinch, substituting apple cider vinegar for rice vinegar is a tasty alternative.
- Sugar
- Salt
That’s it! No fussy ingredients here. This Sushi Rice could not be easier to put together. Trust us, it’ll become a favorite in your family recipes rotation for sure!
How to Make Sushi Rice
Ingredients
- 3 cups sushi rice It should say "sushi rice" right on the bag. Calrose rice works ok if you can't find sushi rice.
- 3 cups water
- 1/4 cups Japanese rice vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place the rice into a mixing bowl and cover with cool water. Swirl the rice in the water with your hand, pour off and repeat 2-3 times or until the water is clear. Rinse a few more times.
- After the rice is rinsed, let the rice drain in a colander or strainer for 1 hour.
- After the rice has drained, put the rice in the rice cooker with the 3 cups of water, cover, and start.
- If you don't have a rice cooker place rice and water in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat; bring just to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Turn off heat and let rice rest, covered, for 15 additional minutes.
- While rice is cooking, prepare the vinegar mixture. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Heat mixture just until the sugar dissolves (do not let it boil). Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
- When the rice is done cooking, gently spread out the rice over a cookie sheet. Evenly distribute the cooled vinegar mixture over the rice. Gently turn rice over from time to time with rice paddle or wooden spatula so that rice cools evenly.
- To speed things up, fan the rice each time you turn it over. When rice has cooled to room temperature, it is ready to use for sushi rolls!
- If you want to wait a little bit before making your sushi or while you are making the rolls, you can keep the rice at the right temperature by placing it in a large bowl and covering with a damp kitchen towel.
Romy Greenwood says
July 6, 2012 at 5:35 pmHi,
Quick question, I am done swirling the rice in cool water and I let it stand for an hour.
Does the recipe call for 3 cups of uncooked rice and 3 cups of water? By looking at the cooking instructions on the calrose package it seems like this is not enough water.
Love your site. Thank you,
Romy
Erica says
July 7, 2012 at 8:48 amIt should be enough water. The rice should have absorbed up a bunch of water during that hour so you will only need the 3 cups to finish cooking. It has always come out great for me that way!
Barbara says
November 18, 2016 at 4:08 pmWhen the recipe calls for 3 cups of rice… is that a standard cup or a “rice cup” which is less than a standard measuring cup?
Echo says
November 19, 2016 at 10:43 pmThanks for asking, Barbara! The recipe calls for a standard cup of rice.
Jessica says
January 23, 2019 at 1:29 amwow! It looks yummy. Thanks for nice recipes..I really can not wait to try it out.
Nemo says
January 26, 2019 at 8:51 pmWhy does the recipe talk about drain the rice for an hour but in the comments you talk about soaking for an hour.
You wanna fix that?
Favorite Family Recipes says
February 6, 2019 at 12:26 pmThe recipe is correct. The rice will still soak up some water, even while the excess if being drained off.
ben says
February 28, 2019 at 6:13 pmsounds good but u dont need to drain the rice
Yehudis says
April 5, 2019 at 11:12 amThis sushi rice recipe takes more involvement than most recipes, but I keep coming back to it because it is the best! It comes out perfect every time. I have started heating the vinegar, sugar and salt in the microwave to make it easier.
Erica says
April 6, 2019 at 3:04 pmThank you so much for this nice comment! Yes, it is more involved but I agree, it’s the only way it comes out just right. 🙂 Great idea to microwave the vinegar, sugar, and salt together!
Jen says
April 13, 2019 at 3:06 pmIt was a great rice recipe. I have pinned it and I am on my way to sushi making heaven. Thanks!
Erica says
April 14, 2019 at 6:02 pmso glad you liked it! Hopefully you were able to make some good sushi with it!