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Home » Recipe Index » Rice, Potatoes and Noodles » Sushi Bake

Sushi Bake

Published: Sep 1, 2020 · Modified: Sep 2, 2020 by Lalaine Manalo · This post may contain affiliate links

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Sushi Bake is your favorite rice dish in a casserole form! It's easy to make and delivers the delicious Japanese flavors you love with no special sushi chef skills required.

cheesy baked sushi in clear casserole dish with sliced mangoes, cucumbers, and egg omelet on the side

I've had this baked sushi cooked, photographed, and ready to go way back in May on the height of its popularity, but my procrastinating self never got around to posting the recipe. Well, better late than never.

I don't think I'm too not too late for the party, though, because I'm still seeing the casserole making its rounds on social media. And if the hype has indeed waned, sushi bake deserves a push back to the limelight. It's just as tasty and fun to eat as when it was all the rage.

sushi rice, chopped mangoes, sliced cucumbers, nori sheets, furikake, imitation crab, cheese

The origin

Although there is no definitive history of how the sushi casserole idea came about, some articles suggest it might have originated in Hawaii which also gave birth to the poke bowl and spam musubi.

This baked seafood and rice might have just recently taken the Philippines by storm, but it has been around for a while. Recipes or early mentions of the dish can be found online dating as far back as 2011!

sushi bake in a casserole with drizzles of mayo and Sriracha

Sushi bake, simply put, is a broken-down version of the maki. Instead of rolling the rice around various fillings and wrapping with a sheet of dried seaweed, the different components are layered in a baking dish and finished off in the oven.

When hot and bubbly, the partakers then help themselves to bite-sized scoops of the rice and toppings and make small rolls with nori sheets. A truly delicious and fun experience!

How to Make

sushi rice mixed with furikake in abowl

The rice layer

Sushi rice is traditionally made of Japanese short-grain rice (meshi) which is characterized by the stickiness of its grains. This higher starch amylopectin content makes Japonica cultivar easier to eat with chopsticks as well as to shape into various sushi styles.

  • While the sticky and starchy variety is best, Jasmine rice can be substituted in a pinch. Just increase the amount of water used in cooking for a softer texture.
  • Wash the rice well until the water runs clear. For umami flavor, cook the rice with a piece of kombu or dried kelp.
  • The word sushi actually means "vinegared rice" and not "raw fish".  The steamed rice is flavored with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt to achieve a delicious balance of sweet, salty, and sourish taste.
  • Toss Furikake seasoning with the vinegared rice or sprinkle on top. This seafood flavoring, which is a savory mixture of bonito flakes, sesame seeds, chopped seaweed, sugar, salt, and MSG, is available at most Asian supermarkets or online. For a simple DIY option, quickly toast dried dilis (anchovies) on a hot skillet, grind in a food processor into a coarse powder, and combine with nori strips, sesame seeds, sugar, and salt.

shredded kani, diced mangoes, cucumber strips, and Japanese mayo in a bowl

California roll topping

  • Along with shredded imitation crab (kani) and julienned cucumbers, we're adding diced Manila mangoes for a pop of color and fresh fruit flavor.
  • The seafood salad is pulled together by Japanese mayo (Kewpie) for creaminess. As an easy substitute if Kewpie mayo is unavailable, stir in rice vinegar and sugar to regular mayo to taste.

  • Baked sushi is not only easy and fun to make, but also adaptable. You can go as simple as canned tuna or this kani salad for a budget-friendly option or fancy it up with more expensive choices such as salmon,  shrimp (ebi), lump crabmeat, scallops, crawfish, or fish roe (tobiko).
  • For a vegan version, you can use garbanzos, shitake mushrooms, firm tofu, or assorted veggies, and toss with vegan mayo.

sushi bake with shredded cheese ready to bake in a casserole

The cheese layer

  • After layering the creamy kani mixture, you can simply sprinkle more Furikake for extra color and then bake. We are, however, taking things up a notch and loading it up with shredded cheese! The result is a cheesy layer that's both golden brown and creamy!
  • To tone down the richness, skip the cheese and drizzle mayonnaise and Sriracha sauce (if you want a bit of heat) on the assembled casserole in a decorative pattern before baking.

baked sushi with cheese in a casserole dish

  • After baking, sprinkle with more furikake and decorate with mayo and Sriracha as desired.
  • You can also arrange diced mangoes, julienned cucumbers, sliced avocados, and egg omelet strips (tamago) on top of the sushi bake or serve these garnishes on the side.
  • If you prefer it cold, omit the cheese, and serve without baking.

eating baked sushi wrapped in nori

How to serve

  • Serve as a delicious and filling midday snack, appetizer, or main dish.
  • Cut the casserole into small squares or simply scoop a bite-size portion and wrap with nori seaweed. Top with mangoes, cucumbers, avocadoes, and/or egg strips for added fresh flavor and crunch.
  • Baked sushi is best eaten fresh from the oven. If you do have leftovers, transfer in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
cheesy baked sushi in clear casserole dish with sliced mangoes, cucumbers, and egg omelet on the side
Print Recipe Leave a Comment
4.17 from 6 votes

Sushi Bake

Baked Sushi is your favorite rice dish in a casserole form! It's easy to make and delivers the delicious Japanese flavors you love with no special sushi chef skills required.
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Asian
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 275kcal
Author: Lalaine Manalo

Ingredients

For the Sushi Rice

  • 4 cups cooked short-grain rice
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ cup Furikake

For the Kani Salad Topping

  • 2 cups Imitation crab (kani), shredded
  • 2 mangoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 cucumber, julienned
  • ½ cup Japanese mayonnaise
  • ½ cup quick-melt cheese, shredded
  • Nori seaweed sheets

Garnishes

  • mango, peeled and diced
  • cucumber, julienned
  • egg omelet, sliced into strips
  • Japanese mayonnaise
  • Sriracha sauce

Instructions

For the Sushi Rice Layer

  • In a large bowl, combine cooked rice, rice vinegar, sugar, and salt, Add Furikake and gently toss to distribute.
  • Transfer into an 11 x 8,5 casserole dish and using a spatula, spread across the bottom of the pan evenly. Set aside.
  • In another bowl, combine imitation crab, diced mangoes, julienned cucumbers, and Japanese mayonnaise. Gently stir to combine.
  • Spoon over the sushi rice layer and spread to cover top.
  • Sprinkle the kani salad topping with shredded cheese.
  • Bake in a 375 F oven for about 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to slightly cool. Garnish with additional diced mangoes, cucumber, and egg omelet strips, and drizzle with Japanese mayo and Sriracha sauce, if desired.
  • To enjoy, cut the casserole into small squares or scoop a portion and wrap in nori seaweed.

Video

Notes

Nutritional info calculated at 3 wraps per serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 689mg | Potassium: 237mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 651IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? I'd love to see what you made!mention @Kawalingpinoy and hashtag your photo with #kawalingpinoy

 

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Lalaine from Kawaling Pinoy

Hello! My name is Lalaine and welcome to Kawaling Pinoy where you’ll find Filipino and Asian-inspired recipes, cooking tips, and how-to videos. Read more...

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Comments

  1. ann jenette says

    October 24, 2020 at 5:04 pm

    where to buy furikake

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      October 31, 2020 at 7:21 am

      You can buy it at most Asian supermarkets or order online 🙂

      Reply
  2. Roxanne says

    October 07, 2020 at 7:16 pm

    What is “quick-melt cheese?” What would I look for in a US grocery store?

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      October 16, 2020 at 7:55 am

      I usually buy Eden or Magnolia 🙂

      Reply
  3. Rasbhari says

    September 08, 2020 at 8:57 am

    5 stars
    Sushi bake is very forgiving. You can essentially add any ingredients that you’d like.

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      September 13, 2020 at 7:22 pm

      Yup, so true! Always delicious 😀

      Reply
  4. Doug says

    September 02, 2020 at 5:20 am

    Anxious to try your Baked Sushi recipe 🧡

    I'll omit the cheese but will include the other ingredients.

    Thanks for posting.

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      September 02, 2020 at 12:30 pm

      You're welcome. Enjoy!

      Reply

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