When it comes to celebratory meals, sushi is always at the top of my list. For birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestones, nothing could do proper justice to the event like a glorious platter of carefully rolled maki or dainty nigiri. From childhood to this very day, it’s still my number one request for a fancy treat.

Of course, sushi is not the kind of indulgence one can splurge on casually or in great volume. While I’d like to invite everyone I know and love to join me in such revelry, quite frankly, I don’t make that kind of money. I do, however, make that kind of food, which is why I’ve come to realize that throwing a sushi party at home is an even greater sort of celebration.

How can you throw a sushi party at home?

There are many ways to go about this. First, consider whether you want guests to be able to roll their own sushi or simply eat what your prepare. I think it’s a whole lot more fun to have a hands-on activity, and it puts much less stress on the host if they’re not doing all the work.

Don’t have enough sushi mats for everyone?

Don’t worry; I don’t even use mine anymore. Lay down sheets of parchment paper to help everyone roll up their sushi creations, and simply throw them away when it’s all said and done. Use compostable parchment paper to prevent excess waste.

How much sushi rice should you make?

Let’s work backwards to figure out portion sizes. The average sushi roll uses about 1/3 cup of cooked rice, and let’s say most people will eat 2 – 3 rolls each. That means we want at least 1 cup of cooked sushi per guest. My basic formula makes 4 cups, which you can halve, double, or triple accordingly, always erring on the side of extra. Leftovers are great for making fried rice or ochazuke the next day.

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Yield: Makes 4 Cups

Easy Sushi Rice

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For perfect maki sushi or nigiri, this simple formula for easy homemade sushi rice will never do you wrong!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Sushi Rice
• 2 1/2 Cups Water
• 2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt

Instructions

1. Rinse the rice in a fine mesh sieve until the water runs clear. Transfer to a medium saucepan and add the water.
2. Bring rice to a boil over medium heat; immediately turn heat to low, and cover. Cook for 10 minutes, remove from heat and let sit, covered, 15 minutes, undisturbed.
3. Mix together the vinegar, sugar, and salt and add it to the rice. Gently fold with a spatula to incorporate. Let sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes longer, until just warm to the touch.

Recommended Products

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• 
  Wholesome, Organic Cane Sugar, 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
• 
  Celtic Sea Salt, Fine Ground, Vital Mineral Blend, 1 lb (454 g)
• 
  Lundberg, Organic California Sushi Rice, 2 lbs (907 g)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 132Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 415mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 2g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.

What kind of fillings are best for a sushi party?

The luxury of making your own sushi is having endless options for fillings, freed from traditional, tired, or simply uncreative menus. You could truly put anything in the middle of your maki, including veggie burgers and guacamole, if you so wished. Go ahead, use this as an opportunity to empty out your fridge, freezer, and pantry if you’re entertaining on a shoestring budget! For more thematic options, my favorites include:

• Sliced avocado
• Shredded seedless cucumber
• Shredded carrots
• Shredded daikon radish
• Umeboshi
• Shiso
• Blanched or grilled asparagus
• Fried tofu or tofu nuggets
• Watermelon ahi tuna
• Fish-free salmon sashimi
• Vegan cream cheese
• Shiitake bacon
• Eggless tamagoyaki
• Takuan (pickled daikon)

Don’t forget the sushi toppings and condiments!

If you don’t have some sort of soy sauce or tamari for dipping, that’s a crime and I’m never coming to any of your parties again. Beyond that, there’s plenty of room for different ways to finish off your rolls with style:

• Dynamite sauce (spicy mayo)
• Wasabi
• Shichimi togarashi
• Furikake
• Scallions
• Ponzu
• Pickled Ginger
• Lentil caviar
• Tempura crunchies

Prepare ample snacks for those who come early or late.

It might take some time before everyone can finish rolling their own, so don’t leave anyone hungry while they wait. You can prepare all sorts of small bites and starters well in advance so you can stress less.

• Edamame, warm, chilled, spicy, truffled, or pan-fried
• Gyoza, steamed or pan-fried
• Miso soup
• Chuka ika sansai (calamari salad)
• Seaweed salad

Finally, don’t forget the drinks.

When in doubt, good old ice water has never done me wrong. If you’d like something a bit more festive to say “kampai!” with, consider both spirited and sober options.

• Green tea, hot or iced
• Iced mugicha (barley tea)
• Ramune soda
• Sake, hot or cold
• Shochu
• Japanese beer

Are you ready to start rolling?

If you’d like some more inspiration to get this party started, here are a few more recipes you’ll love:

San Francisco, California Roll
Sush-Easy Creative Vegetable Sushi
Sushi Cups