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    Home » Recipes » Asian

    California Roll in a Bowl

    Published: May 14, 2022 · Modified: Feb 14, 2025 by Sherri · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

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    white bowl full of imitation crab, avocado and diced cucumber with spicy mayo drizzled over top

    This California Roll in a Bowl is a deconstructed version of your favorite sushi roll complete with imitation crab, cucumber and avocado on a bed of sushi rice and topped with a spicy mayo sauce!

    Be sure to try this Spring Roll in a Bowl and these Bang Bang Shrimp Bowls too!

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    closeup of ingredients for California Sushi roll in a bowl - imitation crab, cucumber, avocado, green scallions with spicy mayo drizzled over top

    Table of contents

    • California Roll Sushi Bowls
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to Make this for this Simple Sushi Bowl
    • Variations/ Substitutions
    • Tips
    • FAQ’s
      • Other Asian Recipes

    California Roll Sushi Bowls

    Full of fresh ingredients, this rice bowl recipe takes a classic California roll and turns it into an easy sushi bowl! Making a deconstructed california roll, also known as a poke bowl, is not nearly as much work as learning how to roll sushi, so it’s perfect for quick and easy lunch or light dinner!

    I combined all of the elements and delicious flavors of a California roll like creamy avocado, budget-friendly faux crab, and crunchy cucumber which is then served over rice and coated in an easy dressing of spicy sriracha mayo! It’s an Asian-inspired dinner that is fresh, healthy, and comes together in a pinch, just like beef and broccoli stir fry!

    bowl with cucumber, crab meat, avocado with pink sauce drizzled over and chopsticks picking up a piece of crab meat

    It’s served cold which makes it an easy choice for a hearty meal on a hot day. It’s completely customizable, so don’t stop at the California roll. Use this as a base to turn all of your favorite rolls into bowls!

    several bowls of ingredients for California roll sushi bowl - rice, cucumber, imitation crab meat, avocado, mayo, sriracha sauce

    Ingredients needed

    • Sushi rice: Used as the foundation for this bowl, sushi rice is short-grain white rice that has a bit of stickiness to it (not the same as sticky rice).
    • Water: Needed to cook the rice.
    • Rice vinegar: A traditional vinegar used in Japanese cooking, which gives the rice a slightly sour flavor.
    • Diced avocado: The creamy element that delivers healthy fats and delicious flavor!
    • Imitation crab: Much more cost-effective than real crab. It’s actually not crab at all!
    • English cucumber: Crunchy crispy, and fresh, it balances out the other textures.
    • Mayonnaise & Sriracha: For a quick, easy dressing that signifies that amazing drizzle of sauce you find on sushi rolls.
    • White or black sesame seeds, sliced green onions, and nori furikake: For garnish!

    How to Make this for this Simple Sushi Bowl

    If you love the idea of eating sushi rolls but don’t know how to make them. Then, don’t. Make a sushi bowl with just a few steps!

    Step 1: Boil uncooked rice over medium-high heat, then cover and reduce to low. Simmer for 18-20 minutes until all the water is absorbed. (you can also cook the rice in a rice cooker per it’s directions, as I did)

    rice cooker with white sushi rice

    Step 2: Transfer cooked rice to a medium bowl and mix in rice vinegar. Set it aside to cool completely.

    closeup of a white bowl with white rice

    Step 3: Whisk together the mayonnaise and sriracha in a bowl.

    small glass bowl with spicy mayonnaise

    Assembling the Sushi Bowl

    Start by dividing the rice into 4 serving bowls. Top with avocado, crab, and cucumber then drizzle the spicy mayo on top. Serve with your choice of soy sauce, sesame seeds, green onion, or nori furikake seasoning. Or, all of the above!

    california sushi roll deconstructed in a bowl and drizzled with spicy mayonnaise

    Variations/ Substitutions

    1. Use brown rice or regular rice, if preferred.
    2. Use cauliflower rice for a low carb keto version.
    3. Additional ingredients for added texture and flavor include pickled ginger (or fresh ginger), slivered carrots, sliced radish, and thinly sliced nori seaweed.
    4. Use lump crab meat if desired. Not a fan of crab? Use cooked shrimp or smoked salmon instead! Ok, so it’s not a California roll anymore, but it works!
    5. Top with the favorite yum yum sauce if you’d like too!

    Tips

    • You can also use a rice cooker to cook the rice per the rice cooker instructions. Instant Pot rice is also great.
    • Make sure to rinse your rice thoroughly before cooking it.
    • Find Sushi rice in the Asian aisle of most grocery stores. Yes, it’s called sushi rice.
    • Types of cucumber to use. I prefer English or Persian because they have fewer seeds, but any cucumber is fine.
    • Mayonnaise. Use Japanese mayo or regular mayonnaise.
    • Spice level. Add more or less sriracha sauce depending on how spicy you like the dressing!
    • Thin out the dressing. If the dressing is too thick for your liking, you a bit of water to thin it out.

    FAQ’s

    How to store California roll in a bowl?

    You don’t! Just make enough for as much as you’re going to eat because once it has been assembled, the toppings generally will become mushy after a while. Cut the avocado just before serving, otherwise, it will turn brown and unappealing.

    There are ways to store things separately before assembling the sushi bowl. You can cook the rice and store it in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
    Make the dressing the night before and bring it up to room temperature before pouring.

    Why do you have to rinse rice?

    Rice, but especially white rice, is high in starch. When cooked it can become gummy. Although we like our rice to be “sticky” in this case, we don’t want it clumpy or gluey.

    What is nori furikake?

    It’s a seasoning blend made from dried seaweed, sesame seeds and salt. If you can’t find any, feel free to use them all separately and make your own. You can also use salted nori (dried seaweed) by itself.

    Other Asian Recipes

    Chicken Pad Thai

    Bang Bang Shrimp and Pasta

    Kung Pao Tofu

    If you like this recipe, please leave us a comment and rate the recipe below. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram!

    bowl full of fresh cucumber slices, imitaion crab meat, and avocado with spicy mayo drizzles and topped with sesame seeds

    California Roll in a Bowl

    This California Roll in a Bowl is a deconstructed version of your favorite sushi roll complete with imitation crab and avocado on a bed of sushi rice and topped with a spicy mayo sauce!
    5 from 42 votes
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    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Asian, Japanese
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 bowls
    Calories: 504kcal
    Author: Sherri Hagymas

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup sushi rice or other short grain rice
    • 1 ¼ cups water
    • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
    • 1 large avocado diced
    • 8 ounces imitation crab diced
    • 1 cup english cucumber diced
    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • 2 teaspoons sriracha
    • Sesame Seeds sliced green onions, and/or Nori Furikake, for garnish

    Instructions

    • Rinse the rice under cold water for 30 seconds until the water runs clear. (I use a mesh strainer to do this)
    • Add the rice and water to a medium pot and and bring a boil over medium-high heat.
    • Cover and reduce the heat to low and simmer for 18-20 minutes until the water is absorbed
    • Add the cooked rice to a large bowl and drizzle with the rice vinegar then stir to combine.
    • Set the rice aside and cool completely.
    • Whisk together the mayonnaise and sriracha in a small bowl. If desired, add in a tablespoon of water to thin the sauce.

    Assembling the Sushi Bowls

    • Divide the rice between four bowls. Top with avocado, imitation crab, and diced cucumber.
    • Drizzle the spicy mayo over top.
    • Garnish with soy sauce, sesame seeds, green onion, or nori furikake seasoning.

    Notes

    You can also use a rice cooker to cook the rice per the rice cooker instructions.
    Find Sushi rice in the Asian aisle of most grocery stores.
    Use brown rice or other rice if preferred
    Use cauliflower rice for a low carb keto version.
    I prefer english or Persian because they have a less seeds but any cucumber is fine.
    Use Japanese mayo or regular mayonnaise
    Add more or less sriracha sauce depending on how spicy you like the mayo.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 504kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 560mg | Potassium: 326mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 122IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional Disclosure

    Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lori

      March 31, 2024 at 12:48 am

      5 stars
      Our new favourite salad! Delicious!!

      Reply
    2. Michelle

      February 20, 2024 at 6:01 pm

      5 stars
      So good and easy!! Beats making sushi rolls! I could eat this everyday.

      Reply
      • Sherri

        February 21, 2024 at 9:35 am

        It does!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    3. Ashlyn

      April 18, 2023 at 10:06 pm

      5 stars
      Very tasty and quick to put together! I added lettuce to mine because I had some I needed to use up and it was a great addition. Added some everything but the bagel seasoning too. Yummy!

      Reply
    4. Kate

      April 10, 2023 at 9:44 pm

      5 stars
      So flippin yum! Thank you! So easy. I bumped up the Siracha for a slightly spicier sauce and added a few edamame. But honestly this recipe is perfect as is.

      Reply
    5. Debra Fawcett

      January 09, 2023 at 8:54 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious

      Reply
    6. Sam

      November 28, 2022 at 10:46 pm

      5 stars
      I want to trying make it

      Reply
    5 from 42 votes (36 ratings without comment)

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    Sherri Hagymas leaning on a counter with a white coffee mug

    Hi there! I’m Sherri I love creating a variety of easy recipes that anyone can make and enjoy! From healthy to comforting, I hope you find something that inspires you!.

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