Description

Halloween Sushi Balls are a fun and festive twist on traditional sushi, shaped into bite-sized balls perfect for a spooky party. Made with seasoned sushi rice, a flavorful base of smoked salmon or vegetables, and topped with colorful shredded veggies or imitation crab, these sushi balls are both visually appealing and delicious. Ideal for Halloween gatherings, they’re easy to prepare and can be customized with your favorite sushi ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale

For the sushi rice

2 cups short-grain white rice (“sushi rice”)
2 tablespoons rice or apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 – 2 tablespoons roasted sesame seeds (optional)

For the base

Thinly sliced smoked salmon, avocado, Japanese pickled daikon, or radish
Roasted nori seaweed, cut into rounds if desired

For the topping

Shredded carrot, kale, cucumber, or imitation crab meat
Roasted black sesame seeds

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Instructions

Prepare the sushi rice: In a small bowl, dissolve sugar and salt in the rice or apple cider vinegar and set aside.
Wash and rinse rice: Wash and rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear, ensuring the rice is clean.
Cook the rice: If using a rice cooker, combine rice with 2 cups of water and cook as per instructions. For stovetop, mix rice with 2½ cups water in a pot, bring to a boil uncovered over medium-high heat, stir once boiling, then cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes.
Rest the rice: Let the rice sit off the heat for 5 minutes with the lid on to steam and finish cooking.
Season the rice: Transfer hot rice to a bowl, gently sprinkle the vinegar mixture over it while fluffing with a fork, making sure to evenly mix without mashing the rice. Cover with a paper towel and let cool slightly above room temperature.
Optional seeds: Mix roasted sesame seeds into the cooled rice for extra flavor if desired.
Form the sushi balls: Place a thin slice of smoked salmon or chosen base ingredient on a piece of plastic wrap, add a small scoop of rice on top, then gather the plastic wrap around the rice and twist gently while molding into a ball shape.
Add toppings: Place shredded vegetables or roasted black sesame seeds on a plate, dip and roll the sushi balls in them while pressing gently to adhere the toppings.
Decorate: Add edible eyeballs or similar decorations to create a spooky monster effect.
Serve: Arrange the sushi balls on a platter and serve with soy sauce, wasabi paste, and gari (pickled ginger) for dipping and extra flavor.

Notes

Use short-grain sushi rice for the best sticky texture that holds together well.
Make sure to cool the rice to just above room temperature before forming balls to ensure easy handling.
You can customize the base and toppings with your favorite sushi ingredients to suit different tastes and dietary preferences.
Edible eyeballs for decoration can be purchased online or made using small nori and cheese circles.
Serve immediately for best texture, but sushi balls can be stored in the refrigerator wrapped in plastic for a few hours.
Add vinegar mixture gradually and adjust to taste to avoid overpowering the rice.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 sushi ball (approx. 30g)
Calories: 45
Sugar: 1.2g
Sodium: 120mg
Fat: 1.2g
Saturated Fat: 0.2g
Unsaturated Fat: 0.8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 7.5g
Fiber: 0.5g
Protein: 1.5g
Cholesterol: 5mg