Albino Monkey Sushi Making Kit
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20 pieces: bazooka roller, bamboo mat, rice paddle, sashimi knife, 5 pairs of chopsticks and a free 15-lesson video course.
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Home / Sushi Recipes / Vegetarian Sushi Rolls
Vegetarian Sushi Rolls: 3 Easy Rolls to Make at Home
Updated November 9, 2026 by the team at Albino-monkey.com
Vegetarian sushi rolls use the same seasoned rice and nori as any roll, with vegetables, avocado, egg or tofu instead of fish. The three easiest at home are an avocado cucumber roll, a roasted sweet potato roll and a crunchy rainbow veggie roll. This recipe makes 4 rolls, about 32 pieces, in under an hour once the rice is ready. Most of them are also vegan.
Ingredients
- 4 cups seasoned sushi rice
- 4 nori sheets
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch sticks
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- 1 ripe avocado, sliced
- 1 cucumber, cut into thin strips
- 1 carrot, cut into thin matchsticks
- 1/2 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
- 4 strips pickled daikon radish (takuan), optional
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- Soy sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi, for serving
Directions
- Heat the oven to 425F. Toss the sweet potato sticks with the oil and roast for 20 to 25 minutes until tender and browned at the edges. Let them cool.
- Cover a bamboo mat with plastic wrap and lay a nori sheet on it, shiny side down.
- With damp hands, spread 1 cup of rice over the nori, leaving a 1 inch strip bare at the top edge.
- For an avocado cucumber roll, lay avocado and cucumber in a line across the lower third. For a sweet potato roll, use 3 to 4 sticks of sweet potato with avocado. For the veggie roll, use carrot, bell pepper, cucumber and pickled radish.
- Lift the edge of the mat, roll it over the filling and tuck it in tightly, then keep rolling away from you, pressing gently through the mat. Wet the bare nori edge to seal.
- Sprinkle sesame seeds over the outside if you like. Slice each roll into 8 pieces with a wet, sharp knife, wiping the blade between cuts.
- Serve with soy sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi.
Best vegetarian sushi fillings
| Filling | Why it works | Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Avocado | Creamy, holds the roll together | Slice thin just before rolling |
| Cucumber | Crunch and freshness | Seed and cut into thin strips |
| Roasted sweet potato | Sweet and soft, very filling | Roast at 425F for 20 to 25 min |
| Pickled daikon (takuan) | Tangy, bright yellow | Buy ready to use |
| Carrot and bell pepper | Color and crunch | Thin matchsticks |
| Tamago (Japanese omelet) | Sweet, vegetarian protein | Thin omelet cut into strips |
| Baked or fried tofu | Vegan protein | Press, slice, bake or pan fry |
| Mango | Sweet contrast to avocado | Ripe but firm strips |
Is it vegan?
Nori, sushi rice, vegetables and avocado are all plant based. Two things to check: some imitation crab and fish cakes contain fish, and tamago contains egg. Store-bought spicy mayo contains egg too, so use a vegan mayo if you need to.
Tips for a tight vegetarian roll
- Vegetables are firmer than fish, so cut them thin and do not overfill: 3 to 4 strips per roll is plenty.
- Put avocado next to the harder vegetables. It works like glue and keeps the slices from sliding apart.
- Roast the sweet potato until fully soft. Undercooked sticks make the roll crack when you cut it.
- Use a very sharp knife and wipe it with a damp cloth between cuts.
Tools that make it easier
A bamboo mat gives an even, tight roll, and a dishwasher-safe mat is handy for inside-out rolls with sesame on the outside. If rolling by hand feels fiddly, the bazooka pushes out an even roll every time.
We make the Albino Monkey Sushi Making Kit (20 pieces, $23.99 on Amazon, 4.3 stars from 297 ratings): a bamboo mat, a dishwasher-safe mat, a rice paddle and spreader, the bazooka roller, a sashimi knife and 5 pairs of chopsticks, plus a free 15-lesson video course. See what is in the kit or start with our step-by-step sushi guide.
Common questions
- What is vegetarian sushi called?
- Vegetable rolls are often called veggie rolls. Specific ones have names: a cucumber roll is kappa maki, an avocado roll is avocado maki and a pickled radish roll is oshinko maki.
- Is sushi vegetarian?
- Traditional sushi refers to the vinegared rice, not the fish, so sushi can be fully vegetarian when it is filled with vegetables, egg or tofu.
- What is the easiest vegetarian sushi roll?
- An avocado cucumber roll. Both fillings need only slicing and the avocado helps the roll hold together.
- Can I make vegetarian sushi ahead?
- Make it up to a few hours ahead and keep it covered at cool room temperature. In the fridge the rice turns hard.
- Is nori vegan?
- Yes. Nori is dried seaweed with nothing else added.
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