Our Cucumber Sushi Rolls feature the rich flavors of canned salmon and the creamy goodness of cream cheese. This delightful twist on traditional sushi combines the ease of canned salmon paired with sushi rice and cream cheese, wrapped in cucumber rather than nori seaweed. Perfect for a light lunch, a snack, or as an impressive appetizer for your next gathering.
Homemade sushi is a fantastic way to highlight classic flavors while also experimenting with new flavors and textures. This veggie sushi is especially great for those that may be hesitant to try seaweed or nori.
Seaweed is relatively mild in taste with a crisp and brittle texture, making it a nice contrast to the other ingredients like cream cheese and sushi rice. Before exploring making nori sushi like these tuna sushi rolls, this cucumber sushi is the perfect starting point.
Let kids lay out the ingredients, spread on the cream cheese and add the canned salmon before assisting as they roll.
Keep reading to learn other ingredients that can be added to sushi, how to cut sushi and the best way to store if you are lucky enough to have leftovers!
For more kid approved recipes, check out Cottage Cheese Ice Cream, Air Fryer Gluten-Free French Toast Sticks, Creamy Fruit Popsicle and Ground Turkey Nuggets (Air Fryer).
What’s in a Cucumber Roll?
- 2 large English cucumbers
- 5 ounces canned salmon, drained
- 1/2 cup cooked sushi rice
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup whipped cream cheese
- sesame seeds, optional
How To Cut Cucumber for Sushi Roll
Using a vegetable peeler, peel off the outermost layer on one side of the cucumber and cut the ends off. Place the cucumber on a cutting board and carefully use the vegetable peeler to slice long layers of cucumber. Dry the slices thoroughly with a paper towel.
English cucumbers are best for cucumber rolls because they are seedless and usually longer and slimmer than other varieties.
Recipe Instructions
After the cucumbers have been sliced, mix seasoned rice vinegar into the cooked sushi rice using a sideways chopping motion. Seasoned rice vinegar is just rice vinegar with a little sugar and salt added for flavor.
Then, place slices of cucumber on the sushi rolling mat overlapping a little. Spread with cream cheese. Place 1/2 can of salmon on the edge of the roll that has the ends of the cucumbers. Place 1/4 cup of rice next to the salmon. Gently roll with the sushi mat pulling lightly to make the roll secure. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired. Refrigerate for about 15-30 minutes before slicing.
Once chilled, use a serrated knife to slice in half, then halve again until you have evenly sized slices.
Sushi without Fish
It is possible to make vegetarian sushi without any fish such as tuna or salmon. Fish-free sushi is a great option for those with food preferences or dietary needs.
Simply replace the salmon for another ingredient such as thinly sliced carrot sticks, avocado slices, or bell pepper strips. You can also marinate, or fry tofu and then use it as a vegetarian ingredient.
Recipe Tips
- Rice Preparation: When mixing the seasoned rice vinegar into the sushi rice, use a wooden or plastic spatula. This prevents the rice from being squashed, which could affect its texture.
- Rice Cooling: Allow the cooked rice to cool slightly before adding the seasoned rice vinegar. Hot rice can become too sticky and difficult to work with.
- Sharp Knife: Use a very sharp serrated knife when slicing the rolls. This will help you achieve clean and neat cuts, preventing the roll from becoming squished.
- Slicing Technique: Hold the knife with gentle pressure and use a sawing motion to slice the roll. This will help you achieve clean slices without compressing the roll.
- Ingredient Swap: Plain, whipped cream cheese is used, but can be swapped with a flavored cream cheese such as garlic herb or jalapeno for additional flavor. It is recommended to choose the whipped variety or whip at home to make it easier to spread.
- Experiment with Sauces: Enhance the flavor with dipping sauces such as soy sauce, spicy mayo or teriyaki sauce.
Serving Suggestions
Sushi is traditionally served with soy sauce, wasabi and pickled ginger, all flavor packed ingredients. Incorporating other dipping sauces is a fun way to change up the routine. You can also serve alongside a variety of appetizers.
Here are a few to consider:
- Sheet Pan Shrimp
- Frozen Meatballs in the Crockpot
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Gluten Free Crab Dip
- Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
Frequently Asked Questions
Start by lifting the edge of the plastic wrap closest to you and start rolling the cucumber over the fillings, using your fingers to tuck the fillings in and tighten the roll as you go. Be gentle but firm. When you’ve rolled it up halfway, remove the plastic wrap. Continue rolling the sushi until fully rolled. Refrigerate then slice and serve.
In most cases, you will typically see a roll sliced into 6-8 pieces. You can plan on one roll per person. For smaller children, half a roll will likely be enough when serving as an entree.
English cucumbers are the best for a cucumber sushi roll because they are seedless or contain very tiny seeds, making the flavor less bitter. They are also longer, slimmer and have a more tender skin that is milder and sweeter compared to other varieties.
Popular ingredients include tuna, salmon, eel, crab, cucumber, avocado, carrots, bell peppers, tofu, tempura shrimp or vegetables. Add variety depending on your taste preferences while also being mindful to not overstuff the rolls.
Storage Instructions
Sushi is best enjoyed on the same day it’s made, as the quality of the ingredients can deteriorate over time. However, sushi rice can be made in advance and stored in the fridge until ready to roll. If you need to store the rolls for a short period, they can last in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. To maintain the desired texture and taste, refrain from slicing the rolls until just before serving.
Store by wrapping the entire roll tightly in plastic wrap to prevent the cucumber from falling apart. For added protection, place the wrapped roll in an airtight container. Once the rolls are properly wrapped and contained, store them in the refrigerator.
When you’re ready to enjoy the stored sushi rolls, carefully unwrap them and slice them into pieces. Remember that sushi tastes its best when it’s fresh, so try to consume the stored rolls as soon as possible to appreciate the flavors and textures to the fullest.
We do not recommend freezing sushi as a storage method. Instead select a freezer friendly meal such as Stuffed Pepper Soup (Crockpot), Gluten Free Chicken Enchiladas and Gluten Free Chicken Casserole.
Kids In The Kitchen
Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.
- Overstuffing the cucumber slices will cause the rolls to fall apart. Measure ingredients then roll carefully and slowly for best results.
- Ask a helper when slicing sushi because you will need a sharp, serrated knife. If nervous, hold the top of your helper’s hand while they cut the rolls.
- Swap the salmon! Have you ever tried tuna sushi rolls? It is delicious. Instead of using canned salmon, ask your helper to add canned tuna. You follow the same recipe directions; the tuna is the only change.
More Easy Salmon Recipes
- Oven Baked Salmon in Foil
- Sheet Pan Salmon
- Salmon Buddha Bowl
- Crispy Baked Salmon Nuggets
- Canned Salmon Pasta Recipe
- Air Fryer Salmon Patties
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Cucumber Sushi Roll Recipe
Equipment
- sushi mat
- serrated knife
Ingredients
- 2 large English cucumbers
- 5 ounces canned salmon drained✅
- 1/2 cup cooked sushi rice
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup whipped cream cheese ✅
- sesame seeds optional✅
Instructions
- Prep the cucumbers. Using a vegetable peeler, peel off the outermost layer on one side of the cucumber and cut the ends off. Place the cucumber on a cutting board and carefully use the vegetable peeler to slice long layers of cucumber. Dry the slices thoroughly with paper towel.2 large English cucumbers
- Blend the rice and vinegar. Mix seasoned rice vinegar into the cooked sushi rice using a sideways chopping motion.
- Make the rolls. Place slices of cucumber on the sushi rolling mat overlapping a little. Spread with cream cheese. Place 1/2 can of salmon on the edge of the roll that has the ends of the cucumbers. Place 1/4 cup of rice next to the salmon. Gently roll with the sushi mat pulling lightly to make the roll secure. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired. Refrigerate for about 15-30 minutes before slicing.5 ounces canned salmon, 1/2 cup cooked sushi rice, 1/4 cup whipped cream cheese
- ⭐️ Slice. Once chilled, use a serrated knife to slice in half, then halves again until you have evenly sized slices.
Notes
- Rice Preparation: When mixing the seasoned rice vinegar into the sushi rice, use a wooden or plastic spatula. This prevents the rice from being squashed, which could affect its texture.
- Rice Cooling: Allow the cooked rice to cool slightly before adding the seasoned rice vinegar. Hot rice can become too sticky and difficult to work with.
- Sharp Knife: Use a very sharp serrated knife when slicing the rolls. This will help you achieve clean and neat cuts, preventing the roll from becoming squished.
- Slicing Technique: Hold the knife with gentle pressure and use a sawing motion to slice the roll. This will help you achieve clean slices without compressing the roll.
- Ingredient Swap: Plain, whipped cream cheese is used, but can be swapped with a flavored cream cheese such as garlic herb or jalapeno for additional flavor. It is recommended to choose the whipped variety or whip at home to make it easier to spread.
- Experiment with Sauces: Enhance the flavor with dipping sauces such as soy sauce, spicy mayo or teriyaki sauce.
Nutrition
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