How To Make Sushi Donuts- Step By Step Guide 

These homemade sushi donuts are not only delicious but also a delight to create in your own kitchen. Crafting these sushi donuts is effortless and brings immense joy to friends, family, and even children. It's a fun activity where everyone can personalize their sushi donuts with their preferred ingredients, ensuring everyone's cravings are satisfied. You only need a donut mold, sushi rice, and favorite sushi ingredients to start.

In this post, I will share how to make fun and delicious sushi donuts.

Sushi Donut Recipe

Ingredients

Dipping Sauce

Directions

1. Rinse the sushi rice thoroughly until the water runs clear. To cook the rice, follow the instructions on the package or use a rice cooker or instant pot. Once the rice is fully cooked, allow it to rest for at least 5 minutes or cool down to room temperature. This resting period helps the rice achieve the ideal texture and allows it to be more manageable for shaping into sushi donuts.

2. Slice the sushi-grade fish, vegetables, and fruits into thin strips or bite-sized pieces. This ensures that the ingredients are easily manageable and allows for a harmonious combination of flavors and textures in your sushi donuts.

3. Sprinkle toppings such as sesame seeds, furikake, or any other preferred garnishes over the sushi donuts. This adds both flavor and visual appeal.

4. Place your desired fillings inside the rice donut and on top of or next to the toppings. You can then layer the fish, thinly sliced cucumbers, mango, and strawberry to your desired taste and appearance.

5. Take a small portion of sushi rice and press it into the mold, and it is filled evenly. Repeat this step for each sushi donut you wish to make.

6. Place nori sheets on top of the rice donuts, flip them over gently, and then place them on a serving plate.

7. Arrange the sushi donuts on a platter and serve them with a dipping sauce, such as soy sauce or soy sauce mixed with wasabi.

Toppings: You can display the topping on top of the rice donut in a few ways. You can either place it horizontally or vertically in the mold and how you position the ingredients will affect how it will look on the rice donut when it pops out.

To Get Your Sushi Donut Out Easier: If you have a mold that is hard to get the "donut" out of, you can place a plastic wrap in the mold first and then place the ingredients. You can also make a rice donut and place the ingredients on top after getting it out.

What You Will Need To Make Sushi Donuts

Donut Mold

For creating the donut shape and crafting personalized sushi donuts, I suggest using the smallest donut pan available. This way, you can relish a variety of sushi donuts in smaller portions.

Opting for a food-grade silicone donut mold can make removing the sushi donut easier than using a rigid mold. The flexibility of the silicone allows for effortless popping out of the sushi donut, enhancing the overall experience.

Sushi Rice

To make a sushi donut, you must make some sushi rice. Begin by acquiring either short-grain sushi rice or sushi rice, both suitable for this purpose. Proceed by rinsing the rice thoroughly, then soaking and cooking it in a rice cooker or instant pot with water, following the instructions. Once the rice is fully cooked, allow it to cool before adding sushi vinegar or rice vinegar to enhance its flavor.

For a serving of 2-3 individuals, make approximately one cup of sushi rice. This quantity should yield around 12 small sushi donuts, but the actual number may vary depending on the size of your mold and the amount of filling you plan to use.

Sashimi-Grade Fish

To create these colorful sushi donuts, it's important to use sushi-grade or sashimi-grade fish. You can typically find these high-quality fish options in the frozen section of most grocery stores, particularly near the seafood area. Additionally, seafood markets and local farmers' markets are great places to explore these sushi-grade ingredients.

Common examples of sushi-grade or sashimi-grade fish that you can easily find at stores include salmon, tuna, and albacore. If you have Japanese or Asian grocery stores nearby, they often have a wide variety of sushi-grade ingredients readily available. Alternatively, you can also experiment with other types of seafood, such as unagi, cooked lobster, cooked shrimp, roe (fish eggs), or fresh sea urchins.

The terms "sushi-grade" and "sashimi-grade" mean the same. However, sushi-grade fish differs from regular raw fish at the grocery store. To be labeled as sushi-grade, the fish needs to meet FDA guidelines, which means it needs to be frozen for specific periods at a particular temperature to get rid of parasites.

For those who prefer cooked fish instead of raw fish, a wide array of delectable options are available to incorporate into your sushi donuts. Consider using cooked fish such as smoked salmon or poached salmon as a flavorful alternative. These cooked fish variations bring unique textures and flavors to the sushi donuts, ensuring a delightful culinary experience.

Fish Free Options

However, if seafood is not your preference, don't worry! For a vegan-friendly alternative, you can still create delicious sushi donuts using alternative protein options like beef, chicken, or tofu. The possibilities for sushi donut recipes are truly limitless, allowing you to unleash your creativity and cater to various dietary preferences.

Fruits And Vegetables

Cucumbers, carrots, avocado, and mango are popular fruits and vegetables to include in sushi donuts. However, don't hesitate to personalize your creations by using your favorite vegetables or even incorporating pickles such as pickled ginger, Kyurizuke, or Takuan.

When preparing these ingredients for your sushi donuts, it's essential to use a sharp knife and slice them thinly. This ensures the ingredients are easy to handle and blend harmoniously within the sushi donut. So, get creative with your vegetable and fruit selections while ensuring precise and delicate slicing techniques.

Nori/Seaweed Sheet

Even though this isn't your traditional sushi, it is no sushi without nori/seaweed sheet! Good quality nori has an umami flavor with a hint of sweetness. If you are unable to find nori or don't like its taste, you can replace it with shiso leaf.

Toppings

When it comes to toppings for your sushi donuts, the possibilities are endless. To add a flavorful touch, you can choose from various sauces, such as eel sauce or spicy mayo. 

Additionally, for some delightful crunch, consider incorporating toppings like green onion, toasted black sesame seeds, white sesame seeds, or even furikake—a Japanese seasoning blend. These toppings enhance the taste and texture of your sushi donuts and add visual appeal. 

Feel free to experiment with different combinations to discover your favorite flavor profiles and enjoy the delightful experience of customizing your sushi donuts with these delectable toppings.

Dipping Sauce

Similar to traditional sushi, a dipping sauce is a delightful addition to complement your sushi donut. You can create a classic sushi sauce by combining soy sauce and wasabi, and this combination provides a savory and slightly spicy flavor that pairs perfectly with the sushi donut. Adjust the amount of wasabi according to your preference for spiciness.

How To Make Sushi Donuts

Now that you know what you need to make these sushi donuts and what you want to use, let's discuss how to assemble them.

Place Your Protein, Fruits, Vegetables, And Toppings

Make sure everything is cut thinly sliced and placed in the donut mold. 

Place Your Rice

Place your cooked rice on top of the topping and fill your mold. Give the rice a little push at the end to ensure all the ingredients are intact. 

Place Nori Sheets

Each donut will need its own nori sheet, so you may need to cut it. To get the "donut" out, place the nori sheets to cover each donut and then flip the mold over. The nori sheet should stick to the rice, and the "donut" should come out pretty easily.