Description
These Halloween Sushi Balls are a fun and festive twist on traditional sushi, perfect for a spooky-themed party or snack. Made with seasoned sushi rice formed into bite-sized balls and decorated with colorful vegetables, smoked salmon, and edible eyeballs, they offer a creative way to enjoy sushi flavors with a playful presentation.
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
Instructions
- Prepare the seasoning: In a small bowl, dissolve sugar and salt in the rice or apple cider vinegar, and set aside to be used for the rice flavoring.
- Wash the rice: Rinse the short-grain sushi rice repeatedly until the water runs clear to remove excess starch, then drain completely.
- Cook the rice: If using a rice cooker, combine the rice with 2 cups of water and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If cooking on the stovetop, mix rice with 2½ cups water, bring to a boil uncovered over medium-high heat, then stir, cover, and reduce heat to low. Let simmer for approximately 15 minutes until water is absorbed.
- Rest the rice: Remove from heat and let the rice sit covered for 5 minutes to steam and finish cooking evenly.
- Season the rice: Transfer the hot rice to a bowl and sprinkle the vinegar mixture over it. Gently fluff with a fork to evenly distribute the seasoning without smashing the grains. Cover with a paper towel and let the rice cool to just above room temperature.
- Optional addition: Mix in 1 to 2 tablespoons of roasted sesame seeds for added texture and flavor to the rice.
- Form the sushi balls: Place a thin slice of your chosen base ingredient (smoked salmon, avocado, pickled daikon, or radish) on a piece of plastic wrap. Scoop a small amount of seasoned rice on top. Gather the plastic wrap around the rice and base, twist to secure, and gently mold into a compact ball approximately 1½ inches in diameter.
- Decorate the sushi balls: Place shredded vegetables or roasted black sesame seeds on a plate or bowl. Roll each rice ball in the topping while gently pressing to adhere. Add edible eyeballs to create a monster-themed appearance for Halloween.
- Serve: Arrange the sushi balls on a serving platter and accompany with soy sauce, wasabi paste, and gari (pickled ginger) for dipping and garnishing.
Notes
- The sushi rice should be cooled to just above room temperature before forming and decorating to avoid sogginess or falling apart.
- Using plastic wrap helps to mold the sushi balls neatly without sticking to your hands.
- Feel free to customize the toppings and bases to keep the sushi balls fun and suited to your taste preferences or dietary needs.
- These sushi balls are best enjoyed fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours if tightly covered.
- Edible eyeballs can be purchased at specialty baking or Halloween stores to add a spooky touch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sushi ball (approximately 30g)
- Calories: 45 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 1.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg
