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Did you know you can make the sushi crab mix used in the classic crabmeat salad sushi rolls right at home? And it takes less than 10 minutes with no cooking!
Whether you want to make homemade sushi with the crab mixture, or just indulge in the delicious, creamy crabmeat salad mix, this sushi recipe is ultra easy to make so you can make it at home any time with absolutely no cooking required.
Plus, you've got an option for spicy crab salad as well. Just mix in a touch of sriracha with the Japanese mayo, and you're good to go. And, you'll fall in love with the tangy kewpie mayonnaise we use for this deconstructed crab sushi roll!
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What is sushi crab mix?
Sushi crab mix is basically a mix of imitation crab meat, mayonnaise, and sometimes other ingredients like soy sauce or green onions.
It's commonly used as a filling in sushi rolls, a sushi bake or hand rolls and is especially popular in the US for making California rolls.
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Why this recipe works
- It's ultra easy recipe to make, only taking about 5-10 minutes to throw together.
- It can be eaten on it's own, or used to make sushi at home. You can also use it as a topping for other simple sushi rolls or specialty sushi rolls.
- You can choose to make it spicy or not spicy!
- It's extremely budget friendly as we use imitation crabmeat - great for a fun sushi night!
Ingredients to make sushi crab mix
The full list of ingredients and amounts is included in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Spicy crab sushi is actually typically made with imitation crab meat. You CAN make this with real crab meat, but it is far more expensive, and I find the mayonnaise overpowers the fresh crab flavor. Note that imitation crab (or imitation crab sticks as it's sometimes labeled) is made from whitefish and seasonings and actually has a really good umami flavor.
Kewpie mayonnaise (Japanese mayonnaise) is used in this recipe because it has a tangier, more umami flavor than regular mayonnaise. You can also substitute traditional mayo if you need to - just add ½ teaspoon of rice wine vinegar and maybe a sprinkle of MSG. Many grocery stores are carrying this type of mayo now.
Step by step instructions
Step 5: Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds and serve, or use as crab filling for surimi sushi rolls.
How to make crab sushi rolls with sushi rice
To use this crab salad to make sushi crab rolls, you will need cooked short grain sushi rice, a bamboo mat, and nori sheets (plus any julienned carrots or cucumbers you might want in your roll).
Place a bamboo mat (sushi mat) on a clean surface and lay a sheet of nori on the mat, shiny side down.
Wet your hands with water to prevent the rice from sticking. Spread a thin layer of cooked sushi rice evenly over the nori, leaving about 1 inch of the nori sheet uncovered at the top.
Arrange the crab salad and any other fillings (avocado, cucumber, etc.) horizontally across the center of the nori sheet on top of the rice.
Using the bamboo mat, tightly roll the sushi away from you, starting from the edge closest to you. Apply gentle pressure to shape the roll.
Use a sharp, wet knife to slice the sushi roll into bite-sized pieces. Wipe the knife clean between cuts to ensure clean slices.
This takes a little bit of practice - don't worry, you'll get it after a couple times!
Serving options for spicy crab salad (or spicy crab sushi)
- Serve it as a salad side alongside dishes like hibachi shrimp or hibachi steak.
- Use it in these temaki hand rolls or even in lettuce wraps.
- Use it as a topping for nigiri, alongside avocado, cucumber, yamagobo, salmon/tuna, ikura and/or green onion and sesame seeds on sushi rice.
- Make crab rolls (see instructions above) and drizzle with eel sauce.
- Have a sushi party and serve it with salmon sushi or tuna sushi using this spicy tuna.
- You can use real crab if you don't mind spending the extra money.
- You can actually substitute other seafoods for the crab - tuna, scallops, shrimp, etc.
Expert tips
- Shred the crab into fine shreds if using it to make sushi rolls. Otherwise, you can shred it into whatever sized pieces you prefer.
- You can substitute regular mayonnaise for kewpie mayonnaise if needed.
- Use more sriracha to make spicy mayo with more spice, and less or none for low to no spice.
- Substitute with any kind of cooked or raw fish you like, as long as you use fresh.
- Mix in avocado, cucumber or carrot shreds, or pieces of radish to either the salad or in the sushi rolls is you are making them.
Frequently asked questions
Because sushi crab mix is typically made with imitation crab meat, the crab is already cooked when it is packaged, and therefore, when it is used to make crab sushi it is already cooked.
The crab salad in sushi is made of imitation crab meat (krab) and mayonnaise mixed together. There are some variations to add extra flavor (sriracha, soy sauce, sesame oil, substituting kewpie mayonnaise, etc.).
Imitation crab meat is far more affordable and easier to access than fresh crabmeat. It is also easier to use imitation crab meat (krab) in crab salads, sushi and other dishes.
Store leftover crab sushi filling in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. I don't recommend freezing it as the texture can become mushy. If you do freeze, thaw in the fridge overnight before using.
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Recipe
Sushi Crab Mix for Sushi Roll
Ingredients
- 12 ounces imitation crab meat
- ¼ cup kewpie mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- ⅛ teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons sriracha optional
- Sesame seeds optional - for garnish
- 2 tablespoon sliced green onions optional - for garnish
Instructions
- Use your hands to shred the imitation crab into small pieces.
- Combine the remaining ingredients (except sesame seeds and green onions) in a bowl and mix together.
- Combine the mayonnaise mixture and imitation crab and mix well to full coat the crab.
- Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds and serve, or use as crab filling for surimi sushi rolls.
How to Make Crab Sushi Rolls
- Place a bamboo sushi mat on a clean surface and lay a sheet of nori on the mat, shiny side down.
- Wet your hands with water to prevent the rice from sticking. Spread a thin layer of cooked sushi rice evenly over the nori, leaving about 1 inch of the nori sheet uncovered at the top.
- Arrange the crab salad and any other fillings (avocado, cucumber, etc.) horizontally across the center of the nori sheet on top of the rice.
- Using the bamboo mat, tightly roll the sushi away from you, starting from the edge closest to you. Apply gentle pressure to shape the roll.
- Use a sharp, wet knife to slice the sushi roll into bite-sized pieces. Wipe the knife clean between cuts to ensure clean slices.
Expert Tips:
- Shred the crab into fine shreds if using it to make sushi rolls. Otherwise, you can shred it into whatever sized pieces you prefer.
- You can substitute regular mayonnaise for kewpie mayonnaise if needed.
- Use more sriracha to make spicy mayo with more spice, and less or none for low to no spice.
- Substitute with any kind of cooked or raw fish you like, as long as you use fresh.
- Mix in avocado, cucumber or carrot shreds, or pieces of radish to either the salad or in the sushi rolls is you are making them.
Didi
So yummy!
Danielle
Thanks!