Hosomaki: Thin Salmon and Cucumber Rolls
Slim single-filling rolls: salmon sake maki and cucumber kappa maki served side by side.
Hosomaki means thin roll. The nori sits on the outside and there is only one filling, which makes these rolls the best way to practise your rolling technique.
Two classic versions
- Sake maki: salmon with a dab of wasabi.
- Kappa maki: crisp cucumber with toasted sesame.
- Served together, they look striking and suit every taste around the table.
Nutrition
Per serving (≈ 200 g). Approximate values.
How to make it
5 steps · start a timer right inside a step
Prepare the rice
Rinse the rice, cook it covered in the measured water for 12 minutes and rest for 10. Season with the vinegar, sugar and salt mixture and leave to cool.
Cut the fillings
Cut the salmon into long sticks about 1 × 1 cm. Quarter the cucumber lengthways, cut away the seedy core and cut it into matching sticks.
Roll them up
Lay half a nori sheet shiny-side down on the mat. Spread 80–90 g of rice thinly over it, leaving a 1 cm strip bare along the far edge. Lay salmon or cucumber across the middle and roll tightly with the mat.
Make two kinds
Add a touch of wasabi to the salmon rolls and sprinkle sesame into the cucumber ones. You will end up with three of each.
Slice
Cut each roll in half with a wet knife, then each half into three, giving six pieces. Arrange them cut-side up.
Cook’s tips
- 1Keep the rice layer thin, about 5 mm, for slim rolls.
- 2Seal the nori edge with a couple of grains of rice.
- 3Let the rolls rest for five minutes before slicing so the nori softens.
- 4Use a damp cloth to wipe your knife blade between every single cut to prevent the sticky rice from pulling the nori and tearing the roll.
Serving & storage: Arrange the rolls on a wooden board alongside small piles of soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger for palate cleansing. Eat these immediately for the best texture, as the nori will become chewy if kept in the refrigerator for more than a few hours. Do not attempt to freeze this dish.
Other fillings
Try avocado instead of cucumber, or tuna or pickled carrot instead of salmon. Just keep the filling modest, or the thin roll will not close.
The takeaway
Hosomaki are quick, need few ingredients and are popular with children. One batch of rice gives 36 pieces, plenty for a family supper.
