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Three completed Crab Hand Rolls on a white plate with a black border with sides of soy sauce and pickled ginger.

Crab Hand Roll (Kani Temaki)

3 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine Japanese, Sushi
Servings 4 rolls
Calories 46 kcal

Equipment

  • hangiri (optional)
  • wooden board
  • sharp knife
  • small bowl

Ingredients
 
 

Hand water

  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoon rice vinegar (Note 1)

Spicy Mayo

  • ¼ cup mayo
  • ½ teaspoon vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sriracha

Temaki

  • ⅔ cup imitation crab cut into pieces 3-inches long (Note 4)
  • 2 sheets nori (Note 3)
  • 1 cup cooked sushi rice (Note 2)
  • 4 pieces avocado cut into pieces 3-inches long
  • 4 pieces cucumber cut into sticks 3-inches long
  • Daikon radish sprouts optional
  • wasabi optional (Note 5)

To serve

  • soy sauce
  • pickled sushi ginger
  • wasabi

Instructions
 

Preparing the hand water (tezu)

  • Prepare the hand water by combining the water and rice vinegar in a medium size bowl.

Spicy mayo

  • Combine mayo, rice vinegar, sugar, and sriracha in a small bowl. Then add the crab meat and mix thoroughly.

Preparing the temaki

  • Cut each sheet of nori in half using scissors.
  • Lightly moisten the palm of one hand with the hand water and rub your hands together. Take a small handful of rice (roughly ¼ cup (50g) and spread onto the left hand side of the nori. It should be 6mm thick and leave a border at the top.
  • Use your index finger to make a diagonal indentation and smear with wasabi if using.
  • Place 2 tablespoons of crab, avocado, cucumber, and daikon radish shoots (optional) in the indentation.
  • Bring the bottom corner of the nori into the middle, making a triangle. Roll the plain side around to make a cone and place it seam-side down.

Notes

    1. Rice vinegar: Mix with water to create ‘Tezu,’ a hand water that prevents rice from sticking to your hands and knife. Apple cider vinegar works well as a substitute.
    2. Sushi rice: Use Japanese short-grain rice, cooked and seasoned with sushi vinegar. See my rice recipes to find out how to make perfect sushi rice using your rice cooker, Instant Pot, or on the stovetop. You'll need ¼ cup (50g) cooked rice per roll.
    3. Nori: Choose high-quality nori to keep your rolls crispy and fresh.
    4. Imitation crab: You can use fresh crab instead.
    5. Wasabi (optional): Adds a spicy kick to balance the rich flavors of salmon and avocado.
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Nutrition

Serving: 1 rollCalories: 46kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.03gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 6mgPotassium: 14mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0.03gVitamin A: 68IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 0.1mg
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