Delectable Caterpillar Roll Recipe (with Avocado Toppings)
This Caterpillar Roll is made with delectable unagi and crunchy cucumber rolled in seaweed sheet and sushi rice, topped with avocado.
Other delectable fillings can be added to the roll to make it your own. It’s so simple to make, and I’ll show you how to make an avocado wrapper!
In many sushi restaurants, the caterpillar roll is a popular item.
My family enjoys Japanese sushi rolls such as the Sweet Potato Sushi Roll, the California Roll, and this delectable caterpillar roll. They’re perfect for lunch or a late-night snack!
WHAT IS A CATERPILLAR ROLL?
The caterpillar roll, like dragon rolls, is an inside-out sushi roll in which the nori seaweed sheet wraps around the filling inside and the sushi rice is on the outside.
The roll is then topped with thinly sliced avocado to resemble a caterpillar.
Alternative Video Recipe: Caterpillar Sushi Roll
WHAT INGREDIENTS GO INTO A CATERPILLAR SUSHI ROLL?
- Avocado: For this recipe, you must use a perfectly ripe avocado. When squeezing an overripe avocado, it can become too mushy. Look for avocados with dark skin that yields to firm but gentle pressure.
- Unagi (eel): A traditional caterpillar roll recipe includes unagi, which is a cooked fish flavored with teriyaki or unagi sauce. It can be found in the frozen section of a Japanese supermarket, or you can order canned unagi from Amazon. Shrimp, salmon, tuna, and other vegetables can be substituted.
- Cucumber: You can use either pickled or fresh cucumbers. If you use American cucumber, make sure to remove the seeds before cooking because they contain a lot of water.
- Nori (Seaweed Sheets)
- Sushi Rice: For the best fluffy texture, use short-grain sushi rice. To flavor your rice, combine it with a small amount of rice vinegar and sugar.
To assemble the sushi, you’ll also need a sushi rolling mat. It’s reasonably priced, and you can find it in Asian supermarkets or online.
HOW TO MAKE CATERPILLAR ROLL?
The caterpillar roll looks fancy, but it’s easier than you think with a few simple tips!
COOKING THE PERFECT SUSHI RICE
- Wash the rice in cold water until it is clear. Then, in the rice maker, combine the rice and water. When making sushi rolls, a 1:1 ratio is ideal because more water can result in mushy rice when squeezed.
GETTING ON THE ROLL
- Fold the nori sheet in half to split it, then lay half of it on top of the bamboo mat. Spread the rice evenly over the nori, then flip everything over so that the rice is facing down. Place the nori on top of the fillings.
- Begin rolling with your bamboo mat and keep the roll firmly in place. Put some pressure on it to tighten it up.
HOW TO MAKE AN AVOCADO TOPPING?
- To begin, cut an avocado in half and remove the pit and skin. Then, using a sharp knife, cut each piece into 1/8-inch half-moon slices.
- Distribute the layer on the counter. Then lift it with a large knife and place it on top of your sushi roll.
- Place a piece of plastic wrap on top, then the sushi mat. Squeeze the avocado gently to shape it around the roll.
- Remove the mat and save the plastic wrap before slicing the roll into bite-size pieces. Take off the plastic wrap and serve!
HOW TO STORE CATERPILLAR ROLL?
Maybe you have some leftovers from the Caterpillar Roll you ordered or from the roll you made at home; either way, you’re wondering if it’s okay to store these leftovers and if they’ll stay the same after storing.
Let me tell you that all sushi rolls should be eaten as soon as possible because storing leftovers will result in a slight change in the texture and flavor of your Caterpillar Roll.
You can, however, keep your Caterpillar Roll leftovers, but you should eat them as soon as possible!
STORING CATERPILLAR ROLL SUSHI IN THE FRIDGE
- Begin by tightly wrapping each Caterpillar roll in clear film or plastic wrap.
- Next, place your Caterpillar rolls in a dry container with an airtight lid and immediately place them in the refrigerator.
- Caterpillar rolls can be kept in the fridge for up to 24 hours if properly stored.
STORING CATERPILLAR ROLL SUSHI IN THE FREEZER
- While refrigerating, ring out any excess water, then tightly wrap your Caterpillar rolls leftovers in plastic wrap and seal it to prevent any air from reaching the food.
- Place your plastic-wrapped Caterpillar rolls sushi in an airtight container, then in the freezer.
- Your Caterpillar Roll will keep in the freezer for about 2 to 3 days if properly stored.
PRO TIPS:
- To keep rice from sticking to your hands, wet your hands with Tezu before handling it. It’s a dipping liquid made from 1/4 cup water and 2 teaspoons of rice vinegar.
- To keep sushi rolls from falling apart, gently squeeze the roll while rolling. After you’ve finished, place the bamboo mat over the sushi roll and gently squeeze it again.
SOME TIPS TO CONSIDER WHEN MAKING THIS RECIPE
- Make sure to get a sushi rolling mat, which is widely available and extremely useful when making sushi rolls.
- Using Japanese short-grain rice in this recipe is highly recommended for a fluffier result. Use a high-quality type in a 1:1 ratio with water to keep the fluffiness even after it has been compressed in the roll.
- When rolling the sushi, keep some Tezu water in a small bowl nearby to keep the rice from sticking to your fingertips. It’s not difficult to make. Simply combine 1/4 cup of water and 2 teaspoons of rice vinegar.
- Squeezing the rolls with your hands while rolling them gently prevents them from falling apart.
- Squeezing lemon on the avocado prevents it from browning.
- It is best to consume the caterpillar rolls on the same day. You’re not going to resist anyway.
Caterpillar Roll Recipe
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Yield: 32 pieces (4 rolls)
Description
This Caterpillar Roll is made with delectable unagi and crunchy cucumber rolled in seaweed sheet and sushi rice, topped with avocado. Other delectable fillings can be added to the roll to make it your own. It’s so simple to make, and I’ll show you how to make an avocado wrapper!
Ingredients
For Sushi Rice
- 1 cup sushi rice short grain sushi rice
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon optional sushi vinegar or mixing 1 tablespoon rice vinegar and 1/2 tablespoon sugar
For Caterpillar Rolls
- 4 oz unagi or you can substitute canned eel, shrimp or tuna
- 1/2 cucumber cut into 1/2-inch strips
- 2 sheets nori (seaweed sheet)
- 2 avocado ripe but still firm
Instructions
- To make sushi rice, first wash it in cold water until the water runs clear. Then, in the rice maker, combine the rice and water. Once cooked, transfer the hot rice to a large mixing bowl and set aside to cool slightly. Stir in the optional sushi vinegar while it’s still very warm (or the mixture of rice vinegar and sugar).
- Unagi preparation: Remove the unagi from the package and bake at 360F for 10-12 minutes, or according to package directions. After that, cut it into 1/2 inch strips.
- Make caterpillar rolls by laying out the bamboo mat with a piece of plastic wrap on top if desired (this will make clean up easier).
- Fold the nori sheets in half and cut them in half with your hands or a pair of scissors.
- Half of the nori sheet should be placed on top of the bamboo.
- Spread 3/4 cup cooked rice evenly on top of the nori. (To avoid sticking, dip your hands in vinegar water.)
- Turn everything over so that the rice is facing down.
- On top of the nori, layer the unagi strips and cucumber.
- Lift the edge of the bamboo mat up and over the filling with your thumbs.
- Roll the bamboo mat away from you and press down to tighten it. Continue rolling until the two ends meet.
- To make the avocado topping, cut an avocado in half and remove the pit and skin. Then, using a sharp knife, cut each piece into thin half-moon slices.
- Distribute the layer on the counter.
- Lift them up with a large knife and place them on top of your sushi roll.
- Place the sushi mat on top of the plastic wrap. Squeeze the avocado gently to shape it around the roll.
- Remove the mat while retaining the plastic wrap and cut the roll into bite-size pieces. Take off the plastic wrap and serve!
Notes
It is best to consume the caterpilla roll on the same day. You can prevent browning by squeezing a small amount of lemon juice over your avocado for a few hours.
- Category: Japanese
- Method: Roll
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 32 servings
- Calories: 49kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 4mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 4mg
Keywords: Sushi roll, caterpillar sushi roll, best catterpillar roll recipe, dinner recipe, lunch recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Caterpillar Roll ahead and store it?
No, Caterpillar Roll, like all other sushi rolls that you want to store, should be consumed as soon as possible because storing them for too long will result in negative changes in texture and taste.
What does Caterpillar Roll have in it?
The common caterpillar roll is distinguished by its insect-like appearance and is made up of rice, nori sheets (nori = seaweed), cucumber, eel (Unagi), and avocado. The interior of the roll is made up of eel and cucumber, and the exterior is made up of rice with layers of avocado.
What is the difference between a dragon roll and a Caterpillar Roll?
Dragon rolls are sometimes referred to as “caterpillar rolls” because they resemble caterpillars or dragons. They have dragon scales with green layers of avocado and cucumber wrapped around the outside. They are also long and shaped like a caterpillar.
Is Caterpillar Roll cooked?
Because this roll isn’t grilled or skewered, I debated what to call the sauce, but since the unagi is prepared kabayaki-style, it made sense to use the same name for the glaze.
More caterpillar alternative recipes to try:
Vegan Caterpillar Role
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Dynamite Sushi Roll
The dynamite sushi roll is an incredibly tasty sushi roll. It’s mostly made up of shrimp or snow sprouts, cucumber, and cream cheese. The taste of sushi rolls may vary if you try them at different restaurants.
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