This Japanese inspired recipe for vegetarian sushi squares makes an easy and sophisticated canapé.
Ingredients
500g sushi rice
3 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp Japanese rice vinegar (look for the Yukata brand at Waitrose)
½ small cucumber, halved lengthways, deseeded and finely chopped
40g pickled Japanese ginger (look for the Yukata brand at Waitrose)
4 sheets nori seaweed (the type used to wrap sushi, from Waitrose)
Wasabi, to serve
Method
1
Put the rice in a medium saucepan, cover with 660ml cold water and place over a medium heat. Cover, bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside, covered, for 15 minutes.
2
Uncover the sticky rice and add the soy sauce and rice vinegar. Stir it all together for a few minutes to cool slightly. Mix in the cucumber and ginger, season to taste and set aside.
3
Lay 2 seaweed sheets, slightly overlapping, in a small baking tray with sides, about 37cm x 19cm. Using damp hands, spread the rice onto the seaweed, pressing down into a flat layer – keep your hands damp so the rice doesn’t stick to them. Top with the remaining seaweed, cover with cling film and weigh down with a book. Chill for 1 hour or overnight.
4
Upturn the sushi onto a chopping board. Trim off and discard the edges. Cut into 64 squares. Put on serving plates and top each with a small blob of wasabi. Garnish the plates with spring onion flowers, if you like.