How to Make Vegetarian Nori Rolls

November 2, 2010

Posted by Adina Niemerow

Raw fish sushi is my absolute favorite food to eat. Fish are lean and low calorie and a great source of good oils and protein.

If you're looking for a vegetarian option, my Macadamia nut sushi recipe below is just as heart friendly and nutritious and packed with texture and flavor and a real solid alternative.

Macadamia nut rice

1 cup raw macadamia nuts

1 cup roughly chopped red peppers

2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice

3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro

2 pinches Himalayan sea salt

1 tbsp chopped kalamata olives, pitted

Nori Rolls

2 cups baby lettuce leaves, or larger lettuce chopped into 2 inch pieces

2 cup thinly sliced purple cabbage marinated in 1tbsp and 1 tsp apple cider vinegar and pinch of salt (massage salt in with hands to soften the cabbage)

1/2 cup julienne cucumber, about 1/2 a cucumber sliced thinly

1 avocado, peeled, pitted and thinly sliced

4 Nori seaweed sheets (available at specialty grocers, health food stores, and Asian markets)

Optional: 2 Tablespoons wasabi paste, also known as Japanese horseradish

For the red pepper pate: In a food processor, blend all of the pate ingredients into a rice size, consistency. Remove from the food processor and set aside for immediate use or cover and refrigerate for up to two days before moving to the next step

Marinate cabbage, slice cucumber, and avocado into thin match sticks shaped pieces.

To assemble Nori rolls

Lay the nori on a dry surface place the lettuce down first to absorb moisture

Spread 2-3 spoonfuls of the pate on top of the lettuce in a rectangle covering the bottom 1/3 of the long side of a nori sheet. add the cabbage, avocado, cucumber. Beware not to add to much filling or you might run into trouble rolling.

Tightly roll up contents in the Nori sheet starting from the filled end slowly tucking and rolling into a sushi roll. Seal the end with water (or some wasabi paste, if you’d like a little kick!) to hold the roll together.

Adina Niemerow, author of "Super Cleanse," has studied holistic cooking and nutrition at schools around the world and has worked with wellness retreats and restaurants including The French Laundry in Napa Valley, California. Please visit her website at AdinaNiemerow.com.