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Lazy 5-Minute Sushi

This is the easiest way to enjoy sushi at home without the hassle of rolling. Layers of smoked salmon, seasoned sushi rice, cream cheese, cucumber, avocado, and nori are pressed together, sliced into bite-sized pieces, and finished with sriracha mayo and sesame seeds. It's fresh, packed with flavor, and comes together in minutes, making it the perfect budget-friendly lunch, dinner, or snack.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 1 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Japanese
Ingredients Equipment Method Video Notes

Ingredients
  

Sushi Rice (prepare ahead of time)
  • 1 cup cooked sushi rice
  • 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
Lazy Sushi
  • Neutral oil for greasing the container
  • 4-6 oz smoked salmon or sushi-grade/sashimi-grade fresh salmon
  • 2 nori sheets
  • 2-3 tablespoon cream cheese
  • ½ cucumber thinly sliced
  • ½ avocado thinly sliced
  • Sriracha mayonnaise for serving
  • Sesame seeds for garnish

Equipment

  • Small rectangular container
  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife
  • Mixing bowl
  • Spoon or spatula

Method
 

  1. Prepare the sushi rice ahead of time. While the rice is still warm, stir together the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until dissolved. Fold the mixture into the cooked rice and let it cool to room temperature.
  2. Lightly grease a small rectangular container with a neutral oil.
  3. Arrange the smoked salmon in an even layer across the bottom of the container. If using fresh salmon, make sure it is sushi-grade or sashimi-grade.
  4. Press an even layer of the prepared sushi rice over the salmon.
  5. Place one sheet of nori over the rice.
  6. Spread the cream cheese evenly over the nori.
  7. Layer the cucumber slices, followed by the avocado.
  8. Place the second sheet of nori on top.
  9. Finish with another layer of sushi rice, pressing gently to help everything hold together.
  10. Carefully invert the sushi onto a cutting board.
  11. Using a very sharp knife, slice into 4 equal pieces.
  12. Drizzle with sriracha mayonnaise and garnish with sesame seeds before serving.

Notes

Prepare the sushi rice in advance to make assembly take just 5 minutes.
For the cleanest slices, refrigerate the assembled sushi for 15–30 minutes before cutting.
Wipe your knife clean between each slice for neat, professional-looking pieces.
Smoked salmon is a great budget-friendly option, while sushi-grade salmon gives a more traditional sushi experience.