21 Unique Sushi Recipes

Originating in Southeast Asia, sushi is a Japanese dish consisting of rice topped with various ingredients such as seafood, vegetables, or meat. The popularity of sushi has grown exponentially over the years, recently being named the number one food trend in Japan.

Sushi is served in a mass variety of ways with unlimited flavor possibilities and nutritious benefits. Not only is sushi low in calories and saturated fat but, sushi is loaded high with proteins and nutrients such as Omega-3, Vitamins A and Vitamin D. Sushi is a great option for people who are looking for a healthy, delicious meal.

Did you know that some restaurants serve sushi without using raw fish? In the past, sushi was made using only raw fish and seafood. However, nowadays, many restaurants have started to use cooked or vegetable sushi instead. Many restaurants have even opting for no raw ingredients at all.

The reason for this change is that raw meats and seafood can often contain harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Cooked or vegetable sushi is safer to eat, and it still tastes great! Plus, it can be cheaper to make and includes fresh ingredients in unique combinations.

Ready to try these delicious dishes at home? Gathered and listed are 21 unique recipes for sushi (without raw meat) you can follow now!

1. Vegetable Sushi (Aubrey’s Kitchen) 

There’s nothing more refreshing than vegetable sushi, especially when it has been made with natural ingredients and professional precision. However, we adore this recipe because it can be eaten by anyone with a love for Japanese food. 

Completely vegetarian, this recipe combines fresh greens and pickled ginger with rice, before everything is sealed together with a sheet of nori. Delicious isn’t the word! 

2. Vegan Sushi (Vegan Heaven) 

Of course, we don’t want anyone to feel left out, which is why we have decided to include this amazing recipe for vegan sushi. Boasting a range of tasty ingredients, this sushi is made using rice, vegetables, and tofu, which is then wrapped together in nori paper for a final salty note. 

Light and refreshing, you can either make this sushi for yourself or to appease your vegan friends. 

3. California Roll (What A Girl Eats) 

While California Rolls are traditionally made using crab meat, this recipe uses imitation crab for a fish-free experience. Featuring white rice that has been layered with avocado, cucumber, and surimi – this recipe wraps the ingredients together with seaweed and finishes everything off with a squirt of wasabi mayonnaise. 

American sushi at its finest, this is a delicious dish that you will want to make again and again! 

4. Teriyaki Chicken Rolls (Cheap Recipe Blog) 

This sushi recipe is for meat lovers, as it combines sticky rice and avocado with a sweet teriyaki chicken smothered in a delicious sauce. Bursting with refreshing ingredients, this recipe is the ideal alternative to traditional sushi and can be made in under 2 hours. 

While this recipe may not be suitable for vegetarians, it can make for a delicious addition to any family dinner or summer celebration. 

5. Homemade Vegetable Sushi (All Recipes) 

Ideal for vegetarians, this recipe uses fresh ingredients to create fish-free sushi, which tastes as good as it looks. Bursting with healthy greens and colorful vegetables, this sushi is made by layering avocado and carrot on a bed of rice, before everything is sealed together with a sheet of nori. 

Simple yet delicious, this sushi can be made for a quick afternoon snack or as a main dish for a social gathering. 

6. Beefshi Hiker’s Handroll (E. A. Stewart) 

Considered one of the best fish-free sushi dishes available, this recipe combines unique flavors to create a delicious roll, unlike anything you have tasted before. Another member of the American sushi family, this infusion dish combines nori with soft rice and pea shoots before adding the vital ingredient – beef jerky. 

While it may sound strange, we promise this is one of the best fish-free sushi dishes you will try, especially if you serve it with a side of sriracha. 

7. Dragon Roll (Just One Cook Book) 

If you want to make sushi without raw fish, then we recommend giving this amazing recipe a go. While this dish does include shrimps, they have been cooked and coated in a golden batter before being encased in white rice and nori. Just add some vegetables and sauce to the mix and you have everything you need for a stellar sushi experience. 

While this roll can be served with anything, we personally recommend a side of spicy mayo and some toasted sesame seeds.

8. Veggie Sushi Bowls (Cookie & Kate) 

While the notion of a sushi bowl may sound strange, we promise it will soon become our next culinary obsession. Easy to make and bursting with nutritious ingredients, sushi bowls are essentially deconstructed sushi, which means all the sushi flavor but without the raw fish and seaweed. 

Just combine white rice with shredded vegetables and spicy mayonnaise, and you will have a light and refreshing lunch in no time at all. 

9. Seared Salmon Nigiri (Recipe Tin Japan) 

Yet another member of the cooked sushi family, this dish includes thin slices of salmon that have been cooked with soy sauce, sugar, and white rice. Bursting with a rich and meaty flavor, this salmon is a great alternative to raw fish recipes and can be served with a variety of sides and garnishes. 

For the best results, we recommend serving this delicious dish with sushi rice vinegar and a sprinkling of fresh parsley. 

10. Keto Bacon Sushi (Mama Jean’s Natural Market) 

Have you ever wondered what sushi would taste like with a side of bacon? Well, you need to wonder no more, as this recipe not only includes bacon but uses it as a substitute for the traditional seaweed. Featuring avocado, cucumbers, and softened cream cheese, this recipe wraps its filling in smoky bacon and tops it off with a handful of toasted sesame seeds. 

Perfect for meat lovers and keto dieters, this recipe reimagines traditional sushi in a fun and colorful way.

11. Seared Tuna Sushi Rolls (Fine Cooking) 

Ideal for any sushi lover who hates raw fish, this recipe features seared tuna as the main ingredient, which makes for a delicious and meaty surprise. The roll also includes cooked rice, scallions, Japanese radish sprouts, and wasabi powder. 

Just serve it up with some soy sauce, and you will have a delicious treat for yourself and your family. 

12. Baked Salmon Sushi (Martha Stewart) 

If you are the kind of person who loves baked salmon, then you will adore this incredible recipe for baked salmon sushi. Featuring a bed of white rice that has been topped with carrots, cucumber, and mayonnaise – this sushi is also loaded with freshly cooked salmon, which makes for a rich and meaty roll that is ideal for seafood fans. 

To finish off the dish, all you have to do is garnish it with some sesame seeds and serve it alongside a bowl of dipping sauce – yum! 

13. Waffle Breakfast Sushi Rolls (Tablespoon) 

Is there anything better than sushi? Well, how about a sushi dish that can be eaten as breakfast and as a dessert! Made from waffles, fresh fruit, and cream cheese – this sushi recipe is a unique take on the classic dish and offers a sweet alternative to the traditional raw fish and seaweed. 

However, one of the best things about this recipe is that you can make it any way you want, whether that be with Nutella, cinnamon, or maple syrup. 

14. Caesar Salad Sushi Burrito (Spoon University) 

When it comes to unique fish-free sushi, there’s nothing more credible than this amazing Caesar salad sushi burrito, which boasts a wide selection of delicious ingredients. Featuring white rice that has been layered with chicken, lettuce and tangy Caesar dressing – this dish wraps everything up in a nori sheet and sprinkles it with grated Parmesan. 

If you want to reinvent the very definition of sushi, then this creative recipe is easily the best place to start. 

15. Kid-Friendly Breakfast Sushi (Raising Whasians) 

Despite its garish appearance, this sushi does not contain any fish. In fact, it doesn’t contain any meat or animal products at all. Instead, this sushi is made by covering a banana in fresh yogurt and coating it with fruity pebbles cereal, which results in a sweet and nutritious treat for your picky children. 

Ideal for school days and packed lunches, this sushi is a great way to make your kids eat their fruit and can be garnished with a blackberry for some extra zest. 

16. Southwest Sushi Rolls 

Yet another recipe that uses tempura prawns instead of raw fish, this sushi is made from yellow rice and red bell peppers. It is then wrapped in nori and coated with sriracha and sesame seeds. Bursting with a unique and tantalizing flavor, this sushi is the perfect alternative for raw-fish haters and can be made with vegetarian ingredients for a nutritious twist. 

So why not give this amazing recipe a try and see for yourself just how diverse sushi can really be. 

17. Pickle Sushi (Delish.com) 

This delightful recipe is perfect for parties and social gatherings, especially if you plan to make your own hors d’oeuvres. Unlike traditional seaweed, these delicious bites are made from softened cream cheese that has been wrapped in a slither of pickle, which is then garnished with chopped salami and a squirt of mayonnaise. 

Tangy and bursting with texture, this is one sushi roll that your friends and family will never forget. 

18. Teriyaki Salmon Sushi Bowl (My Gluten Free Guide) 

If you are looking for a sushi dish that is brimming with flavor, then look no further than this incredible salmon sushi bowl. Featuring cooked salmon that has been coated in a sweet Teriyaki sauce, this dish also includes white rice, sliced avocado, and edamame beans – which comes together to create a delicious and textured lunch. 

Not only is this dish delicious, but it is also bursting with nutrients and can be garnished with sesame seeds for some extra crunch. 

18. Sweet Coconut Sushi (Shani’s Sweet Art) 

If you want to sample a truly unique sushi recipe, then we recommend checking out this amazing coconut dessert. Featuring a bed of basmati rice, this recipe combines fresh fruit and coconut milk to create a sweet dish that can be eaten for breakfast, with the final result being wrapped in a sweet rice paper instead of nori. 

When it comes to redefining the definition of this classic dish, this recipe definitely wins the race. 

19. American Sushi (So Delicious) 

When it comes to fish-free sushi alternatives, there’s no better choice than this all-meat alternative from So Delicious. Made from bacon, mozzarella, and breadcrumbs – this sushi roll comes complete with a quail egg in the middle and can be served hot with a selection of dipping sauces. 

While it is a far cry from the refreshing flavors of traditional sushi, it still makes for a rich and savory snack. 

20. Teriyaki Salmon Sushi Bowl (My Gluten Free Guide) 

If you are looking for a sushi dish that is brimming with flavor, then look no further than this incredible salmon sushi bowl. Featuring cooked salmon that has been coated in a sweet Teriyaki sauce, this dish also includes white rice, sliced avocado, and edamame beans – which comes together to create a delicious and textured lunch. 

Not only is this dish delicious, but it is also bursting with nutrients and can be garnished with sesame seeds for some extra crunch. 

21. Cheeseburger Sushi (Spoon University) 

Yes, you read that right! Cheeseburger sushi is a thing, and it is absolutely glorious! Ideal for barbecues and summer celebrations, these sushi rolls are made by encasing burger meat and cheese inside the bread, which can then be served with a selection of sauces from ketchup to mayonnaise. 

While it may not be classified as actual sushi, it is still an interesting idea and comes with no raw fish in sight. 

Summary 

Now you know some unique sushi recipes without raw fish, you can go ahead and try them for yourself. Delicious, healthy and perfect for any occasion, your sushi world is about to change forever!

Using cooked or vegetable sushi instead of using raw fish or seafood allows eaters to eliminate the possibility of consuming harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Cooked meats and seafoods can also add a bit more moisture in every bite.

Sushi is so popular and these 21 sushi recipes make it quite understandable as to why. Flavors are at an abundance from the classic california rolls and salmon sushi to unique hamburger rolls and waffle sushi. High proteins and nutrients are coming your way hot and packed with flavor. You can’t go wrong with these 21 possibilities!