Lion King Roll (Sushi)

Craving sushi but don't want to spend too much money at a restaurant? Try this easy Lion King Roll at home—California roll with baked salmon and a rich, flavorful house sauce.

📝 Ingredients

• Sushi rice
• 5 nori sheets (have extras in case of tearing)
• 3 Persian cucumbers
• 2 medium avocadoes
• 10 imitation crab sticks
• 1 lb salmon (skinless)
• 1/2 cup Kewpie mayo
• 1/4 cup Unagi sauce
• Sriracha sauce (optional)
• Masago or tobiko (fish roe)
• Thinly sliced green onions
• Pickled sushi ginger, wasabi, and soy sauce (optional)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Prepare the Sushi Rice: Cook the sushi rice using my full recipe here. It yields about 4 cups of cooked rice, enough for 5 Lion King Rolls.
2. 2Prepare the Fillings: Cut the cucumber, imitation crab, and avocado into thin strips. Slice the salmon into large sheets if possible, so it drapes over the rolls.
3. 3Make the House Sauce: Combine Kewpie mayo, unagi sauce, and Sriracha chili sauce (optional for a spicy kick).
4. 4Prepare Your Area: Wrap your bamboo mat in plastic wrap to prevent the rice from sticking. Have a large bowl of water nearby to dip your hands. Clap your hands together to remove excess water. This helps keep the rice from sticking to your fingers. Reapply water as needed.
5. 5Roll the Sushi: Place a full sheet of nori, shiny side down, on the bamboo mat. Spread a thin, even layer of sushi rice, covering the sides but leaving the top and bottom inch clear. Arrange the cucumber, imitation crab, and avocado towards the bottom of the nori, then carefully roll it up using the bamboo mat.
6. 6Top with Salmon and House Sauce: Lay the salmon slices on top of the roll. Slice the roll into sections, brush with house sauce, and transfer to a foil-lined sheet, folding up the sides to create a “boat.” Alternatively, place it on a baking tray.
7. 7Repeat the process for the remaining rolls, making a total of 5.
8. 8Bake the Rolls: Broil the sushi rolls in the oven at 400°F for about 8 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly and the salmon is lightly cooked.
9. 9Finish and Serve: Top the rolls with masago/tobiko and garnish with thinly sliced green onions. Serve with pickled sushi ginger and wasabi. The roll has plenty of sauce, so extra soy sauce is optional.