Serves 6
An attractive alternative to small portions of sushi that is sure to impress guests. The soy and ginger dipping sauce is delicious with the sushi ingredients.
Ingredients
375 ml (1½ cups) sushi rice
20 ml (4 tsp) sugar
45 ml (3 tbsp) rice vinegar
2 nori sheets
2 avocados, thinly sliced
500 g fresh salmon, thinly sliced
5 ml (1 tsp) each black and white sesame seeds
extra avocado to serve
125 ml (½ cup) soy sauce
60 ml (¼ cup) finely grated fresh ginger
Method
1. Prepare rice according to the instructions on the packaging. The rice is first soaked, then simmered in about 560 ml (2¼ cups) water with a pinch of salt and then allowed to steam.
2. While the rice is cooking, place sugar and vinegar in a small saucepan over a medium heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
3. Place warm cooked rice in a shallow dish and pour the vinegar mixture over. Using a spatula, mix the vinegar mixture into the rice using a slicing action. Allow the rice to cool, but do not refrigerate as it will become too sticky to work with.
4. Line the base of a 22 cm baking tin with baking paper. Cut two nori sheets the same size as the baking tin. Place one nori sheet on the baking paper in the tin.
5. Spread half the cooked rice in an even layer in the tin, spreading it all the way to the edges.
6. Place half the avo slices over the rice in an even layer. Arrange half the salmon in a layer on top of this.
7. Repeat the 4 layers, ending with a layer of salmon. Cover the tin with cling wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
8. Just before serving, turn the sushi cake out onto a serving platter (see tip below). Sprinkle with sesame seeds and top with extra avocado slices, if preferred. Mix soy sauce and ginger and serve as a dipping sauce. Serve with wasabi paste if preferred.
Tip
To turn the cake out: Place a dinner plate on top of the cake tin and in one swift movement flip it, so that the tin is upside down. You should feel the cake drop on the plate. Remove the tin and the baking paper. Place a serving plate upside down, on top of the upside down cake and quickly flip again. Remove the dinner plate – the sushi cake should be on the serving plate, the right way up. The cake is quite firm and will hold quite well during this process.
