Shiho’s Asian Kitchen

Futomaki is my favorite sushi roll with many deferent ingredients!  

Futomaki (太巻き, lit. large or fat rolls). A large cylindrical piece, with nori on the outside. A typical futomaki is three or four centimeters (1.5 in) in diameter. They are often made with two or three fillings that are chosen for their complementary tastes and colors. (wikipedia)

A little story about Futomaki

In Japan, it is very common to eat Futomaki during Setsubun.  Setsubun (節分) falls on the 3rd of February. It marks the start of the spring season, risshun (立春).  It’s not an official national holiday, but it is celebrated in ways all meant to drive away bad luck and bring in new, good luck. Most of the traditional rituals revolve around beans, because beans are considered to be very lucky. But there is another way of celebrating setsubun, and that’s with a big, long, uncut sushi roll called Ehou-maki or Futomaki.

“what makes an ehou-maki different from a regular sushi roll?”

There are basically three rules:

1. It must not be cut, because it might cut (off) your luck.
2. You have to eat it while facing the lucky direction, which changes every year! 2008 lucky directly was hinoe (丙 (ひのえ)), which is a little bit to the south of south-south-east on a regular compass.
3. Finally, you must eat the whole roll in total silence. And wish a good luck. Your wishes will be granted, if you perform this perfectly

*want to know more about setsubunn? click this

Let’s make Futomaki!!

INGREDIENTS (2 big sushi rolls)

Salmon                       50~100g

Boiled Shrimp                         6

Crabmeat                           50g

Avocado                              1/3

Cucumber                           1/3

Nori                       2 big sheets

A. Rice          cook 1 cup of rice

    Rice vinegar                    30cc

B. Eggs                                    2

    Suger                          1~2tsp

    Salt1tsp

Directions

Mix A, Rice and Rice vingar (mix these rights after rice is cooked. If you mixed it after rice gets cold, tastes is not great)

Mix all B and lightly beat in a bowl.  And Make Japanese style Omelet (Tamagoyaki).  Normal omelet is also fine but need to be well cooked.  Look this video for your direction

Cut Salmon, Boiled shrimp, Avocado, and Cucumber into the easy-to-roll size.  And cut Eggs in half when it gets cold. (EX: picture)

Now, Let start roll!

To make the Sushi roll, you need MAKISU which you may find in Asian food market or grocery store which has an Asian food section (ex.Kinfork) *But if you could not find it, you can substitute with aluminum foil

Put a sheet of Nori on Makisu and spread rice on Nori

Place fillings lengthwise on the sushi rice

Roll up Makisu, pressing forward to shape the sushi into a cylinder

Press the bamboo mat gently, shaping the sushi roll. Remove the Makisu

cut into pieces

☆you can put whatever the ingredients you want☆Make your original Sushi roll☆