Originally published in the Today’s Parent January/February 2021 issue. Photo by Erik Putz.
Quinoa sushi
By Chatelaine1
PREP TIME
25 min
TOTAL TIME
25 min
Makes
4 servings

Photo: Erik Putz
Make tonight sushi night! Let kids customize their own rolls with this small but mighty seed that's packed with protein, iron and amino acids.
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked quinoa
- 1/3 cup vegan mayonnaise , such as Hellman's
- 2 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
- 4 sheets nori (seaweed)
- 1/4 cup vegan caviar , such as Ikea Sjörapport (optional)
- 1 ripe avocado , thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper , thinly sliced
- 2 mini cucumbers , quartered lengthwise
- 1 cup matchstick carrots
- low-sodium soy sauce , (optional)
- pickled ginger , (optional)
Instructions
- Combine quinoa with mayo and vinegar in a large bowl.
- To assemble rolls, lay out bamboo mat so the sticks are parallel to you. Place a piece of plastic wrap overtop. Lay one nori sheet, shiny side down, on plastic wrap. Spread 3/4 cup of quinoa mixture over sheet to the edges, leaving a 1-in. nori border at the top.
- Spoon 1 tbsp caviar (if using) in a horizontal line in centre of quinoa. Arrange a row of avocado slices over caviar, followed by peppers, cucumbers and carrots.
- Roll, lifting the bamboo edge closest to you up and over the filling in the centre. Gently squeeze the sushi and tuck the seaweed edge slightly into the filling to form a tight roll. Dab the top border with water, then continue rolling the sushi upward.
- Cut rolls into 8 slices and serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger, if desired.
Cooking quinoa
- Combine1 cup rinsed quinoa with 6 cups water in a pot. Set over medium-high. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Gently boil until quinoa has sprouted, about 10 min for white quinoa. For tricoloured, red and black quinoa, cook an additional 5 to 7 min.
- Drain quinoa through a sieve and rinse with warm tap water. Use in recipe or transfer to a resealable container. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
- Makes 3 cups
Kitchen tip
If you would prefer not to roll sushi, you can serve this as a bowl. Cut nori sheets into thin strips, Divide quinoa mixture among four bowls, then top with nori, avocado, cucumbers,
carrots and pickled ginger. Drizzle soy sauce overtop.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories
- 400,
- Protein
- 8 g,
- Carbohydrates
- 42 g,
- Fat
- 24 g,
- Fibre
- 9 g,
- Sodium
- 290 mg.