Name: Philadelphia Roll
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 cups short grain white rice; 2 tablespoons rice vinegar; 2 tablespoons sugar; 1 tablespoon kosher salt; 4 oz. smoked salmon (cut horizontally into ½ inch strips); 1 package sushi nori; 1 cucumber (peeled and seeded and sliced into thin sticks); 4 oz. cream cheese (1/2 block) (cut into ½ inch strips)

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You can make Philadelphia Rolls at home with this Philadelphia Roll Sushi Recipe and step by step directions. It includes a recipe for homemade sushi recipe to use in the rolls.

Are you a fan of sushi? I avoided fish at all costs as a child and only started eating it a little at a time as I grew older. Otherwise, there are few things I don’t like or won’t at least try when it comes to food. When I was first introduced to sushi I was pretty hesitant. Raw Fish? No way!

Sushi is one of those foods I have grown to love more and more over the years. When I first tried it, I stuck to a basic California roll with imitation crab meat, cucumber, and avocado rolled up into the seasoned rice and toasted seaweed paper called ‘Nori’. These days I love to check out restaurant menus and see what creative combinations they offer. Scallop, soft-shell crab, and eel are just some of the ingredients you may find inside a sushi roll. You may be familiar with the Philadelphia roll if you’ve checked out a lot of sushi restaurants.

What is a Philadelphia Roll?

It is an Americanized sushi roll usually made with sushi rice, smoked salmon, cream cheese, and cucumber wrapped in a sheet of nori. A Philadelphia sushi roll may also include other ingredients, such as sliced avocado, scallions, and sesame seeds.

What’s in a Philadelphia roll?

This sushi roll consists of smoked salmon, cucumber, and cream cheese rolled up in seasoned rice and nori.

What Rice do you use in sushi rolls?

I use rice vinegar, sugar, and kosher salt to season my sushi rice. This seasoning combination is inspired by Alton Brown’s sushi rice. You will find the directions for making homemade sushi rice below.

How to Make Philadelphia Roll Sushi

Have you wondered how to make sushi rolls? There is a bit of a learning curve, but it’s actually simple to prepare Philadelphia rolls despite their intricate look. Some people use a bamboo mat when they make sushi rolls but they aren’t necessary. In the directions below, you just put a sheet of nori on a cutting board, spread the rice, then add the salmon, sliced cucumber, and cream cheese. Then roll your sushi tightly and slice into individual sushi rolls. Make your own sushi for your next in-home date night or when entertaining guests.

Philadelphia Roll Recipe

Ingredients

Sushi Rice:

2 cups short grain white rice
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon of kosher salt

Philadelphia Roll:

4 oz. smoked salmon, cut horizontally into ½ inch strips
1 package sushi nori
1 cucumber, peeled and seeded and sliced into thin sticks
½ block of cream cheese (about 4 oz.), cut into ½ inch strips

Instructions:

Cook your rice according to package instructions or in a rice cooker with 2 cups of water.
Mix the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan and cook on low until the sugar and salt have dissolved.
Transfer your rice to a large bowl and fold in the vinegar mixture. Once all of the rice is coated set aside and allow it to cool to room temperature.
Lay 1 piece of nori on a cutting board with the rough side facing up.

Place a ball of rice on top of the nori and spread the rice evenly with your fingers or a rice paddle. Leave about 1 inch of nori exposed on the edge of the sheet furthest away from you.
Start about 1 inch from the bottom and layer your salmon, cucumber sticks, and cream cheese across the entire length of the sheet of nori. Use your judgment as to not overfill, but this part does take a little trial and error.

Use your finger to wet the portion of nori exposed at the top of the sheet.
Gently lift your nori from the bottom closest to you and bring the entire layer of rice and nori over the middle ingredients.

Keeping the roll tightened close to itself with your hands and continue to roll the sheet from top to bottom. The roll will seal itself closed with the dampened portion of nori at the top.
Use a sharp knife to cut your pieces about 1 ½ to 2 inches thick. Wet your knife in between slicing the roll to help this go a little smoother. This will give you anywhere from 6 to 8 Philadelphia rolls.

If you choose, this recipe will fill 4 sheets of nori. Depending on how thick you cut the rolls, that’s anywhere from 24 to 32 Philadelphia rolls. You can dip your Philly roll in soy sauce or one of your favorite dipping sauces.

Printable Recipe for Philadelphia Rolls

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