Surprise people with this peanut avocado sushi roll about this unusual combo that works! Two different techniques included + step-by-step pictures!

Peanut avocado sushi roll closeup held by chopsticks.

Why You Will Love This Peanut Roll Sushi

🍣 Unique Flavor: The combination of peanut and avocado offers a delightful twist on traditional sushi.
🥑 Healthy & Delicious: Packed with fresh avocado and crunchy peanuts, this roll is both tasty and nutritious.
🥗 Customizable: Feel free to add your favorite veggies to the roll.
🌿 Vegan and vegetarian-friendly: Completely plant-based!

Ingredients

First up, this is what you need to make seasoned sushi rice. Please refer to this Healthy Brown Sushi Rice post for the full recipe and tips.

Brown short-grain rice: A nutritious whole-grain sticky rice!
Rice vinegar: Provides a tangy flavor essential for authentic sushi rice.
Sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness to balance the vinegar.
Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the sushi rice.

And for the peanut avocado roll itself:

Sesame seeds: Adds a nutty flavor and crunch.
Nori sheets: The seaweed sheets that wrap around the sushi fillings.
Roasted, unsalted peanuts: Crunchy and flavorful, adding a unique texture.
- Feel free to sub with unroasted peanuts!
- Speaking of peanuts and rice, you might also like my Zimbabwean Peanut Butter Rice!
Peanut butter: Creamy and rich, this is essential to make the peanut paste.
Agave syrup: Feel free to sub with maple syrup or any other liquid sweetener.

Ingredients for peanut sushi roll with labels, on a white marbled background.

Are avocado sushi rolls healthy?

This peanut avocado roll uses wholesome ingredients like brown rice, avocado, and whole peanuts so it’s mostly whole foods and therefore is considered healthy.

Avocado is great for heart health, vision, digestion, and may even prevent cancer and osteoporosis, as explained in this Medical News article. Peanuts are also great for heart health, cancer prevention, and reduce inflammation, as explained in this WebMD article. Moreover, although nori sheets are a processed form of seaweed, seaweed also supports heart health and thyroid function, and is a great source of vitamins and minerals, as explained here by Healthline.

Inside-out peanut avocado sushi roll taken from the side to show the fillings inside.

Step-by-step Instructions

First up, cook your sushi rice following this Brown Sushi Rice recipe. Feel free to sub the brown short-grain rice with regular white sushi rice. Then mix with sesame seeds once the rice is cooled.

Brown sushi rice close up taken from overhead.

Brown sushi rice with sesame seeds from above, taken form overhead.

Below are the two ways you can roll your sushi: the regular maki (nori sheet outside), and the Americanized version of uramaki (rice outside).

Afterwards, blend the peanuts, peanut butter, and your liquid sweetener into a paste.

Peanuts, peanut butter, and maple syrup in a blender.

Peanut paste after blending, still in a blender.

Option 1: Regular Peanut Avocado Maki

First up, we always want to lay the shiny side of our nori down. This leaves the rougher part of the nori facing up, meaning that the rice can stick better.

Then pack in your rice and add the fillings. Then start rolling, giving your peanut avocado roll a massage in between to pack the fillings in. Don’t forget to seal the top part of the nori with a bit of water so they stick!

For more comprehensive instructions and other ways to roll your sushi, check out this Mango Avocado Sushi recipe where I gave four (4!!!!) ways on how to roll your sushi!

Nori sheet on top of a bamboo sushi mat on a white background. — Pack the rice in using a rice paddle or a spatula.

Packing in rice using the back of a rice paddle on top of a nori sheet. — Pack the rice in using a rice paddle or a spatula.

Option 2: Inside-Out Peanut Avocado Uramaki

The first part: assembly time. For this uramaki, first cut your nori sheet into two as we only need half a sheet for each sushi roll.

If you’re making an inside-out roll, be sure to wrap your bamboo sushi mat with cling wrap. I personally don’t like using cling wrap but this step is essential in keeping all the rice grains together!

Then flip your nori seaweed paper before adding the fillings so the rice will be outside! I also found that adding the fillings at the bottom of the nori sheet helps with the rolling!

Half of a nori sheet with brown rice on top. — Use your fingers to mark the edges.

Packing the sushi rice to stick onto the nori sheet using a rice paddle. — Use your fingers to mark the edges.

And now, roll and slice! Be sure to wrap your sushi with a cling wrap before cutting it so that the rice grains stay together.

Two hands starting to roll up an inside-out peanut avocado sushi roll. — Be sure to wrap the sushi with cling wrap before cutting!

Two hands gently massaging a peanut avocado roll using a sushi mat. — Be sure to wrap the sushi with cling wrap before cutting!

When you cut the sushi, remember to first cut each roll into two. This will really help in ensuring that the fillings don’t fall apart!

That’s all, and enjoy your peanut sushi roll!

Top Tips

Cool Rice Completely: Let the rice cool before adding it to your sushi. This will keep your nori crisp and make it easier to roll.
Sharp and Damp Knife for Slicing: I like to wipe my knife with a damp cloth in between cuts to get clean cuts.
Start with the Regular Maki: Start with the variation where the nori sheet is outside. This one is easier to roll.
- Once you’ve got this one under your belt, you can experiment with making the inside-out roll!
Practice Makes Perfect: Don’t worry if your first few rolls aren’t perfect; with practice, you’ll get better at rolling the sushi tightly!
Prefer to Skip the Rolling? Make sushi hand rolls (temaki) instead!

Can Vegans Eat Sushi?

Yes! Although sushi typically contains fish (which could be considered as meat since it’s basically the flesh of an animal) which isn’t considered vegan, many other types of sushi are vegan. For instance, Kappa Maki only uses cucumber, Natto Rolls are made from fermented soybeans, and Umeshiso Rolls are made with Japanese pickled plums and shiso leaves.

There are also many more types of vegan sushi that I have here, all listed below under the Serving Suggestions!

Dipping peanut roll sushi into mango sushi sauce using chopsticks.

Serving Suggestions

For the serving sauce, the good old soy sauce goes well with this one. And yes, soy sauce is vegan. Opt for tamari for a gluten-free option.

You might also want to try serving it with my Dynamite Sushi Sauce, or this Mango Sushi Sauce.

If you’re planning a sushi party, try my Asparagus Avocado (AAC) Roll, Shiitake Roll, Kimchi Roll, or the good old Cucumber Roll! And if you want sushi without the hassle of rolling, try my Avocado Bean Curd Sushi!

Storage and Meal Prep Instructions

Storage: First of all, any sushi is best consumed fresh. But you can store any leftover sushi rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days. The avocado might turn darker, but it should still be safe.

Meal Prep: Prepare the sushi rice and slice the mango and cucumber ahead of time. Keep the ingredients stored separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Slice the avocado and assemble the sushi rolls just before serving for the best texture and taste.

Freezing: Do NOT freeze this peanut sushi as it will not work.

FAQ

Avocado is creamy and rich, adding a wonderful texture and mild flavor that complements other sushi ingredients beautifully. Plus, it’s packed with healthy fats, making it a nutritious addition to any sushi!

Avocado rolls are not traditionally Japanese but have become popular in Western sushi. In Japan, you might find avocado in sushi at some places, but it’s not as common as it is in Western-style sushi.

Absolutely, feel free to add your favorite veggies. I find that vegetables that are hard like bell peppers and carrots work best in sushi! Feel free to also add tofu slices for added protein!

Yes, use a clean kitchen towel wrapped in plastic wrap as an alternative.

Want More Vegan Sushi / Japanese Recipes?

Check out these authentic Natto Rolls, Umeshiso Rolls, or the good old Kappa Maki.

For more variations, try my Shiitake Mushroom Roll or Kimchi Roll. If you’re looking for something sweet, then this Mango Avocado Roll is the answer, along with my Nutella Mochi or this Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream Mochi!