We’re used to weekly sushi because we used to go to our favorite sushi spot every weekend, but we got busy and it got too expensive for that extravagance. I’ve always wanted to make sushi, but it always worried me that the fish wouldn’t be fresh enough and I didn’t know where to buy it.

Since going vegan, veggie sushi sounded like a much more manageable option. Since making it for the first time a month or so ago, I’ve been making it weekly. I’ve made it for family, friends, and tonight was just to make Wednesday a little bit better. I had leftover nori, leftover veggies and mango in my fridge, and all I had to do was cook the rice and roll it up! If you have all of the ingredients prepped this is a healthy meal that feels fancy and comes together really quickly. I love practicing the craft of sushi rolling and trying different combinations to try and find the best. I bought a bamboo mat and rice paddle to feel professional but I’m pretty sure I don’t use them correctly… but it’s fun! I place a nori sheet shiny side down and spread my sticky brown rice on evenly with a rice paddle. I leave the far end empty to ensure enough space to close. I use a fork to mash a 1/4 of an avocado onto a strip of rice, then top with julienned cucumber, mango, carrot, or spring mix. Wet your finger and trace the far end of the nori, the roll tightly away from you and it will stick and close. Set aside to set before using a sharp serrated knife to slice. I use short grain brown rice from Whole Foods and cook it in my rice cooker, then combine each cup of brown rice with 2 tbsp of seasoned rice vinegar so it becomes stickier. This time I made 3 combinations. First I made avocado, cucumber, carrot, and spring mix. Second was avocado, cucumber and mango. Third was avocado, cucumber, mango, and spring mix. You can pretty much make whatever you think sounds good! I sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve with low sodium soy and grated ginger. The best part is it’s a fraction of the cost and you can eat it in your sweatpants. I love at home sushi!