Sushi For Kids- Rolls And Recipes

Getting your children to eat exotic food can be pretty difficult even at the best of times. On the other hand, some kids seem to just love sushi!  There are many types of sushi rolls so while some sushi does have raw fish, others do not. Some parents find that kids will suddenly eat all kinds of veggies and fish if it is presented in this fun sushi roll format with soy sauce to dip in. Here is an easy sushi recipe for kids that is quick and easy to make and can be varied to create many kinds of sushi rolls. Try a homemade sushi night for great fun! Even picky eaters will want to try this delicious sushi and enjoy this popular meal.

Best Sushi For Kids- Popular Rolls

Sushi maki rolls are really just nori seaweed wrappers, rice, and sushi fillings.  Below I have listed some sushi roll fillings that are particularly attractive to kids. Sushi for kids does not have to be any different from the wide variety that many adults eat. But, if they are reticent to try raw fish, they may want to start with these simple sushi ideas for kids and expand from there. People often think of real sushi as containing raw fish but it does not always do so.

First, can kids eat sushi?

Yes, kids can safely eat sushi. However, sushi containing raw fish should not be eaten by children under 5. I say this because the FDA recommends that children under five don’t consume raw fish or shellfish. As dietician Susan Mitchell  pointed out on ABC7Chicago, “In children, their immune system is not completely developed until they’re about 5-years-old.”

Also, please note it is recommended that pregnant women also not eat sushi with raw fish.

So young children should stick to basic fish-free, vegetarian sushi rolls. Then you can try adding some cooked fish and see how they like it. You can begin by adding smoked salmon or canned tuna. Or you can add imitation crab sticks (made out of cooked fish) like they do in a California Roll and see how they like that. Below are two popular kid friendly sushi rolls that are great for young kids.

Kappamaki Sushi Rolls

For me growing up, I loved the cucumber sushi rolls, AKA kappamaki rolls. Just plain cucumber in the rice and seaweed roll. This is a popular dish at Japanese restaruants.

You can use this plain, single veggie roll option to make asparagus rolls or cucumber rolls, or carrot rolls according to your child’s preferences. These kid friendly sushi rolls make a great introduction into the world of sushi.

Tamagoyaki Sushi Rolls

The tamagoyaki rolls have the sweet Japanese omelette in them. So basically, this is a great way to add some cooked protein to the rolls in the form of strips of eggs.

My favorite was with omelette with avocado, carrots, and cucumber. These tamagoyaki rolls are some of the best sushi for kids of all ages because they are complete with cooked protein that even children under 5 can enjoy.

If you are looking for easy ways to get kids to eat more veggies, trying different kinds of sushi rolls may just do the trick. Let them add cream cheese, sprinkle with fun garnish like sesame seeds, and dip in fun sauces. You will have a sushi lover in no time!

When It Comes To Kid Friendly Sushi Recipes, Have Children Help Make Them!

What I have found is that by inviting the children to help you create the meals, you get them on board and excited. By allowing kids to share in the cooking and creation process – you really expand their enthusiasm. This raises the likelihood that they will want to eat the food and enjoy it. It’s also helpful too because they’ll know exactly what’s gone into it – which is often a big worry that kids have.

Sushi is one of my favorite things to make with the children. The cooking process for Sushi is actually really fun and engaging – which the kids adore, and it doesn’t involve anything hot or dangerous – which I love because it means I can cook with them without worrying about burns or split hot water.

It’s best to cook the rice before the child get involved, if the kids are young. Mainly because it’s hot, but also because they’ll end up waiting around and getting impatient. So cook the sushi rice in a rice cooker, sprinkle with rice wine vinegar, and allow to cool for about an hour or so before you invite the kids to help. They will have so much fun getting to assemble this kids recipe.

Easy Sushi Recipe For Kids

This recipe is for the Tamagoyaki Sushi Rolls I mentioned above with the sweet Japanese omelette, carrots, cucumber, and avocado.

However, you can feel free to simplify it down to just cucumbers or sub out for other sushi roll ingredients.

You will need a sushi mat and you may wrap it in plastic wrap if you wish to keep it clean. Alternatively, you could use a large piece of parchment paper instead of a kids sushi mat if you are in a pinch. You can order a sushi mat on Amazon through my affiliate link.

Kids Sushi Ingredients:

• Sushi Rice, cooked according to instructions
• Nori seaweed sheets
• cucumber, sliced into long thin strips
• carrot, sliced into long thin strips
• avocado, sliced into long thin strips
• Japanese Omelet, prepared according to recipe

How To Make Sushi Kids Will Love

1. Spread out a seaweed nori sheet on the sushi bamboo mat. This is going to form the outer layer of your sushi. You can double up the sheet of nori and use 2 sheets instead of just 1 if you like. This is an easy way to stop it from cracking or tearing when you make the roll later. Make sure it is shiny side down, and the lines are running vertically.
2. Get your children to layer the sticky rice on top of the nori. You want about half an inch (or less, depending on personal choice). It doesn’t need to be flattened and pressed – but it does need to be equal all the way across. Leave about a centimeter of room around all edges.
3. Align your cucumber and avocado on top of the rice at one end of the nori in a vertical line. You’ll want to do this towards the end nearest to you – so that it gets rolled up first.
4. Add your additional ingredients, in this case carrots and omelette.
5. Slowly roll the sushi up. Seal the edge with a bit of rice vinegar or water. You won’t want to press too firmly on the roll or you can cause the fillings squeeze out. However, you’ll want to make sure it’s secure. Then place it in the fridge (wrapped up in cling film). This will help the roll and settle and seal while you make the rest of your rolls.
6. Once the roll is settled and secure, take it out of the fridge. Gently cut with a sharp knife into equal pieces, about 1/2 inch wide. Some people prefer it thicker, some slimmer – half inch to an inch is usually a good place to start from.
7. Then enjoy, your sushi is ready!

Printable Kid Friendly Sushi Recipe Card

Sushi for toddlers is best without raw fish. Introducing toddlers to different flavors and textures early on can help broaden their palate and make them more open to trying new foods as they grow. Eating sushi, especially with hands or training chopsticks, can help toddlers develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Sushi offers a balanced meal with protein (from eggs), carbohydrates (from rice), and vegetables, making it a well-rounded option.

I hope you enjoy making your own sushi. These common sushi seaweed rolls can be enjoyed by the whole family. When you sit down to a plate of sushi, which is your favorite sushi roll? Do you think you will try this easy sushi recipe for kids? Which types of sushi for kids do your children enjoy?

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