Last Updated on December 31, 2022 by Lauren Beck
If you’re one of the many sushi lovers, you may already be familiar with rainbow roll, dragon roll, California roll, and salmon and avocado roll.
However, there is another sushi roll worth trying. It’s called Alaska roll.
But what is an Alaska roll? Keep scrolling to learn more.
Alaska Roll: What Is This Sensational Sushi?
An Alaska roll is sushi where the rice is rolled on the outside of the seaweed.
It comprises seasoned Japanese rice, nori, rolled with mayo, salmon, crab, avocado, and cucumber. Raw or smoked salmon is used as a topping.
What’s Alaska Roll Made Of?
Avocado
Japanese chefs use avocado to accompany salmon in sushi. Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats, which help lower LDL cholesterol levels. [1]
Crab
Crab adds flavor to your Alaskan rolls. If fresh crab meat is unavailable, you can use imitation crab meat (Kani sticks).
Nori Sheets (Seaweed)
Nori is a dried seaweed used in Japanese cuisine. It’s used to roll sushi and onigiri. It has a distinctive flavor.
Sushi Rice
The Japanese rice with round grains is best used in sushi because it’s fluffy and sticky. It does not get crushed when cooked.
Cucumber
Cucumbers add crunch to the sushi. Japanese cucumbers or Kyuri are preferred because they are sweet.
Salmon
For delicious and safe Alaskan rolls, choose sushi-grade salmon. Sushi-grade is a term given to fish, meaning it’s safe to prepare and eat raw.
How Do You Serve An Alaska Roll?
Serve this sushi roll with soy sauce for a traditional taste. You can also try it with wasabi, pickled ginger, and Masago sauce.
Is It Cooked or Raw?
The Alaska roll is cooked. This sushi roll is rolled in panko bread crumbs before being fried. However, there is a variation where the Alaska roll is prepared like a regular maki, and referred to as Alaska Maki Roll. The ingredients are raw except for the imitation crab and rice.
Its Difference To Other Sushi Rolls
The difference between Alaska rolls to other sushi rolls is the meat types used. Alaska rolls use crab and salmon slices.
Boston roll uses shrimp, while other rolls use spicy tuna. Alaska Maki Rolls are also deep-fried, unlike other sushi rolls. Also, Alaska rolls have distinct variations compared to California rolls.
The Best Alaska Roll Recipe
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 1 hr
Ingredients:
Rice
- 1 ½ cup Japanese rice
- 2 cups water
- 2 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
- 1 tsp salt
Alaska Roll Sushi
- 1 sheet nori
- 6 oz sushi-grade salmon, thinly sliced
- 4 pcs crab meat or kani sticks
- 1 avocado, thinly sliced
- 1 small cucumber, cut into matchsticks
- 1 tbsp kewpie mayo or spicy mayo
Instructions:
Rice:
Place the Japanese rice in a rice cooker and rinse in the sink until the water becomes clear. Drain. Add 2 cups of water to the Japanese rice and cook according to the rice cooker’s instructions. When cooked, transfer the rice to a separate bowl.
Alaskan roll:
- Shred Kani sticks and put them in a bowl. Pour in the mayo and mix the ingredients until evenly coated.
- Place one nori sheet on a clean surface. Using wet hands, get half the rice and spread it evenly across the nori.
- Gently flip the rice and nori sheet over so the nori faces up and the rice is on the bottom.
- Add the cucumber, crab, and avocado and place them across the center of the sushi roll.
- Use a bamboo mat to lift edges and roll it over until the ends meet. Squeeze the bamboo mat while rolling to tighten it up.
- Gently remove the bamboo mat, and before serving, top the rolls with thin salmon slices.
Servings: 2
FAQs
How many calories are in an Alaska Roll?
A typical serving of an Alaska roll sushi (8.6 ounces) contains 304 to 450 calories.
Is Alaska Roll healthy?
Yes, Alaska roll is healthy. Almost all the ingredients in the Alaska sushi roll provide many health benefits. It has salmon and avocado, which are loaded with nutrients. Salmon is rich in healthy fats and protein.
Key Takeaways
An Alaska roll is sushi with rice stuffed inside rather than outside. Its ingredients are raw salmon/smoked salmon, crab, mayo, avocado, and cucumber.
The traditional version of the Alaska roll doesn’t have cream cheese. Other variations may include cream cheese.
Traditional Alaska rolls also use raw salmon, but if you are not fond of eating raw fish, the salmon can be air-fried.
It’s easy to prepare like a California roll. It’s actually a California roll with salmon on top.
References:
- https://edition.cnn.com/2021/05/31/health/avocado-benefits-wellness/index.html
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