Pantry Sushi Rice Seasoning (Small Batch)
Use pantry staples to make sushi rice vinegar seasoning at home without spending extra cash.
Equipment
- 1 small bowl
- 1 Large bowl for the rice
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar or palm sugar
- 1 ½ tbsp rice wine vinegar
- ⅛ tsp salt
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients in a small bowl. Stir until the salt and sugar is fully dissolved. If you can still see the sugar crystals in the bowl, microwave the mixture for 10 seconds at a time until the sugar is melted, mixing in between each 10 second intervals.
- How to Use on Rice: Spread out your piping hot cooked medium grain rice in a large bowl so you have a lot of surface area. Pour the sushi rice vinegar mixture slowly onto the rice. If you have a large spoon or rice paddle, use it by pouring the sushi rice vinegar onto the back of it and move it over the rice while pouring. This will help to evenly distribute the sushi rice vinegar. Mix quickly and thoroughly so all the rice has some sushi rice vinegar.
- Use the seasoned rice in your favorite sushi, sushi bake, or sushi bowl.
Video
Notes
Tips and Tricks
Can we use regular sugar instead of coconut sugar or palm sugar?
Yes, you can swap granulated sugar or brown sugar for the coconut or palm sugar. It’s a much cheaper alternative so it can still be economically friendly for those on tight budgets. Eating on occasion a few tablespoons of sugar that is more processed is not going to kill you.
What if I can’t find rice wine vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar and white wine vinegar can be used if you can’t find rice vinegar in the Asian section of your grocery store. You might have to add a little more sugar if using white wine vinegar to mimic the natural sweetness in rice vinegar.
Can I use leftover cooked rice to make sushi rice?
You definitely can. Cooked rice can dry out in the refrigerator and it gets drier the longer it stays there. You will need to reheat the rice in a microwave with a wet paper towel covering the rice.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes. Make this up to one month ahead of time and store the mixture in the refrigerator. You can make a bigger batch and use a small pot on the stove instead of the microwave to melt the sugar if you know you will be eating a lot of sushi rice that month.
If you have leftover sushi rice that has the seasoning on it, cover the rice with a wet paper towel. Heat it on small time intervals, every 10 to 15 seconds, and check the rice for your preferred warmth. Again, leftover rice dries out so don’t eat leftover sushi rice right out of the fridge!