You’ve probably eaten sushi before, but have you ever considered deconstructing it into a casserole-style bake? This recipe shows you how.

Sushi is a traditional Japanese dish that combines vinegared rice with a variety of ingredients. It’s most famously associated with raw fish, but there are a wide variety of vegan sushi recipes that don’t require any animal ingredients to taste amazing.

Adapting sushi to a plant-based diet is straightforward, as many traditional sushi components are already vegan. The below recipe, which comes from Nuts & Twigs, shows you how to make a vegan sushi bake with classic vegan sushi ingredients like cucumber, rice, scallions, tofu, a nori sheet, and Japanese mayo.

Read more: 10 Easy One-Pot Vegan Recipes

Vegan sushi bake

Vegan Sushi Bake combines the familiar flavors of sushi in a deconstructed, oven-baked format that's both easy to make and incredibly satisfying. If you like sushi, this vegan sushi bake is perfect for gatherings, potlucks, or just a cozy night in.

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Duration40

Servings

Ingredients

For the sushi rice

2 cups sushi rice
¼ cup rice vinegar
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt

For the tofu layer

¾ – 1 block firm or extra-firm tofu, drained and pressed, thinly sliced
2 scallions, white and green parts chopped
4 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp sriracha or to taste (optional)
½ a nori sheet, finely sliced (or 1 teaspoon of seaweed flakes)

For the Japanese mayo

1 cup vegan mayo (choose your favorite brand)
1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar for a slight tang)
1 ½ tsp sugar
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
1 tsp soy sauce (look for gluten-free soy sauce or tamari for a gluten-free option)
¼ tsp turmeric
1 tbsp sriracha sauce (adjust to taste)

For the assembly

¼ English cucumber, cubed or julienned
2-3 carrots, shredded or julienned (divided)
1 avocado, sliced thinly
Black sesame seeds
Sliced green onions
Nori sheets, cut into squares for serving

Instructions

Prepare the Rice: Follow the instructions on the package for 2 cups of rice. Typically, this involves rinsing the rice and allowing it to soak for 30 minutes before cooking. While that is cooking, in a small saucepan, heat the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until dissolved. Gently fold this mixture into the cooked rice, then let it cool on the kitchen counter until it comes to room temperature.
Prepare The Tofu: While the rice is soaking and cooking, drain and press the tofu using a tofu press or wrapping the block in a clean kitchen towel and placing a heavy skillet on top. Remove as much moisture as you can for about 10-15 minutes. In a bowl, make the marinade by combining soy sauce, sesame oil, sriracha, thinly sliced nori sheets (or seaweed flakes), and green onions. Slice the tofu into rectangles and place them on a small baking sheet or container. If you are using an 8 x 8 baking dish, 8 slices of tofu will fit perfectly. Spread the soy sauce mixture over the tofu, marinating all the tofu. Refrigerate while you prepare the Japanese mayo.
Prepare the Japanese Mayo: Whisk together the vegan mayonnaise, rice vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, soy sauce, and turmeric until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth and uniform. Add more turmeric if you want it to be more yellow and match traditional Japanese mayonnaise.
Assemble the Sushi Bake: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In an 8×8 single-serving or ceramic baking dish, brush the bottom and sides with toasted sesame oil. Dip your hands or spoon in cold water and gently spread half of the sushi rice evenly in the baking dish, creating the first layer of your sushi bake. Add a thin layer of shredded carrots. Place the tofu rectangles in one layer across the top of the rice and carrots, pouring out all of the marinade onto the top, including the scallions and nori. Then, evenly cover the entire dish with the remaining rice over the top. Finally, spread about ¼ cup of the Japanese mayo over the top.
Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. During the last few minutes, turn the oven to broil to caramelize the top.
Serve: Once baked, let the sushi bake cool slightly. Garnish with thin slices of avocado, scallions, cucumber, and shredded carrot, then sprinkle sesame seeds on top for added crunch and a beautiful presentation. Drizzle the leftover mayo over the top using a squeeze bottle or spoon. If desired, serve with squares of nori to scoop some sushi bake onto the nori, creating a delicious, hand-held treat.