Refreshing & Crunchy! Cucumber Rolls with Crab Stick, Spam, and Kimchi Toppings
Delicate Cucumber Rolls Topped with Crab Stick, Spam, and Aged Kimchi
Experience the delightful combination of fresh, crisp cucumber rolls generously topped with creamy crab stick salad, savory spam mayonnaise, and a tangy, spicy aged kimchi relish. These cucumber rolls are perfect for anyone to make, as the toppings cleverly hide any imperfections in shape. They make a wonderful centerpiece for special occasions and are an ideal, refreshing addition to your spring picnic lunchbox.
Sushi Roll Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber
- 2 bowls cooked sushi rice
Sweet & Sour Sushi Vinegar
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp salt
Creamy Crab Stick Topping
- 4 imitation crab sticks
- 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
- Wasabi (to taste)
- Pinch of black pepper
Savory Spam Mayonnaise Topping
- 1/2 can Spam (approx. 100g)
- 1 Tbsp mayonnaise
- Wasabi (to taste)
- Pinch of black pepper
Spicy & Tangy Kimchi Relish Topping
- 1/2 cup aged kimchi, rinsed and squeezed
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp salt
Creamy Crab Stick Topping
- 4 imitation crab sticks
- 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
- Wasabi (to taste)
- Pinch of black pepper
Savory Spam Mayonnaise Topping
- 1/2 can Spam (approx. 100g)
- 1 Tbsp mayonnaise
- Wasabi (to taste)
- Pinch of black pepper
Spicy & Tangy Kimchi Relish Topping
- 1/2 cup aged kimchi, rinsed and squeezed
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 can Spam (approx. 100g)
- 1 Tbsp mayonnaise
- Wasabi (to taste)
- Pinch of black pepper
Spicy & Tangy Kimchi Relish Topping
- 1/2 cup aged kimchi, rinsed and squeezed
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Gather all ingredients for making delicious cucumber sushi rolls.
Step 2
Thoroughly wash the cucumber by rubbing it with a handful of coarse salt. Next, prepare to slice the cucumber lengthwise. Cut the cucumber in half, then use a vegetable peeler to create thin slices about 3-5mm thick. A good tip is to peel off about 5mm from the end first to achieve a consistent thickness. While you can use the cucumber whole, halving it and slicing thinly makes rolling much easier and allows you to enjoy both the crisp exterior and softer interior.
Step 3
Lightly sprinkle the sliced cucumbers with extra salt (not listed in ingredients) and let them sit for about 10 minutes. This step draws out excess moisture and helps maintain the cucumber’s crispness.
Step 4
In a small saucepan, combine the sushi vinegar ingredients (rice vinegar, sugar, salt). Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat immediately once it starts to bubble.
Step 5
Pour the prepared sushi vinegar over the warm cooked rice. Gently mix with a rice paddle, being careful not to mash the grains. Once the rice is fluffy, spread it out on a plate or tray to cool slightly.
Step 6
Press the drained cucumber slices gently with paper towels to remove any remaining moisture. Ensuring the cucumber is dry is crucial to prevent the rice from slipping off.
Step 7
Now, it’s time to shape the rice. Take about one tablespoon of sushi rice and form it into an oval shape on your palm. The oval should be slightly shorter than the width of your cucumber slices. Shaping can be tricky at first. A helpful tip is to place the cucumber on a cutting board and use your hands to gently mold the rice around it.
Step 8
If you halved your cucumber, place two of the rice-covered cucumber slices end-to-end to fully wrap the rice. Because the cucumber slices are thin, they should hold together securely.
Step 9
You should get about 18 cucumber rolls from this recipe. Don’t worry if some shapes are a bit uneven! The delicious toppings will beautifully cover them, so embrace the handmade charm.
Step 10
While the sushi rolls are being prepared, let’s make the toppings. Dice the Spam into small cubes and pan-fry until crispy, draining any excess oil on paper towels. This gives it a lovely texture and deepens the flavor.
Step 11
Shred the imitation crab sticks finely. Rinse the aged kimchi under running water to remove excess spice and salt, then squeeze out any remaining liquid. Finely julienne or chop the kimchi. In separate bowls, combine the shredded crab sticks with mayonnaise, wasabi, and pepper. For the Spam, mix the diced Spam with mayonnaise, wasabi, and pepper. For the kimchi, mix the chopped kimchi with sugar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Ensure all toppings are well combined.
Step 12
And now, the final touch! Generously top your prepared cucumber sushi rolls with the creamy crab stick mixture, the savory spam mayonnaise, and the zesty kimchi relish. Your beautiful and delicious cucumber rolls are now complete!
