What is a rainbow roll? It's sushi and it was good, but I have no idea what I ate!?

Question

A friend ordered a rainbow roll at a japanese restaurant and I really liked it. It was my first time having sushi and I didn't want to appear "uncivilized" by asking what it was! But, here, I don't care! What did I eat??

I'm thinking it was salmon maybe? It had fish on the outside and then stuff on the inside, possibly avocado?

Answer 1

Rainbow roll is usually a California Roll that's topped with slices of Tuna, Salmon and Hamachi.

California Roll is rice rolled around a mixture of krab, mayo,  avacado and cucumber.

(that's not a typo - the "crab" used in most Sushi is that artificial stuff made from pollack fish so it's called "krab".)

Answer 2

Bamboo sushi mat

Plastic wrap

One sheet of nori

Sushi rice

Cucumber

Crabmeat

Avocado

Assortment of fish, such as tuna, halibut, seabass, salmon or red snapper

Make the Foundation for Your Rainbow Roll

Step1

Place a thin layer of sushi rice on top of the plastic wrap. This layer should be approximately the same size as the sheet of nori that you are using. Place the nori on top of the rice with the shiny side facing up.

Step2

Place pieces of crabmeat horizonally across the nori. Put slices of cucumber and avocado adjacent to the crabmeat.

Step3

Roll the rice and nori around the filling. Your bamboo sushi mat can provide you with the structure needed to make the roll. Apply pressure to the roll through the mat to ensure that it holds together.

Step4

Remove the plastic wrap from the rice. This will leave you with a California roll that will serve as the basis for your rainbow roll.

Decorate Your Rainbow Rolls

Step1

Slice the fish that you will use for your rainbow roll using a sharp knife. You should create thin slices of fish that you can layer on top of the rice.

Step2

Place the slices of fish across top of the California roll so that they are at a slight angle. You should alternate the order of the fish that is used and leave a space for avocado. The colors of the fish and avocado give the rainbow roll its name.

Step3

Peel and thinly slice the avocado. Place slices of avocado in the gaps that you left on the top of the Caifornia roll.

Step4

Cover the surface of the roll with plastic wrap. Use your bamboo sushi mat to grip the roll firmly. After removing the sushi mat and the plastic wrap, cut the rainbow roll into eight pieces for serving.

Answer 3

Rainbow rolls are awesome because you get a nice variety of fish, and they're colourful. Basically (with many variations depending on who is making it) anything from a vegetarian/california tyle roll (inside out, ingredients on the inside), with alternating slices of sushi grade seafood/fish formed around hte top of the rice.

Nothing uncivilized about asking what you're eating. I s tarted over 16 years ago and went right for the trying different things that were seemingly outlandish, asking what's this and what's that, and I've been hooked ever since, both eating out, and most often making at home, and also have worked in a sushi bar.

Welcome to the club!