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    Home » Main dishes

    Uramaki with vegan caviar

    Published: Jun 3, 2025 by Aaron Zahl · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Uramaki, or inside-out rolls, are a sushi innovation where the rice sits on the outside, providing a delightful canvas for toppings and garnishes. This recipe for Uramaki with Vegan Caviar is a celebration of flavors and textures—perfect for both sushi novices and seasoned chefs looking to experiment with plant-based ingredients.

    2 pieces of uramaki sprinkled with vegan caviar on a scallop edged plate next to a dollop of wasabi and a piece of pickled ginger

    What sets this version apart? The addition of vegan caviar provides that luxe sushi-bar appeal with none of the guilt. Made entirely from seaweed, the vibrant orange and black pearls from Cavi-Art not only mimic the look and crunch of traditional roe but also promote a more sustainable choice.

    So in order to make this roll, you'll need to prepare some sushi rice, simmered sushi mushrooms and homemade vegan "kewpie" mayo beforehand. Then wrap your sushi rolling mat in plastic wrap, lay down your nori, layer on your rice, sprinkle with furikake, flip and layer in your fillings, roll and garnish. The recipe steps will show you the way in more detail. So roll up, roll up!

    3 piece of uramaki topped with vegan caviar, cress and mayo.

    This recipe makes 4 rolls which is enough for 2-4 people as part of a larger meal. It pairs well with avocado maki, vegan eel nigiri and miso soup.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Before You Begin 
    • Instructions
    • What is Vegan Caviar? 
    • Substitutions
    • Uramaki Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • 3 Tips for Perfect Uramaki 
    • FAQ
    • Related
    • Pairing
    • Uramaki with vegan caviar

    Ingredients

    Serves 2-4 | Prep time 45 mins

    • 16 slices of sushi mushrooms 
    • ¼ takuan (10cm long, sliced into strips) 
    • 550g sushi rice (cooked and seasoned) 
    • 10g kare kare ume furikake 
    • 1 avocado (thinly sliced) 
    • 5 half sheets of nori (around 20cm x 9cm)
    • 4 tablespoon Vegan caviar 
    • Homemade vegan kewpie mayo
    • Cress, wasabi, and sushi ginger (optional garnishes)

    Before You Begin 

    • Prepare rice and mushrooms: Be sure these are ready to go. Both can be prepped the day before. 
    • Cut nori sheets: Use pre-cut half sheets or cut full sheets in half yourself for convenience. 
    sushi rice in a bamboo sushi mixing bowl being stirred using a wooden rice spatula.
    braised shiitake mushrooms in a a small tupperware

    With everything prepped, it’s time to make some magic happen. Wrap your sushi-rolling mat in cling film, smooth side up, to ensure nothing sticks.

    Instructions

    Half a deseeded avocado being peeled by hand.
    1. Cut the avocado in half, deseed and peel. 
    Halved avocado with seed removed and skin peeled, ready for slicing
    1. Place avo flat side down and slice into 0.5cm wedges. Set aside.
    Takuan being sliced into long strips on a wooden chopping board.
    1. Slice takuan into long 10cm strips roughly 1.5cm x1.5cm thick. Set aside.
    Sushi mat placed smooth side up with half-sheet of nori rough side up.
    1. Take your sushi roll mat smooth side up. Place your (half) sheet of nori rough side up.
    Hands shaping sushi rice ball roughly 110g, about the size of a medium apple
    1. Wet both hands and grab a ball of rice (about the size of an medium apple est.110g).
    Sushi rice evenly spread across nori sheet to the edges and corners
    1. Spread this evenly all the way to the edges and corners.
    Rice-topped nori sprinkled lightly with shiso furikake seasoning.
    1. Sprinkle lightly with shiso furikake 
    Nori and rice flipped so seaweed is now on top, rice on the mat.
    1. Flip this over so that the seaweed is on top and
    Takuan, sautéed mushrooms, and avocado neatly layered as fillings.
    1. Then add your fillings. Takuan, mushrooms then avo. Line them up so they remain compact and neat, without too much overlap (these can create uneveness).
    Sushi mat being rolled over fillings, aligning rice with opposite edge of nori.
    1. Grab the bottom edge of the mat and pull it over the fillings using the rest of your fingers to hold the fillings in place as you roll over connecting the sticky rice to the nori on the other side.
    Hands tightening sushi roll to seal and secure the sushi fillings.
    1. Firmly tighten the roller by holding it in place using your dominant hand and pulling the top part away from you. This should secure the seal and help keep the fillings securely inside. 
    Final roll rotated to seal side down, gently shaped with sushi mat.
    1. Pull the bottom part of the roller over again, effectively rotating the roll onto the remaining nori so that the seal is on the underside. Gently shape using your semi cupped hands over the roller.
    Finished sushi roll sliced into bite-sized pieces on a wooden board.
    1. Place on a chopping board and slice into bite sized pieces (2-3 cm thick) using a sharp, clean, water dipped knife.
    Sushi pieces topped with vegan kewpie mayo, black caviar, and fresh cress.
    1. Drizzle with homemade kewpie mayo, vegan caviar and cress. Then transfer onto your serving dish.
    Plated sushi served with wasabi and pickled ginger on the side.
    1. Serve with optional wasabi (for extra punch) and sushi ginger (to cleanse your palate between bites)

    Hint: Wet your hands regularly to manage sticky rice and always use a super sharp, clean knife for slicing your maki.

    What is Vegan Caviar? 

    Derived from seaweed, vegan caviar mimics traditional roe with bold flavors and a satisfying crunch. The Cavi-Art Tosago Orange or Cavi-Art Black Seaweed Caviar are perfect substitutes for masago or tobiko sushi rolls. They offer a great alternative to the norm without the need to harm our fishy friends. A truly sustainable and ocean friendly option for those wishing to be vegan without compromise.

    Substitutions

    • Furikake: Substitute sesame seeds if unavailable. 
    • Kewpie Mayo: Store-bought vegan mayo works just as well though making it is a complete doddle.

    Uramaki Variations

    • Spicy Roll: Add a touch of sriracha to your mayo for extra heat. 
    • Crunchy Texture: Include cucumber sticks or tempura flakes inside your roll. 
    • Sweet and Savory: Drizzle a bit of teriyaki glaze over the finished uramaki.

    Equipment

    For the best results you'll need the following pieces of equipment:

    • Plastic wrap
    • sushi roll mat (maki-su)
    • Rice spatula

    Storage

    For the best taste and texture, enjoy your uramaki fresh. If needed, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Note: the rice may firm up.

    3 Tips for Perfect Uramaki 

    1. Perfectly Cooked Rice: Rinse rice thoroughly before cooking for ideal stickiness.
    2. Neat Rolling: Line up fillings evenly for clean, consistent rolls.
    3. Knife Skills: Use a sharp knife dipped in water for smooth cuts. Wipe between slices. If rolls fall apart, cover them with plastic wrap while cutting.

    FAQ

    1. Can I make this in advance?

    It’s best to enjoy sushi rolls fresh, but you can prepare the fillings and rice ahead of time for a quicker assembly process on the day.

    2. What’s the ideal rice-to-filling ratio? 

    Keep your rice layer thin enough to roll easily but thick enough to hold—about 110-120g per roll works well.

    3. Where can I find vegan caviar?

    Check specialty food stores or online retailers like Sous Chef. They offer a wide selection of plant-based caviars that are perfect for sushi! 

    4. What other fillings work well in vegan uramaki?

    Try julienned cucumber, pickled radish, shredded carrot, marinated tofu, or even mango for a fruity twist. Keep textures varied for the best results.

    Related

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

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    Pairing

    These are my favorite dishes to serve with:

    • Small ceramic bowl filled with kinpira gobo - shredded burdock root and carrot sautéed in soy sauce and mirin - topped with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.
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    2 pieces of uramaki sprinkled with vegan caviar on a scallop edged plate next to a dollop of wasabi and a piece of pickled ginger

    Uramaki with vegan caviar

    Aaron Zahl
    A plant-based twist on classic uramaki—these inside-out sushi rolls are filled with savory mushrooms, creamy avocado, crisp takuan, and topped with vegan caviar for a luxe, flavor-packed bite.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 45 minutes mins
    Cook Time 0 minutes mins
    Additional time for sushi rice prep 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins
    Course Main dishes
    Servings 4 rolls

    Equipment

    • 1 Sushi mat bamboo roller
    • 1 rice spatula

    Ingredients
      

    • 16 slices of sushi mushrooms recipe link in notes
    • ¼ takuan 10cm long, sliced into strips
    • 550 g sushi rice recipe link in notes
    • 10 g kare kare ume furikake
    • 1 avocado thinly sliced
    • 5 half sheets of nori around 20cm x 9cm
    • 4 tablespoon Vegan caviar
    • Homemade vegan kewpie mayo recipe link in notes

    Garnishes:

    • Cress

    Serve with:

    • wasabi and sushi ginger

    Instructions
     

    Prep fillings:

    • Cut the avocado in half, deseed and peel.
    • Place avo flat side down and slice into 0.5cm wedges. Set aside.
    • Slice takuan into long 10cm strips roughly 1.5cm x1.5cm thick. Set aside.

    Start rolling:

    • Take your sushi roll mat smooth side up. Place your (half) sheet of nori rough side up
    • Wet both hands and grab a ball of rice (about the size of an medium apple est.110g)
    • Spread this evenly all the way to the edges and corners.
    • Sprinkle lightly with shiso furikake
    • Flip this over so that the seaweed is on top.
    • Then add your fillings. Takuan, mushrooms then avo.
    • Grab the bottom edge of the mat and pull it over the fillings using the rest of your fingers to hold the fillings in place as you roll over connecting the sticky rice to the nori on the other side.
    • Firmly tighten the roller by holding it in place using your dominant hand and pulling the top part away from you. This should secure the seal and help keep the fillings securely inside.
    • Pull the bottom part of the roller over again, effectively rotating the roll onto the remaining nori so that the seal is on the underside. Gently shape.
    • Place on a chopping board and slice into bite sized pieces (2-3 cm thick)

    Garnish and serve:

    • Drizzle with homemade kewpie mayo, vegan caviar and cress.
    • Serve with optional wasabi (for extra punch) and sushi ginger (to cleanse palate between bites)

    Notes

    recipe for simmered sushi mushrooms 
    recipe for sushi rice
    recipe for "kewpie" mayo 
    Keyword uramaki, vegan caviar, vegan inside out roll

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    Hi, we're Aaron and Jess!

    We love cooking vegan Japanese dishes and sharing tips for creating delicious recipes.

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