How to Make Sushi Rice with Jasmine Rice

Who doesn’t love sushi? This versatile dish is loaded with flavor and texture and is perfect for every occasion. The main ingredient in perfect sushi is sushi rice. Although authentic sushi uses special short-grain rice, it isn’t the only rice you can use. Making sushi rice is not as difficult as you might think. With a little practice, you can easily make delicious sushi rice at home.

However, you might not have short-grain rice at home. In that case, you can use jasmine rice, a type of long-grain rice commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisine. It has a fragrant, slightly sweet flavor that pairs well with sushi fillings. So if you are wondering how to make sushi rice with jasmine rice? Read ahead and find out!

Table of Contents

What is the best type of rice for making sushi?

Sushi is a Japanese dish made with rice, seafood, and vegetables. There are many different types of sushi, but the most common type is nigiri sushi, which is made with vinegar-flavored rice and fish or shellfish.

Rice is an integral part of any sushi. When you look for authentic Japanese sushi recipes, you will find that they don’t use regular rice. However, they go for short-grain sushi rice. It is the best type of rice for sushi because it has a high starch content which makes it sticky, and it also has a slightly sweet flavor.

Can you make Sushi Rice with Jasmine Rice?

People have been making sushi for centuries in many different ways. However, when it comes to rice, people often choose short-grain sushi rice. That’s because it offers the right texture and flavor. But is it the only type of rice you can use in sushi? Luckily, the answer is no! You can also use long-grain rice for making sushi.

Among the long-grain rice, jasmine rice is a popular choice for making sushi at home. It is a long-grain rice type commonly used in Asian cuisine. It has a sweet, floral aroma and a slightly sticky texture.

Another reason you can use jasmine rice for making sushi without any guilt is that jasmine rice is comparatively easier to find. Short-grain sushi rice can be found in Asian specialty stores. However, Jasmine rice is easily available at any grocery store.

So, although sushi rice is traditionally made with short-grain rice, you can also use jasmine rice. The key to making sushi rice with jasmine rice is to cook it correctly. You want to cook the rice until it is tender and slightly sticky. Once the jasmine rice is cooked and drained, you can add your desired fillings and roll your sushi.

Tips to Remember

When making sushi with jasmine rice, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that the dish turns out perfectly:

You might want to rinse your rice when making sushi, but if you use jasmine rice, I recommend you don’t even think about it. Rinsing or soaking the rice will eliminate starch content, which is crucial to get the right texture in sushi.
Cook the rice on low heat to prevent it from burning or becoming overcooked.
Use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir the rice while cooking, so it cooks evenly and doesn’t stick to the pot. Also, this way, the rice doesn’t break.
Let the rice cool slightly before adding it to the sushi roll filling. You don’t want the heat from the rice to cook the other ingredients in your roll.
Use enough water so that the grains are cooked through but not mushy. The ideal rice-to-water ratio is 1:1 1/3, i.e., 1 1/3 cups of water for every cup of rice.
You can cook jasmine rice in a rice cooker as well.
We have added a star anise to add aroma to the rice. For aroma and warmth, you can add other spices like cloves or cinnamon sticks. Also, if you don’t want to add spice, that is completely fine.
You can store the leftover rice in the refrigerator. Use it the next day to make fried rice, or serve it as a side with your main course.