Christmas temari sushi

Rice for temari sushi:

• 500 gr House of Asia sushi rice
• 12 tablespoons House of Asia Rice Vinegar
• 6 teaspoons of sugar

Avocado and cheese spread:

• 1 cup of boiled egg
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 100 g cream cheese
• 100 g smoked salmon or salmon trout
• pepper (optional)

Temari sushi toppings

• smoked salmon or salmon trout
• cucumber
• Kanpyo House of Asia pickled gourd
• an avocado
• for decoration: cranberries, carrots, light and black sesame seeds, pretzels

Rice preparation:

1. Pour the rice into a bowl, cover with cold water, and gently mix with your fingers. Drain the water and repeat the rinse process 4–8 times, until clear. Drain in a strainer and transfer to a pot.
2. Add 3 cups of cold water. Let stand for 15 minutes, then cover and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10–12 minutes, or until the rice has absorbed the water. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 15 minutes.
3. In a bowl, mix rice vinegar with sugar (for 1 cup of rice – 4 tablespoons of vinegar and 2 teaspoons of sugar).
4. Pour the prepared brine into the rice and mix gently with a wooden spoon. Cover the bowl with a cloth. It's best if the rice is lukewarm.

Avocado and cheese spread:

1. Slice the avocado and sprinkle with lemon juice.
2. Mix with cheese and finely chopped smoked fish.
3. Season with pepper.

We add the paste to all the balls apart from those wrapped in smoked salmon/trout.

Shaping winter temari sushi: 

Snowmen:

1. Line a bowl with plastic wrap. Add 2 teaspoons of rice and press down.
2. Place a teaspoon of paste on top, cover with 1,5–2 teaspoons of rice.
3. Gather the foil, twist it and form a ball.
4. Garnish with sesame seeds and a piece of carrot or pepper.

Christmas trees:

1. Cut the cucumber into thin strips, drain the gourd.
2. Line a bowl with foil, add cucumber strips and 2 pieces of gourd.
3. Add 2 teaspoons of rice → 1 teaspoon of paste → 1,5–2 teaspoons of rice.
4. Form a ball, decorate with cranberry pieces.

Reindeer:

1. Place a slice or pieces of smoked fish on the foil.
2. Add 3 teaspoons of rice and roll into a ball.
3. Garnish: pretzels for horns, sesame seeds for eyes, cranberries for a nose.

Christmas balls:

1. 1. Place a slice of salmon, cucumber strips and gourd on the foil.
   2. Add 3 teaspoons of rice and form a ball.
   3. Garnish with light and black sesame seeds.