Sushi in a Jar

I hinted about a savory parfait in this post a few weeks back, and here it is: a Sushi Parfait. This was a lot of fun (and a little messy) to make. About halfway through layering everything into the jar, I realized I forgot the nori. The nori is a must! It gives the whole parfait that authentic sushi vibe, plus a salty flavor without any added salt. I had no choice but to deconstruct, reconstruct, and make a mess along the way.

Customize your parfait! The important elements are rice, veggies, nori, jar. The rest is up for adaptation. Here are some ideas…

• Rice: I used white sushi rice because I love that it’s sticky and sweet. Brown rice would add a nice nutty flavor and some healthy fiber. Or go the unconventional route and use quinoa or millet.
• Veggies: Try carrots, cucumbers, mushrooms, avocado, red or green cabbage, zucchini, bell pepper, or any other sushi-esque vegetable.
• Sauce: I went with coconut aminos because I love the taste, but tamari and nama shoyu would both work too. Or give my orange-ginger sauce a try.
• Extras: For a little something extra, add sesame seeds, fresh ginger, dulse flakes, wasabi (if you’re really brave), the possibilities are never-ending.

Have fun making your parfait look stunning. Dice your veggies into small pieces, slice them into thin strips, or shred them into noodles with a vegetable peeler for color and texture contrast. Garnish with a few sprigs of green onion or a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Here’s how I made mine…

Sushi Parfait

1 cup cooked sushi rice, cooled

1/2 of a lemon

1/4 tsp grated ginger

3/4 cup sliced carrot

1/2 of an english cucumber (*see note) peeled into noodles

1 stalk green onion, chopped

1-2 sheets of nori

2 tbsps coconut aminos for dipping

1. Squeeze the juice from the 1/2 lemon over the rice, sprinkle on the ginger, and mix.
2. Tear up the nori sheet(s) into small pieces.
3. Layer your parfait!

*Note: These are the long skinny cucumbers usually wrapped in plastic. They are less watery, less seedy, and taste sweeter. They’re my favorite, but a regular cucumber will work too.