I love these Crunchy Cucumber Rolls. They are much easier to make then expected, I didn’t think I would be able to get the cucumber to roll easily, but if you overlap the cucumber strips, make sure the cucumber is patted dry and roll it tightly, you’ll be surprised how easy it is! I love the crunch of the pepper, carrot and cabbage, but you can use whatever filling you like!
What you’ll need:
- 1 cucumber
- Cream cheese
- Sticky rice – sushi rice works best. Let it cool first.
- Thin strips of whatever veg you would like (think of something that will give you a nice crunch)
- Sriracha (if you like a slight kick)
- Soy sauce (vital for dipping)
- Salt and pepper (don’t skip the salt and pepper)
Method:
Prepare cucumber strips: Use a vegetable peeler to slice long, thin ribbons. Stack them side by side, but make sure they overlap. Once in place, trim the top and bottom of your ‘cucumber square’. This will help when you are rolling into shape.
Pat cucumber dry with a paper towel (this is a vital step).
- Add a thin layer of Philadelphia cheese.
Cook sushi/sticky rice and let it cool. The rice needs to be sticky so long grain rice won’t work. I used the ready made steamed rice from the Neon concession at Dunnes Stores. Add thin layer at the bottom of the cucumber.
Drizzle sriracha sauce.
- Cut thin strips of whatever veg you would like to add. I used carrot, red cabbage and carrot. Stack the veg on top of the rice.
Roll tightly and secure with a toothpick if needed. (don’t be afraid to roll it tightly, the tighter the better).
Serve with soy sauce on the side for dipping.
Alternative fillings:
Tuna
- 1 tin of tuna (drained)
- 1 tbsp of mayo
- Sprinkle of chives
- ½ tsp sriracha (optional for spice)
- Pinch of salt and pepper
- Add some sticky rice underneath the tuna if you would like it to taste more like sushi
Smoked Salmon
- Thin strips of smoked salmon
- Crushed or thin layers of avocado
- 2/3 tbsp of cream cheese
- Pinch of salt and pepper
- Add some sticky rice underneath the salmon if you would like it to taste more like sushi
