Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Tempura:
- 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh, cut into thin strips
- 1 cup tempura batter mix (or homemade: ¾ cup flour, 1 egg, ¾ cup ice-cold water)
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs (optional, for extra crunch)
- Vegetable or canola oil (for deep frying)
For the Sushi Roll:
- 2 cups sushi rice, cooked and seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt
- 4 sheets nori (seaweed sheets)
- ½ cucumber, julienned
- 1 avocado, sliced
- Spicy mayo or eel sauce, for drizzling
Optional Additions:
- 2 tbsp cream cheese, softened (for a creamy texture)
- 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced (for heat)
- 1 tsp sesame seeds or tobiko (for garnish and crunch)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Chicken Tempura
- In a bowl, whisk together ice-cold water, flour, and egg to make a smooth tempura batter.
- Dip the chicken strips into the batter, ensuring they are well coated.
- Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) and fry chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy.
- Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
2. Cook the Sushi Rice
- Rinse sushi rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
- Cook according to package instructions, preferably in a rice cooker.
- In a bowl, mix rice vinegar, sugar, and salt, then fold it into the warm rice.
- Let rice cool to room temperature before rolling.
3. Assemble the Sushi Roll
- Place a nori sheet on a bamboo sushi mat, rough side up.
- Spread an even layer of sushi rice, leaving a 1-inch gap at the top.
- Arrange crispy tempura chicken, avocado, and cucumber in the center.
- Use the bamboo mat to gently roll the sushi, applying light pressure.
- Seal the roll by dabbing the edge of the nori with water.
4. Cut and Serve
- Use a sharp knife to slice the roll into 6-8 equal pieces.
- Wipe the knife with a damp cloth between cuts for clean slices.
- Drizzle with spicy mayo or eel sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Serve immediately with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger.
Notes
- For extra crunch, coat the battered chicken with panko breadcrumbs before frying.
- To make an inside-out roll, flip the nori after spreading the rice and roll with the rice on the outside.
- A sushi rolling mat makes shaping the roll much easier.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Rolling, Deep Frying
- Cuisine: Japanese Fusion
- Diet: Low Lactose
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 pieces
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Protein: 12 g
Keywords: Chicken tempura roll, sushi roll, homemade sushi, Japanese cuisine, crispy chicken sushi