Easy Sweet Potato Sushi Rolls

❤️ Why you’ll love it 

I adore this sushi sweet potato roll recipe for its unique twist on traditional sushi. It is not your typical Japanese sushi that you would find in a restaurant, but it is just as delicious and satisfying.

The combination of sweet, savory, and umami flavors awakens your senses and leaves you craving more. The maple-roasted sweet potatoes, vibrant roasted beets, and creamy avocado work together beautifully, creating a delicious contrast of flavors and textures.

This is one of the most kid-friendly sushi recipes out there. The sweet potato and beet’s sweetness, combined with the avocado’s creaminess, make this sushi irresistible to kids. Plus, it is a great way to introduce them to new flavors and textures. 

🧾 Key ingredients

There are so many types of sushi out there, and several may seem very intricate and complicated to make. However, this sweet potato sushi roll is easy to make and has delicious fillings. 

Sweet potato and beets are the stars of this dish, bringing both sweetness and earthy flavor. Roasting these vegetables enhances their natural flavors, making them a perfect filling for the rolls. 

Sushi rice is the foundation of any sushi roll. Its sticky texture holds all the ingredients together. Combine rice vinegar and salt for seasoning to achieve the perfect sushi rice.

Nori sheets are the wrapping material for the rolls. These sheets hold everything together and add a unique, sea-like flavor to the rolls.

Avocado adds a creamy texture and rich flavor to them. Slice them as fries for easy assembly.

Maple syrup or any other liquid sweetener enhances the sweetness of the roasted sweet potatoes. 

Soy sauce or tamari is used to season the roasted vegetables. It adds a savory, umami flavor that perfectly compliments the vegetables’ sweetness.

🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

🥘 Equipment

For this sweet potato roll sushi recipe, the most indispensable equipment you will need is a bamboo sushi mat. This mat is essential for rolling the sushi tightly and evenly, guaranteeing that all the delicious ingredients stay nestled within the nori sheet. Without it, you may struggle to achieve the perfect sushi roll shape. Trust me, a bamboo sushi mat can make the difference between a good sushi roll and a great one. If you are a beginner, try this sushi making kit.

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Preparing the ingredients

STEP 1
Start by rinsing the sushi rice under cold water using a fine-mesh sieve until the water runs clear. Combine fresh cold water, rice vinegar, rinsed rice, and a pinch of salt in a pot.

STEP 2
Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer. When the water evaporates, remove the pot from the heat and cover it with a lid. Let it sit for about five minutes.

STEP 3
Cut the sweet potatoes into fries that are approximately half an inch thick, and the beets should be cut into thinner fries, about a quarter of an inch thick. Arrange the sweet potato and beet fries in a single layer on separate baking trays lined with parchment paper.

STEP 4
Prepare a marinade by mixing soy sauce (or tamari if you prefer), maple syrup, sesame oil, and vegetable oil.

STEP 5
Brush the beet fries with some oil and sprinkle them with salt and pepper.

STEP 6
Brush this mixture onto the sweet potato fries, coating both sides.

STEP 7
Preheat your oven to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 204 degrees Celsius) and roast the sweet potato and beet fries until they are soft and tender.

Making the sushi sweet potato roll

STEP 1
Place a dry nori sheet on a bamboo mat. Spread two to three spoonfuls of the cooked sushi rice evenly and thinly over the nori sheet. Wet your fingers to prevent the rice from sticking to them. Arrange the sweet potato fries, beet fries, and avocado slices in three separate lines on the nori sheet.

STEP 2
Fold the bottom of the nori sheets with the help of the bamboo mat till the filling. 

STEP 3
Using the bamboo mat, roll the sushi as tightly as you can.

STEP 4
Once the sushi is tightly rolled, cut it into sushi rolls that are about one inch wide. Repeat the process with the remaining nori sheets. You should end up with approximately twenty-five to thirty sushi rolls. Enjoy your homemade, plant-based, and delicious sweet potato sushi rolls.

💡 Expert tip

For the best sweet potato sushi rolls, cutting your sweet potato and beet into the right size is crucial. Sweet potatoes should be cut into fries approximately half an inch thick, while beets should be cut thinner, around a quarter inch. It will guarantee that the sweet potatoes and beets roast evenly and fit perfectly into your roll.

🔄 Variations

If you want to add a bit of variety to your sweet potato sushi roll, consider using other short-grain rice such as brown rice, wild rice, or even quinoa instead of sushi rice. Doing this will offer a different taste and texture to your rolls.

You can use other vegetables like cucumber, carrots, and shiitake mushrooms. Each type of vegetable will bring a unique flavor and texture to your sushi rolls, offering a refreshing change from the usual sweet potato and beet. I recommend 4-6 ingredients at most to roll the sushi easily.

If you are not a fan of seaweed, consider using rice paper wrappers, soybean sheets, or other alternatives. This will give your sushi a different texture and look, making it even more appealing.

Add a touch of traditional Japanese flavor by using unique Japanese ingredients. Add gourds, dashi or fermented soybeans, wakame (kelp), and mirin to your sushi rolls. These ingredients will give your sushi an authentic Japanese flavor, making it even more enjoyable.

🥣 Serving ideas

These sushi rolls are a treat for the eyes and a burst of flavors. Plus, you can pair them with various condiments. 

Serve it with soy sauce, wasabi, pickled singer, hot mustard, or chili oil for classic sushi pairings. You can also use tamari as a gluten-free option.

Another great way I like serving these rolls is part of a vegan sushi platter. Make some rice paper sushi without seaweed, easy sushi without fish, sushi spring rolls, and smoked tofu sushi rolls to serve on a platter with these sweet potato rolls. It is a real crowd-pleaser, and kids enjoy it as well. 

Other Japanese flavors, such as miso soup, vegetable tempura, gyoza, and kani salad, also pair well with these rolls. It is all about serving these rolls with flavors you enjoy, so do not be scared to experiment.

❄️ Storing tips

You can easily store any leftovers you may have to enjoy later. These rolls store incredibly well. 

To store your sweet potato sushi rolls, allow them to cool completely first. Once cooled, place them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh and delicious for about three to four days.

It is also possible to freeze them. However, it is crucial to freeze each roll separately to prevent them from sticking together and becoming soggy upon defrosting. 

When it comes to reheating, there is no need to do so. Sushi is traditionally served cold, so you can just take your rolls out of the fridge and enjoy them as they are. If you have frozen your sushi, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before consuming it.

🤔 FAQs

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Sweet Potato Sushi Rolls

Nandor Barta

This sushi sweet potato roll is sweet, savory, and umami for a delicious plant-based sushi the whole family will love. The maple-roasted sweet potato, earth beet, and creamy avocado wrapped in sushi rice and nori sheets is a delightful combination.

5 from 13 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Roasting 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Servings 4 servings

Calories 325kcal

Equipment

• Bamboo mat
• Beginner’s sushi kit
• Sushi making kit with roller machine
• Rice cooker

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

Roasting sweet potato and beet

• ▢ 1 Sweet potato (large)
• ▢ 1 Tbsp Maple syrup or agave or any other liquid sweetener
• ▢ ½ Tbsp Soy sauce or tamari
• ▢ 1 Tbsp Vegetable oil
• ▢ 1 tsp Sesame oil
• ▢ Salt and Pepper
• ▢ 1 Beet (medium) roasted as per instructions
• ▢ 1 Tbsp Olive oil

Sushi rice

• ▢ 1 cup Sushi rice
• ▢ 1 + ⅓ cup Water
• ▢ 1 + ½ Tbsp Rice vinegar
• ▢ ¾ Tbsp Salt

To assemble the sushi

• ▢ ½ Avocado sliced as fries
• ▢ 4 Nori sheets

Optional condiments

• ▢ Wasabi optional (to taste)
• ▢ Soy sauce or tamari
• ▢ Pickled ginger
• ▢ Hot mustard
• ▢ Chili oil

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Instructions

 

Cooking sushi rice

• Rinse rice under cold water using a fine-mesh sieve.
• Take a pot and pour in fresh cold water and rice vinegar. Add rinsed rice and salt.
• Bring it to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat low. Simmer until the water disappears, then remove from heat and cover with a lid. It should stay covered for 5 minutes. Now, you have cooked sushi rice.

Roasting sweet potato and beets

• Peel and cut sweet potatoes into fries approx. ½-inch thick. Do the same for beets, but cut it thinner approx. ¼-inch. Place them in a single layer on separate sheet pans or on baking trays, or on parchment paper (the beets will color the sweet potatoes purple if they are too close during baking).
• Make a quick marinade with soy sauce (or tamari), maple syrup, sesame oil, and vegetable oil. Brush the sweet potato fries, and turn and brush the other side as well. Brush the beet fries with oil only and sprinkle them with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 400 Fahrenheit (ca. 204 °C) and roast the sweet potato and beet until soft and tender.

Rolling sushi

• Take a bamboo mat and place a dry nori sheet on it.
• Take 2-3 spoonfuls of cooked sushi rice and, using your fingers, spread it evenly and thinly over the nori sheets. Make your fingers wet to avoid the rice sticking to them too much.
• Make 3 lines horizontally around ⅓ of the nori sheet. One line should be sweet potato fries, one beet fries and one avocado sliced also as fries.
• Take the bamboo mat and roll the sushi as tight as you can manage. (You can watch our video on how we do it, or check out the step-by-step photo collage above the recipe card.)
• Once it is tightly rolled, cut it into 1-inch wide sushi rolls.
• Repeat with all 4 nori sheets. You should have approx. 25-30 sushi rolls.

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Video

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Sweet Potato Sushi Rolls

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 325 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 6g

Sodium 1492mg65%

Potassium 440mg13%

Carbohydrates 57g19%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 8189IU164%

Vitamin C 6mg7%

Calcium 40mg4%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.