In addition to being crab meat, imitation crab meat is not vegetarian or suitable for vegans. The most common form of imitation crab is California rolls and crab rangoon, but it can also be used in stir-fries, sandwiches, and other dishes you can make at home. Dampen the blade of a sharp Japanese knife and make 6-8 pieces of the roll with the plastic wrap in place. Then roll everything up slowly and (ideally) use one of those bamboo mats to give it the perfect shape.
In the California roll, vinegared rice (instead of nori, an edible seaweed) forms the outside of the roll, which usually contains cucumber, crab (or imitation crab), and avocado, and is usually served with an avocado side dish. On top of the rice, place a stacked line of vegetables and herbs a quarter of the roll, closer to you than to the top. California roll, a mixture of cooked crab meat and avocado rolled in rice, although served with traditional slices of ginger and wasabi (a green radish type paste), is not, by their standards, “real sushi.” Vegetarians and vegans can enjoy Kappa cucumber and maki rolls, which are made with a slice of cucumber wrapped in a thin roll of rice and seaweed. The flavors and textures are eerily similar, and vegan rolls contain fewer calories and cholesterol compared to non-vegans.
The interesting thing is that many California rolls are made with Surimi, or imitation crab, which is basically a paste of several mystery meats (eew). Not only do I have one, but two incredible vegan recipes that perfectly replicate the flavor of California roll sushi without the need for imitation crabs. I used silky tofu to replace the crab meat that was traditionally used in California rolls (I had some leftover tofu from my miso soup recipe) and combined it with avocado and vegan mayonnaise. With your fingers, wet the edge of 1 inch of nori, this helps the nori adhere to itself and seal the roll.
However, make sure you don't consume too many rolls, as they contain a high sodium content, about 328.9 milligrams, says UCLA Dining Services. You can count on California rolls as a good source of fiber and protein; they contain approximately 3.6 grams of fiber and 7.6 grams of protein in a roll. A typical California roll will look like in the photos, with the rice on the outside of the nori and the ingredients inside.
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