Crunchy crab rolls have become an increasingly popular sushi option, combining the fresh taste of crab with a satisfying crispy crunch. But what exactly goes into making this tasty roll? Here, I’ll walk you through the key ingredients and preparation steps that give this roll its signature flavor and texture.
The Main Ingredients
There are five core components that come together to form a crunchy crab roll
Crab Meat
The star ingredient. Authentic rolls will use real crab meat, often snow crab or king crab For a more budget-friendly option, some use imitation crab meat made from fish. The crab provides rich, sweet flavor
Rice
Short-grain white sushi rice, seasoned with rice vinegar The rice forms the base of the roll.
Nori
Dried seaweed sheets that wrap the roll.
Vegetables
Cucumbers, avocado, and carrots are popular crunchy veggies used as fillings.
Crunchy Coating
This is what gives the roll its signature crispy texture. Usually made from panko breadcrumbs, tempura batter, or cornflake crumbs.
The Step-By-Step Process
While recipes can vary, most follow a similar method:
Cook the Rice
Rinse and cook the sushi rice until tender. Season it with rice vinegar while warm.
Prep the Fillings
Slice, dice, and prep the vegetables and crab meat. Season them if desired.
Assemble the Roll
Lay a sheet of nori on a bamboo rolling mat. Spread rice over the nori, then add the fillings in a line down the middle.
Roll It Up
Use the mat to roll up the nori tightly around the fillings into a cylinder.
Coat with Crunchy Batter
Dip rolls in tempura batter, panko, or cornflakes to coat.
Cook until Crispy
Deep fry or bake until the exterior is crisped and golden brown.
Slice and Serve
Cut into bite-sized wheels and serve with desired sauces like spicy mayo.
Crunchy Coating Options
The coating provides that highly craveable crispy texture. Here are some popular coatings:
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Panko breadcrumbs – Japanese breadcrumbs that create a light, crispy crust.
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Tempura batter – A light Japanese batter that fries up super crispy.
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Cornflakes – Crushed cornflakes also make a crispy, crunchy coating.
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Flour then egg/milk wash – For a thin crispy shell, coat in flour then an egg wash before frying.
Delicious Dip Accompaniments
Crunchy crab rolls pair wonderfully with creamy, savory dips:
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Spicy mayo – Blend of mayo, sriracha and spices. A classic.
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Eel sauce – Sweet, sticky sauce with soy sauce and mirin.
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Ponzu – Citrusy ponzu sauce with soy sauce, rice vinegar, and lemon.
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Chipotle mayo – Smoky, spicy flavor from adobo sauce.
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Wasabi mayo – For a kick of wasabi heat.
Make Them Your Own
There are so many ways to customize crunchy crab rolls:
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Add avocado, cucumber, carrot or other veggies.
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Use real or imitation crab.
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Coat in panko, tempura batter, or cornflakes depending on desired crunch.
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Fry or bake to control calories.
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Serve with desired dipping sauces.
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Make them spicy by adding sriracha or wasabi mayo.
So there you have it! With its irresistible mix of flavors and textures, it’s no wonder crunchy crab rolls have become a sushi restaurant favorite. The crispy, craveable coating combined with the sweet crab filling make this roll a hands-down crowd-pleaser.
What is a Crunchy sushi roll?
A crunchy sushi roll is any maki roll that has been covered in a crunchy coating. The crunchy coating is achieved by using tempura flakes or panko bread crumbs.
A crunchy sushi roll can have any kind of fillings, and can consist of either cooked or raw fish. Popular fillings include crunchy shrimp tempura, cream cheese and avocado slices.
The roll is prepared the usual way, and then it is finished by rolling the outside in tempura flakes or panko breadcrumbs. The contrast of the crunchy coating with the sticky rice and buttery fillings is what makes crunchy sushi rolls so popular.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this yummy sushi roll recipe:
- Imitation Crab Meat. We’re using the “leg style“, which are basically long sticks. They’re easy to slice into thin strips.
- Avocado
- Cucumber
- Sushi Rice. This is a very short grain white rice that can be found in most regular grocery stores.
- Nori. These sheets of dried seaweed can be found in the Asian section of your local grocery store.
- Panko Breadcrumbs. These are easier to find in a grocery store than crunchy tempura flakes, but you can use either one.
- Mayonnaise. Kewpie mayo is more authentic, if you can find it. It’s richer and slightly sweeter than regular mayonnaise.
- Sriracha
How to Make a Crunchy Sushi Roll
Start by preparing your sushi rice. Using a rice cooker is the easiest way, but I’ve also provided stove top instructions in the recipe card below.
how to make Crab salad for sushi rolls
FAQ
What is a crab crunch roll?
Introduction: How to Make a Crunchy Crab Roll
Fresh wahoo coated with potato chips to give it a salty crunch all wrapped around spicy crab salad and topped with salmon roe and sweet mango. It’s the perfect combination of salty and sweet! Give this non-traditional sushi roll a try!
What is the crunchy roll made of?
It has a center of a shrimp tempura, snow crab mix, cucumber, and avocado and then it is topped with crunchy tempura flakes, which is how it got its name.
What are the ingredients in a crab roll?
- Deselect All.
- 1 pound jumbo lump crab meat, drained and picked through for shells, keeping the pieces as large as possible.
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced.
- 1 large celery stalk, chopped.
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives.
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon.
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill.
What are the ingredients in a Krispy Krab roll?
This roll features spicy imitation crab, fresh avocado and cucumber wrapped in rice and nori and topped with spicy mayo, Japanese BBQ sauce and crunchy fried onions. Served with soy sauce, ginger and wasabi. 8 pieces. Made fresh daily.