For any of you who are curious, sushi bake is a deconstructed version of sushi where a casserole is involved; perfect for home gatherings and potlucks. It layers familiar sushi ingredients into a warm, savory dish that’s easy to share and serve.

For me, it’s a dish where it’s simple and quick to make, especially if I happen to have leftover cooked salmon at home. After a long 10 hour shift, this is sometimes my go-to dish if I haven’t fully exhausted myself at work yet.

At its core, sushi bake typically includes seasoned sushi rice at the base, topped with a mixture of crab or salmon, mayonnaise, and sometimes roe for added texture. It’s really up to your imagination! The dish is baked/broiled until warm and slightly golden, and it’s usually garnished with furikake (a Japanese seasoning blend) and drizzled with Japanese mayo or unagi sauce for extra flavor.

To enjoy, you scoop a portion onto a piece of roasted seaweed (nori) and eat it like an open-faced sushi roll. It’s comforting, flavorful, and a fun twist on traditional sushi that combines all the elements people love but without the rolling!

Sushi Bake

Deconstructed sushi in a casserole that’s warm and inviting. It features seasoned rice mixed with baked salmon and torched mayonnaise, then garnished with furikake and bonito flakes. Serve it with crispy nori sheets to bring a rich, comforting twist on traditional sushi in a scoopable, shareable form.

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 5 minutes

Serves: 2-3

Ingredients

• 4 cups of Japanese sushi rice, cooked
• Rice seasoning
  • 4 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp mirin
  • 2 tsp salt
• 2 lb cooked salmon, flaked and generously seasoned
• 2 stalk, green parts of the green onion, chopped finely
• 1 cup Japanese mayo
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• Furikake for seasoning
• Nori sheets
• Bonito flakes

Directions

1. Prepare the Rice: Mix the cooked sushi rice with all the rice seasoning. Add in cooked salmon and green onion and mix with rice. Then press mixture into the bottom of a 9×12″ baking dish.
2. Make the Sauce: In a bowl, combine mayonnaise and soy sauce. Spread this mixture evenly over the rice.
3. Broil: broil at 500°F for 2-4 minutes until golden. Watch carefully so top will not burn.
4. Sprinkle: furikake, crushed nori sheets, and bonito flakes on top.
5. Serve: Scoop the baked sushi onto nori sheets and enjoy!