You’ve seen those Spider Rolls that your friends go crazy over in sushi bars – a whole fried soft-shell crab with lettuce, cucumber and fish roe rolled into manageable bites. Why should they have all the fun? This playful version doesn’t look it, but it is 100% vegan and 100% tasty. Fried mushrooms are bundled and fried to mimic a soft-shell crab. Amaranth makes a tasty Faux Roe.
Both shimeji and enoki mushrooms can be found in most grocery stores. If shimeji are unavailable, double up on the enoki mushrooms.
Mushroom “Spider” Rolls Recipe from Vegetarian Sushi Secrets
Yield 4 Rolls (20 Pieces)
Prepare the Sushi Rice, Vegan Tempura Batter, and Faux Roe.
Heat 1 inch oil in a medium skillet over high heat. When the oil reaches 350 degrees F , reduce heat to maintain temperature as needed.
Cut 1 sheet of nori into 5 strips. Divide each set of mushrooms into 4 piles, keeping the caps all in the same direction. For each mushroom “spider”, take one pile of each mushroom and divide in half. Use one of the nori trips to bind the mushroom bundle in the center. The caps should be facing outwards on both ends. Repeat with remaining mushrooms and nori.
Dust each mushroom “spider” with flour. Shake away the excess before dipping into the tempura batter. Fry the mushroom “spiders” in oil until crisp. Drain on wire rack.
Place a 4 x 7 inch sheet of nori vertically on a bamboo rolling mat. Make sure that the short end is parallel to the bottom of the mat and that the rough side is facing upwards.
Dip your fingertips lighlty in cool water and spread about ¾ cup of prepared sushi rice evenly over the bottom ¾ of the nori.
Smear 1 teaspoon of the Faux Roe across the center of the sushi rice. Place one of the mushroom “spiders” on top and add ¼ of the cucumber and daikon radish. Top with one Romaine lettuce leaf.
Wet your fingertips again and slide your thumbs underneath the mat while grasping the fillings with all other fingertips. Roll the bottom of the mat just over the fillings, tucking the fillings tightly under the fold. (Do not allow the mat to get stuck inside the roll!)
Lift the edge of the mat. Continue rolling until the roll is complete and the seam is facing down. Gently shape the roll by pressing your forefingers on top of the mat while simultaneously pressing your thumbs and middle fingers on the sides.
Allow the roll to rest seam side down on a cutting board at least 2 minutes. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
To cut the rolls, dip the blade of a very sharp knife in water. Use a swift sawing motion to cut each roll into 5 pieces. Arrange pieces on a serving tray or individual serving plates prominently displaying the “spider” legs. Serve immediately.
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