Philadelphia Roll Crispy Rice Sandwich
Ingredients
For the Crispy Rice
- 3 cups Calrose rice, cooked
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- Pinch of kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Oil, for frying
For the Filling
- 6 ounces smoked salmon
- 1/2 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
- 3 ounces cream cheese
- 2 sheets of nori, cut to fit sushi rice squares
- 1 ripe avocado, thinly sliced
- Sesame seeds, for topping
For the Spicy Mayo Sauce
- 1/2 cup Kewpie mayo
- 1 tablespoon sriracha, adjusted to taste
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- Kosher salt, to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Sushi Rice:
- In a large bowl, mix the cooked Calrose rice with the sugar, rice vinegar, and a pinch of salt until well combined.
- Transfer the seasoned rice to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spread it evenly to form a 1-inch thick rectangle, roughly the size of 4 bread slices.
- Place another sheet of parchment paper on top of the rice, and use a smaller baking tray to press down firmly, ensuring the rice is tightly packed and flat.
- Freeze the rice for 2 hours until firm.
Fry the Crispy Rice:
- Once the rice is ready, cut it into 4 equal squares, trimming the edges as needed to create even “bread slice” shapes.
- Lightly dust each rice square with cornstarch to form a thin coating.
- In a large pan, heat oil to about 3 inches high, enough to fully submerge the rice squares. Heat the oil until hot.
- Fry each rice block until golden brown and crispy on the outside, but still soft inside, about 6-8 minutes. Repeat with the remaining rice blocks.
Assemble the Crispy Rice Sandwich:
- On a large piece of plastic wrap, place a crispy rice block.
- Spread about 1 1/2 ounces of cream cheese on the rice, followed by a layer of thinly sliced cucumber, 3 ounces of smoked salmon, a sheet of nori, and thinly sliced avocado.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds, then top with another crispy rice block to form a sandwich.
- Fold the plastic wrap around the sandwich tightly, then cut it diagonally for easy serving.
- Repeat the process with the remaining ingredients.
Serve with Spicy Mayo Sauce:
- In a small bowl, mix the Kewpie mayo, sriracha, sugar, sesame oil, lemon juice, and a pinch of kosher salt.
- Serve the Philadelphia Roll Style Crispy Rice Sandwiches with the spicy mayo sauce on the side for dipping.
