Sushi Tower

Mickey sent me a picture of the sushi towers she and Kyle made and I couldn't wait to try this idea.

Of course I then forgot about the idea and never made it.

So when P requested sushi for her birthday dinner last weekend I was super excited when 'sushi towers' were suggested and she agreed. So I finally got to make them and am so happy to have a new favorite dinner party idea! Everyone loved this, and the best part is that you just have to chop some ingredients and everyone makes their own - it's a fun sushi bar sort of thing.

Change the ingredients to whatever you like - Kyle said they like salmon but I went with imitation crab and lobster, and cooked small shrimp.

Note: unfortunately P had to return to NC before getting to eat her birthday dinner, but I already bought all the ingredients so we had a non-birthday dinner without her. Missed you P, but loved your dinner ;)

• chopped cucumbers
• carrot matchsticks
• diced or sliced avocado
• cubed cream cheese
• sesame seeds
• nori (seaweed) snacks, I found them in the Asian aisle at the grocery store (or you could use regular nori cut in smaller pieces)
• imitation crab sticks, chopped
• imitation lobster chunks
• cooked shrimp, peeled and remove the tails
• sushi rice (Mickey and Kyle use regular white rice, I made sticky rice)

To make sushi rice: cook 2 cups of medium grain rice with 2 1/2 cups of water (I use my rice cooker). In a small bowl stir together 2 T. rice vinegar, 2 T. sugar, and 1 t. salt; microwave for 45 seconds and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Once the rice is done stir in the vinegar mixture until the rice is evenly coated.

To make the towers: using a small plastic solo cup (I assume it'd work with other cups but we used leftover short plastic clear party glasses) layer the sushi ingredients to your liking, pressing them firmly into the glass. Once the glass is full turn over and invert onto a plate. Top with sesame seeds, nori snack pieces, and/or drizzle with your choice of sauces. We had varieties to choose from including soy, teriyaki, oyster, yum yum, and sweet Thai chili. Note if you put the sticky rice in the bottom of the cup first, it sticks (hence the name 'sticky rice' hahaha) and you won't get a nice tower - it'll still taste great but you lose the presentation. If you put in a non-sticky (shellfish, nori snacks, etc.) thing first they inverted without a problem. 

I should mention that the first pass thru the line everyone was excited to build and show off their towers, but the second helpers ended up just putting the ingredients straight on their plate - more like 'sushi bowls' then sushi towers hahahah. I had leftovers the next day doing the same thing, tastes exactly the same of course but not as 'impressive' - yum, either way this is a fantastic dish.

I made chicken teriyaki and bought an 'asian chopped salad kit' for side dishes. Not necessary at all (but tasted good).