Save Seventy Bucks on Sushi

Ever feel like you’re overspending at the sushi bar but just can’t kick the sushi habit? There’s no need to give up sushi. One of the great things about preparing sushi from your home kitchen is the money you can save. But just how much can you save? I decided to find out. I took a trip to my local supermarket and purchased common grocery store items just to see how much sushi one could make. Then I compared what I was able to make versus my local sushi bar prices. The savings? Over seventy bucks! Here’s a breakdown:

My Grocery List

1 8oz block cream cheese – $1.19

1 3oz pack Nova Lox – $3.79

1 firm but ripe avocado – $1.50

1/2 pound asparagus spears – $1.50

1 8 piece pack of imitation crab sticks – $3.79

1 bunch green onions – $0.99

1 large cucumber – $0.99

5 lb bag sushi rice – $7.99

1 box sesame seeds – $2.79

1 bottle plain unseasoned rice vinegar – $3.49

1 10 ct pack nori, full sheets – $2.79

1 jar pickled ginger – $3.99

1 container or wasabi powder – $2.99

1 bottle low sodium soy sauce – $1.99

That’s a supermarket total of $39.78 plus tax. This does not include sugar and salt, which I already had at home.

Note: To save even more, purchase sushi rice, rice vinegar, nori, pickled ginger, wasabi and soy sauce at your local Asian market where prices are usually more reasonable.

And with 1 1/2 recipes of sushi rice, I was able to make the following 20 sushi rolls:

3 Kappa Maki

3 Asparagus Rolls

3 Avocado Rolls

4 California Futomaki Rolls

2 Crab and Asparagus Hand Rolls

3 Asparagus Salmon Hand Rolls

2 Crab Rolls topped with Salmon and Avocado

At my local sushi bar, pricing is as follows:

Kappa Maki $4 each

Asparagus Rolls $4 each

Avocado Rolls $4 each

California Futomaki $7 each

Crab and Asparagus Hand Rolls $5 each

Asparagus Salmon Hand Rolls $5 each

Crab Rolls topped with Salmon and Avocado $10 each

That’s a sushi bar tab of $109 plus tax and gratuity! I was able to save about $70 by making sushi at home. And I had plenty of sushi rice left over for next time.

You too can do this at home. Just follow the grocery list, then click on the links for all of the recipes and methods. But be sure to invite friends over! This list will produce 20 delicious sushi rolls, which is about 95 pieces. 

*Notes:

- To prepare asparagus and avocado rolls, follow the method for kappa maki substituting blanched asparagus for the asparagus rolls, then avocado slices for the avocado rolls.  

- 1 10 count pack of full sized nori should measure 8in x 7in. Break nori in half to achieve the 4in x 7in pieces. Or alternately purchase a 20 count pack of 4in x 7in pieces of nori.