Experience sushi like never before with my Bacon Wrapped California Roll recipe! Savor the fusion of flavors as thick-cut bacon hugs creamy crabmeat, fresh cucumber, and cream cheese. With all-natural ingredients you can easily find, it’s time to embark on a sushi adventure like no other!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
What makes my recipe so great? Well, it’s my very own innovative creation, just like my beloved Lobster Sushi Rolls! Picture this – crispy bacon strips cradle a homemade California roll mixture featuring avocado and cucumber. This fusion of Japanese and American flavors is truly something special, with bacon taking center stage in sushi, following the same base as my Cream Cheese California Roll!
The best part? It’s a breeze to make, simply bake the bacon, center it with my homemade California roll mix, and wrap it up, using the same method as my Cucumber Wrapped Philly Roll and Egg Roll Sushi recipes. Whether you’re craving it for lunch, dinner, or a snack, the smoky bacon paired with the creamy California roll mix will be a delight for your taste buds! If you’re up for a unique sushi adventure, this recipe is a must-try!
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Bacon – bacon of choice, thicker center cut slices work best.
- Crab Meat – canned crab meat in water or fresh crab meat if preferred.
- Mayonnaise – use Japanese Kewpie Mayo. Can substitute with regular mayo but will alter flavor.
- Sweetener – use your preferred sweetener.
- Rice Vinegar – vinegar distilled from rice that can be found at most Asian grocery stores. Can substitute with regular white vinegar but will alter taste.
- Avocado – de-pitted and sliced.
- Cucumber – Persian, baby cucumber or Japanese cucumber works best.
- Cream Cheese – softened at room temperature.
- Toasted Sesame Seeds – optional garnish.
Ingredient Substitutions
You have the option to replace the crab meat with 4-5 sticks of Imitation Crab. If you choose this substitution, it’s important to note that you should omit the use of sweetener, as imitation crab is already naturally sweet.
🥓 Bacon Note
Best to use Thick and Center-Cut Bacon for an easier time making the bacon wraps.
Essential Kitchen Equipment
- Aluminum Foil
- Silicon Baking Mat or Parchment Paper
Directions
Step 1 Begin by creating a mold using a strip of aluminum foil wrapped around a cylindrical object. Next, take a strip of bacon, wrap it snugly around the aluminum foil mold, and secure it with a toothpick.
Step 2 Place the bacon-wrapped molds on a baking sheet or tray and bake them at 400°F for 16-19 minutes until the bacon achieves a delightful crispiness.
Step 3 In a mixing bowl, combine the drained crab meat, Kewpie Mayo, sweetener, and rice vinegar, ensuring the mixture reaches a potato salad-like consistency.
🦀 Crab Substitution Note
When using Imitation Crab Meat as a substitute, break the crab stick into strings like string cheese and omit the sweetener.
Step 4 Once the bacon is cooked and cooled to touch, lay out a strip, and place a piece of avocado, cucumber, and a teaspoon of the crab mixture in the center. Carefully roll the bacon to form a bacon roll. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds.
🍣 Serving Pro Tip
Avoid Using Soy Sauce and serve it at Room Temperature.
Recipe Variations
For a twist on this recipe, try replacing the California roll mix with shrimp to create a fusion Shrimp Bacon Rolls!
Pairing Recommendations
Pair your Bacon Wrapped California Roll with a green salad dressed in Japanese Ginger Dressing or some Garlic Truffle Edamame for a tasty side. You can also include a bowl of Egg Drop Miso Soup to complete your meal!
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of crabmeat works best for this dish?
You can use premium canned crab meat or imitation crab meat found in the frozen section of many Asian grocery stores.
Can I prepare the California roll mixture in advance?
Yes, this part of the recipe will hold in the fridge if stored in an airtight container.
How long does it take to make this recipe from start to finish?
It takes about 20 minutes, but most of the time is waiting for the bacon rolls to bake and get crispy.
Storage Tips
These rolls are best enjoyed freshly made for the best flavor and texture. However, if you need to store them, they can be kept for up to 24 hours. Avoid reheating them in the microwave for best taste.
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Watch How To Make It
Bacon Wrapped California Roll
Ingredients
- 5 Bacon Slices thick cut
- 6 oz Canned Crab Meat shredded or lumps, can sub with imitation crab
- 4 tbsp Kewpie Mayo can sub with regular mayo but will alter taste
- 1/2 tsp Sweetener
- 1/4 tsp Rice Vinegar can sub with white vinegar but will alter taste
- 1/2 Whole Avocado
- 1/2 Whole Persian or Japanese Cucumber
- 1 1/4 oz Cream Cheese
- 1/8 tsp Sesame Seed optional
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Preheat oven to 400F. Line oven tray with a silicone baking mat.
- Cut bacon into ~5″ slices. Cut aluminum foil into 3-4" width strips and wrap onto a cylinder shaped object with a diameter of about 3-4" (or you can use your fingers). Wrap the bacon around the foil and place a toothpick at the end to hold the bacon together. Place bacon along with the rolled aluminum foil onto the oven tray making sure it's standing up vertically. Repeat for all 10 bacon rolls. Transfer to center of the oven and bake for 16-19 minutes until crispy.
- In the meantime, cut the cucumber, avocado, and cream cheese into bite size pieces.
- Drain canned crab meat from water well by pressing the meat with a spoon. There can be no water in there or it will affect the end texture. In a mixing bowl, add crab meat, Kewpie mayo, sweetener and rice vinegar. Mix well until potato salad-like consistency and set aside. Note - is using imitation crab as a substitute, break the crab stick into strings like string cheese and omit the sweetener
- Once the bacon is done and cool to touch, remove toothpicks. With 2 fingers, undo the bacon rolls and place 1 piece of cucumber, cream cheese, avocado, and a tsp worth of crab mix into the center of bacon. Roll back the bacon to form roll and plate.
- Sprinkle with optional toasted sesame seeds and enjoy! Note - no need to dip in soy sauce.
Nutrition
