Japanese Inspired 'Sushi' Bowl

Japanese Inspired ‘Sushi’ Bowl

Watermelon Tuna

Ingredients:

500 g watermelon, cut into sashimi-style cubes
1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp rice vinegar or lemon juice
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp smoked paprika
Optional: 1 sheet of nori, torn into small bits for “sea” flavour

Method:

1. Toss watermelon cubes with all marinade ingredients.

2. Let sit for 20–30 mins (or up to overnight in fridge).

3. For texture: bake at 160°C (fan) for 30–40 min, flipping once. Let cool before serving.

Homemade Vegan (Wasabi) Mayo

½ cup soy milk or oat milk (unsweetened)
¾ cup neutral oil (e.g. grapeseed or sunflower)
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
1 tsp dijon mustard
½ tsp salt

Blend on high (immersion or regular blender) until thick. Would you like to evolve this into a spicy wasabi mayo? Add the following ingredients to your mayo, and whisk or blend again until smooth.

1–2 tsp wasabi paste (to taste)
1 tsp maple syrup or rice syrup (optional, balances the heat)
Optional: splash of tamari or sesame oil for umami

You can keep your (wasabi) mayo in the fridge up to a week.

Sushi Rice

Ingredients:

1 cup sushi rice (short grain)
1¼ cups water
2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp maple syrup
½ tsp salt

Method:

1. Rinse the rice thoroughly until the water runs clear.

2. Cook rice: bring to a boil, reduce temperature to low, cover and simmer for 12 minutes. Take the rice off the heat and rest it for 10 minutes.

3. Mix vinegar, syrup, and salt separately.

4. Gently fold seasoning into warm rice with a wooden spatula.

Marinated Tempeh with Miso + Nori

Ingredients:

200 grams of tempeh, sliced into strips
1 tbsp miso paste (white or brown)
1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce
1 tsp maple syrup
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp rice vinegar
1 garlic clove, grated
Optional: ½ sheet of nori, crushed or blended into the marinade

Method:

1. Steam the tempeh for 10 minutes (this is optional; it improves the flavour).

2. Mix the marinade in a bowl. Coat the tempeh well.

3. Let it marinate 15–30 minutes.

4. Pan-fry or bake at 180°C for 15–20 min until caramelised. Sprinkle with more crushed nori to finish.

Finishing Touch

Add your favourite vegetables and mushrooms like shiitake, broccolini and avocado for a well-rounded and flavourful dish. Sprinkle with sesame seeds for the finishing touch.

Enjoy!
Mitch & the Gaia Culinary Team