Recipes › Appetizers

Cucumber Sushi (Without Rice)

By Samira Kazan

published June 07, 2024

This cucumber sushi is 100% plant-based, can be made in under 15 minutes, and is perfect for a healthy, delicious, low-carb snack or appetizer. Serve with a delicious avocado dip or your favorite sauce, and enjoy the fresh taste of the vegetables.

Slices of cucumber sushi stuffed with vegetables with avocado dipping sauce and chopsticks - 1

This healthy rainbow cucumber sushi is the perfect way to eat more vegetables. It’s delicious, nutritious, and extremely customizable. Below, I share my favorite veggie combo, but you can use your preferred ones or whatever you have to hand. I love to serve it with an avocado dip or sriracha mayo , but again, you can opt for your favorite dipping sauce.

These cucumber slices can be enjoyed year-round, but their fresh and crunchy taste is a great addition to any summer potlucks and BBQ cookouts. Everyone will enjoy them and ask for more!

Want to save this recipe?

  • Watch my cucumber sushi video
  • Why I love this recipe
  • Ingredients
  • How to make this cucumber sushi
  • More Japanese-inspired recipes
  • Cucumber Sushi (Without Rice) Recipe

Watch my cucumber sushi video

Why I love this recipe

This recipe is a game-changer for quick, easy, and versatile meals. With no need to cook rice, I can assemble these rolls in just a little time using any vegetables I have on hand and dip them into my favorite sauce. The only essential ingredient is cucumber, making it a hassle-free option.

These vegan sushi rolls are not only delicious but also packed with nutrients, including minerals, vitamins, and fiber—making them a perfect appetizer or side dish for a refreshing summer meal.

Making cucumber sushi is a fun and interactive activity. I love inviting kids to join this meal prep, they can help with assembling the rolls, making it a delightful experience for everyone.

Six slices of cucumber sushi stuffed with vegetables - 2

Ingredients

Vegetables for cucumber sushi and avocado dip - 3
  • Cucumbers: It’s best to use large cucumbers, as it would be easier to core and stuff them.
  • Vegetables: Bell peppers (different colors), carrots , green or yellow zucchini , cauliflower (regular or purple), or your favorite veggies.
  • Rice paper: Completely optional. It can be used to wrap the veggies before stuffing the cored cucumbers.
  • Avocado dip: You need avocado , lime , green chili (optional), and cilantro . Alternatively, you can use your favorite sushi or veggie dip, such as spicy mayo, teriyaki sauce, mango sauce , sriracha, etc.
  • Other optional fillings: You can use your favorite fillings and toppings, such as crab sticks, tuna, salmon, shrimp, cream cheese , shredded tofu, avocado, pickled daikon , seaweed, or even sushi rice .

How to make this cucumber sushi

Prepare the cucumbers: First, wash and dry them well. Then, cut them into halves. Core all but one of the halves using a vegetable corer or a vegetable drill. Alternatively, you can use a small spoon to scoop out the flesh and create a hollow center. Make sure the “walls” remain sturdy enough to hold their shape.

Steps for coring a cucumber - 4

Prepare the veggies: Shred the remaining cucumber half, the carrot, and the zucchini. Use a thin vegetable shredder or cut thin slices with a sharp knife to create “julienne” style veggies (long and thin strips). Also, thinly slice the pepper. Then, trim the vegetable strips by cutting them to fit the length of the cucumber halves. Grate the cauliflower- this will create a rice-like texture.

A plate with shredded vegetables - 5

Stuff and slice the cucumbers: There are two ways to stuff the cored cucumber halves.

  • Using rice paper (optional): Quickly dip the rice paper wrapper in warm water. Place it on a flat surface and arrange the vegetable “rice” and slices. Then, wrap into rolls that can fit into the cored cucumbers. Finally, carefully stuff the rolls into the cucumbers and cut them into slices.
Steps for making cucumber sushi using rice paper - 6
  • Without rice paper: Stuff the prepared vegetables directly into the holed cucumbers. I like spooning some cauliflower rice into the cucumbers and then arranging the long, thin veggie strips inside. Make sure to stuff the cucumbers well so the fillings don’t fall out once cut into slices. You can help compress the stuffing with the back of a spoon/fork or with a chopstick. Finally, slice the stuffed cucumbers into rounds.
Steps for making cucumber sushi by stuffing it with vegetables - 7

Make the creamy avocado cilantro dip : Place the avocado, lime, green chili (if using), and cilantro in a food processor or use a hand-held blender. Blend until thick and creamy, and the dip is ready.

Steps for making avocado dip - 8

Enjoy: The cucumber sushi is now ready. Dip a cucumber roll in the avocado sauce and enjoy the fresh and crunchy texture of the vegetables. Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days (depending on your stuffing). They are the perfect cold snack or fun and nutritious appetizer.

Dipping a cucumber sushi slice in avocado dip - 9

More Japanese-inspired recipes

Fruit Sushi Square photo - 10 Fruit Sushi Square photo - 11 Chopsticks holding an avocado roll - 12 Chopsticks holding an avocado roll - 13 A bowl with kani salad topped with cilantro - 14 A bowl with kani salad topped with cilantro - 15

Equipment

  • Vegetable Corer -OR-
  • Vegetable drill

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For the rolls

  • ▢ 2 cucumbers large
  • ▢ 1 carrot
  • ▢ 1 red pepper red, yellow, or orange
  • ▢ 1 zucchini green or yellow
  • ▢ 1 cauliflower regular or purple
  • ▢ 3 rice paper wrappers completely optional

For the dip

  • ▢ 1 avocado
  • ▢ 1 lime
  • ▢ a handful cilantro
  • ▢ 1 chilli pepper optional

Instructions

  • Wash and dry the cucumbers, then cut them into halves. Using a vegetable corer, a vegetable drill, or a small spoon, core three of the halves, creating a hollow center. Make sure the “walls” remain sturdy enough to hold their shape.
  • Using a knife or a vegetable shredder, thinly slice or shred the last cucumber half, the carrot, and the zucchini – they should be cut into thin, long strips. Thinly slice the pepper. Grate the cauliflower into a rice-like texture. Trim the vegetable strips by cutting them to fit the length of the cucumber halves.
  • Stuff the cored cucumber halves with the sliced vegetables. Using rice paper (optional): Quickly dip the rice paper wrapper in warm water. Arrange the vegetable “rice” and strips on the rice paper and wrap it into rolls that fit into the cored cucumbers. Carefully stuff the rolls into the cucumbers. Without rice paper: Stuff the prepared vegetables directly into the holed cucumbers. Spoon some cauliflower rice and then arrange the long, thin veggie strips inside. Stuff the cucumbers well so the fillings don’t fall out after slicing. Compress the stuffing with the back of a spoon/fork or with a chopstick.
  • Make the dipping sauce by blending the avocado, lime juice, cilantro, and chili pepper until thick and creamy. You can also use your favorite sauce.
  • Slice the stuffed cucumbers into rounds and enjoy them dipped in the sauce.

Video

Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Slices of cucumber sushi stuffed with vegetables with avocado dipping sauce and chopsticks - 16

Cucumber Sushi (Without Rice)

Equipment

  • Vegetable Corer -OR-
  • Vegetable drill

Ingredients

For the rolls

  • 2 cucumbers large
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 red pepper red, yellow, or orange
  • 1 zucchini green or yellow
  • 1 cauliflower regular or purple
  • 3 rice paper wrappers completely optional

For the dip

  • 1 avocado
  • 1 lime
  • a handful cilantro
  • 1 chilli pepper optional

Instructions

  • Wash and dry the cucumbers, then cut them into halves. Using a vegetable corer, a vegetable drill, or a small spoon, core three of the halves, creating a hollow center. Make sure the “walls” remain sturdy enough to hold their shape.
  • Using a knife or a vegetable shredder, thinly slice or shred the last cucumber half, the carrot, and the zucchini - they should be cut into thin, long strips. Thinly slice the pepper. Grate the cauliflower into a rice-like texture. Trim the vegetable strips by cutting them to fit the length of the cucumber halves.
  • Stuff the cored cucumber halves with the sliced vegetables. Using rice paper (optional): Quickly dip the rice paper wrapper in warm water. Arrange the vegetable “rice” and strips on the rice paper and wrap it into rolls that fit into the cored cucumbers. Carefully stuff the rolls into the cucumbers. Without rice paper: Stuff the prepared vegetables directly into the holed cucumbers. Spoon some cauliflower rice and then arrange the long, thin veggie strips inside. Stuff the cucumbers well so the fillings don’t fall out after slicing. Compress the stuffing with the back of a spoon/fork or with a chopstick.
  • Make the dipping sauce by blending the avocado, lime juice, cilantro, and chili pepper until thick and creamy. You can also use your favorite sauce.
  • Slice the stuffed cucumbers into rounds and enjoy them dipped in the sauce.

Video

Notes

Nutrition

Recipe on Alphafoodie: https://www.alphafoodie.com/vegan-rainbow-cucumber-sushi/