Sushi rolls vs. hand rolls is an unchallenging debate for the Japanese people. But for an outlander, finding the difference between the two is quite confusing. So, here is an ultimate sushi rolls vs. hand rolls article that will assist you and clear all your doubts.
Although there are plenty of similarities, when it comes to their appearance and preparation, they both outstand each other. The sushi rolls have a cylindrical shape, whereas hand rolls are conical in shape. The former requires particular skills to prepare, whereas it is easy to make the latter.
Both sushi and hand rolls share the same filling ingredients as well as health benefits. They both are prepared from the same ingredients. In this article, I will mention why they are akin to and separate from each other.
Let us now quickly jump to the details that differentiate sushi rolls from hand rolls. But before this, the difference table is prepared for you to have a basic idea.
Sushi Rolls Vs. Hand Rolls | Difference Table
| Basis Of Difference | Sushi Roll | Hand Roll |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Sushi rolls have a cylindrical appearance. | Hand rolls are conical in shape. |
| Another Name | Sushi roll is also known as maki or makizushi. | The hand roll is also known as temaki. |
| Type | Hosomaki, Nakamaki, Futomaki, Temaki, and Uramaki are various sushi rolls. | Temaki is the only type of hand-roll sushi. |
| Preparation | Sushi rolls can be prepared in advance. | It must be prepared fresh before eating. |
| Rolling Method | A bamboo mat is used for making a sushi roll. | You can prepare temaki by using your hands. |
| Consumption | Sushi rolls are small in size and can be eaten in one go. | The hand roll is generally large in size and can be eaten in 2 bites. |
| Ingredients | Sushi rolls have a filling of vinegar and rice with other ingredients and are wrapped with seaweed or soy paper. | Hand rolls are prepared with veggies, fish, and rice, which is not necessary. It is wrapped in seaweed only. |
| Eating method | It can be consumed with chopsticks or by hand. | It can be eaten with chopsticks. |
| Sharing | It can be shared with others. | It cannot be shared. |
| Size | Sushi rolls are smaller in size and can be consumed in one go. | The size of hand rolls is much larger than hand rolls. |
| Availability | It is readily available in restaurants and markets. | It is easy to prepare at home. |
What Is Sushi Roll?
In Japanese, a sushi roll is known as maki or makizushi. It requires makisu, which means bamboo mat, to make its shape. Sushi roll is said to have its origin during the Edo period in the 18th century.
Makizushi has been categorized into five different types. Each of them has different sizes and shapes with different quantities of ingredients. Hosomaki, Sakamaki, futomaki, temaki, and uramaki are various types of sushi rolls.
The preparation of sushi rolls includes more skills than the hand roll. Sushi rolls can be prepared in advance. It is not essential to consume freshly prepared sushi rolls.
These kinds of rolls are usually divided into 6-8 pieces, and each piece can be consumed in one bite. They are an ideal option to share with others. In addition to this, Sushi rolls are cylindrical in shape.
Sushi rolls can be shared and have a small size. This usually makes them not an ideal choice for satisfying your hunger. Sushi became so popular due to its easy and versatile ingredients.
Rice is the main element of sushi rolls. For making sushi rolls, you need vinegar and rice; for filling, you can use various ingredients such as fish, seafood, egg, fruits (mostly avocado), and veggies.
Enclosed is the whole filling in Nora or seaweed. You can also use soya paper for this. You can add any kind of veggies to use as filling. Thus, you can enjoy it for the whole year.
Advantages Of Sushi Rolls
Let us know about the pros of sushi rolls in the crux.
- They are easy to share among 2-3 persons.
- They are available in small bites.
- Either hands or chopsticks can consume them.
- They are readily available in the market.
- They can be preserved before eating.
- You can easily blend different kinds of veggies as filling.
Disadvantages Of Sushi Rolls
Let us know about the cons of sushi rolls in the crux.
- As they are small in size, they are not an apt choice to fulfill your hunger.
- They are not easy to prepare.
- To make sushi rolls, you are required to have skills.
Types Of Sushi Rolls
Sushi roll is a Japanese and Korean dish that has gained a lot of admirers from all over the world. It is available in different shapes and sizes.
Based on size and shape, they are categorized into five types. Hosomaki, Sakamaki, futomaki, temaki, and uramaki are various types of sushi rolls. Let us now learn about each of them in brief.
1. Hosomaki
The smallest form of sushi roll is hosomaki. It is about 1 inch in diameter. Hosomaki is made from just one ingredient: meat, crab sticks, cucumber batons, fish, or salmon. As it has one ingredient, it is tightly packed into a little and delicate roll.
Some of the popular types of hosomaki sushi include
- Kanpyo maki
- Kappa maki
- Shinko maki
- Natto maki
- Tekka maki
2. Futomaki
Futomaki is a thick type of sushi roll. It is about 2-2.5 inches in diameter. Futomaki is filled with vinegar and rice with 3 or more fillings, including raw fish, shrimp, cucumber, crab, eel, tofu, eggs, salmon, and varieties of veggies.
The most famous form of futomaki is ehomaki. Ehomaki is a perfect combination of seven different ingredients that are used to symbolize the seven gods of fortune in Japanese culture. This dish is mainly consumed during a festival known as Setsubun.
Some of the popular types of hosomaki sushi include
- California Roll
- Philadelphia roll
- Spider Roll
- Tempura Roll
- Dragon Roll
- Spicy Tuna Roll.
3. Nakamaki
Nakamaki is another addition to the category of sushi rolls. It is neither too thick like futomaki nor too thin like hosomaki. It is about 1.5-2 inches in diameter with 2 or more fillings wrapped in seaweed.
4. Temaki
Temaki type of sushi roll has a cone-shaped appearance. It is filled with two or more ingredients, such as sashimi (raw fish), vegetables, or other fillings confined in seaweed. It has a length of about 4 inches.
5. Uramaki
Uramaki is another type of sushi roll that basically belongs to California instead of Japan. They are popularly known as California rolls. It is in backward order as the ingredients are compiled with seaweed and then rolled with rice.
What Is Hand Roll?
The hand roll is a type of sushi roll that is popularly known as temaki. You can imagine it as an ice cream cone-shaped sushi with a length of about 4 inches. As I mentioned above, rice is an important ingredient in a sushi roll.
But when it comes to hand roll, it is not that necessary. You may or may not include rice, totally depending on your choice.
You can use veggies, fruits, fish, seafood, or eggs to stuff the hand roll. Combine all the ingredients using seaweed paper. Using soya paper is not an ideal choice for hand rolls.
Hand rolls are served as a whole and are not divided into parts like a sushi roll. It is simple and super easy to prepare. You can easily make them in your kitchen without any particular skill.
Due to their large size, it is difficult to eat hand rolls with chopsticks. You can use your hand to consume temaki.
Advantages Of Hand Rolls
Let us know about the pros of hand rolls in the crux.
- They are quite fulfilling and satisfy your hunger, as they are larger in size.
- They are easier to make at home and do not require any kind of particular set of skills.
Disadvantages Of Hand Rolls
Let us know about the cons of hand rolls in the crux.
- They are appropriate to be shared among people, as it is suitable for 1 person.
- They can’t be consumed with the help of chopsticks because of their size.
Sushi Rolls Vs. Hand Rolls | Difference Between The Two
In detail, let us know the difference between the sushi roll and the hand roll.
1. Appearance
The main distinguishable difference between the sushi roll and the hand roll lies in their appearance. Sushi rolls are usually cylindrical, whereas hand rolls have a conical appearance. Hand rolls just have the ice cream cone-like structure.
Also, they both are popularly known by different names. The sushi roll is also known as maki or makizushi, whereas The hand roll is also known as temaki.
Sushi rolls have been divided into five categories. Each of them has a distinct appearance. For instance, uramaki is an inside-out sushi roll, whereas hosomaki is made from just one element, which makes its appearance small.
2. Type
Temaki is a type of sushi roll itself. Hand rolls are present in only one type. On the other hand, makizushi has been categorized into five different types.
Each of them has different sizes and shapes with different quantities of ingredients. Hosomaki, Sakamaki, futomaki, temaki, and uramaki are various types of sushi rolls.
3. Preparation
The preparation of sushi rolls includes more skills than the hand roll. Sushi rolls can be prepared in advance. It is not essential to consume freshly prepared sushi rolls. But when it comes to hand rolls, they should not be prepared in advance. It must be prepared just before consumption. It is advisable to consume it as soon as possible as the rice will soften the seaweed sheet, which ultimately affects its shape. The preparation of the hand roll is quite easier than the sushi roll.
4. Consumption
Sushi rolls are usually divided into 6-8 pieces, and each piece can be consumed in one bite. They are an ideal option to share with others as sushi rolls can be shared and have a small size, which usually makes them not an ideal choice for satisfying your hunger.
Hand rolls, on the other hand, are served as a whole. They are not divided into small pieces. You can finish it in 2-3 bites, which is suitable for satisfying hunger.
5. Ingredients
Rice is the main element of sushi rolls. For making sushi rolls, you need vinegar and rice; for filling, you can use various ingredients such as fish, seafood, egg, fruits (mostly avocado), and veggies. Enclosed is the whole filling in Nora or seaweed. You can also use soya paper for this.
On the other hand, rice is not the main ingredient for preparing temaki. You may or may not include rice, totally depending on your choice. You can use veggies, fruits, fish, seafood, or eggs to stuff the hand roll. Combine all the ingredients together using seaweed paper. Using soya paper is not an ideal choice for hand rolls.
6. Eating method
Makizushi can be consumed with the help of chopsticks or by using a hand. On the other hand, hand rolls can be eaten by chopsticks because of their large size. You can use your hand to consume temaki.
7. Shape and Size
The other visible difference between sushi rolls and hand rolls is their size and shape. A sushi roll is generally cylindrical, whereas a hand roll has a conical shape similar to an ice cream cone. The size of the temaki is much larger than the makizushi.
The cylindrical shape of the sushi roll is attained by using a bamboo mat compiled in nori, seaweed, or soya paper. On the other hand, the conical shape of temaki is accomplished by rolling them with the hand.
8. Availability
You can easily find sushi rolls in any restaurant that serves sushi. They are quite prominent in some markets or stores selling Asian-styled products.
In contrast, hand rolls do not require any specific skills and can be prepared at home. So you can hardly find them in any sushi-based restaurants.
Sushi Rolls Vs. Hand Rolls | Similarities Between The Two
As I have mentioned a lot of dissimilarities between the two, but they also possess similarities that create a lot of confusion among people. Let us now understand the similarities between sushi rolls and hand rolls.
- They both are popular Japanese sushi dishes.
- You have varieties of choices to use as their fillings.
- Seaweed encloses all the ingredients to make each type of sushi.
- You can enjoy them as a starter or main dish.
- They are best for maintaining good health, thus, are an excellent source to reload nutrients and vitamins in the body.
- They can be served with three common ingredients; soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger.
Sushi Rolls Vs. Hand Rolls | Which One Is More Versatile?
Both sushi rolls and hand rolls can be served with the same ingredients. But when it comes to versatility, sushi rolls surpass hand rolls.
Sushi rolls are multifaceted, as you can indulge in any kind of veggie to fill. They are available in different shapes and sizes.
As I mentioned earlier, Hosomaki is a type of sushi with only one main ingredient and a diameter of 1 inch. On the other hand, futomaki includes a combination of seven ingredients and has a diameter of about 2-2.5 inches.
Uramaki is a sushi roll that is upside down. It has a layer of rice filled with soya paper or seaweed and other ingredients. So, in my opinion, sushi rolls are quite flexible and convertible.
Top Recipes For Sushi Rolls
Let us know the top recipes for sushi rolls.
1. California Roll
This dish includes a little twist to the traditional Japanese rice rolls. You can use avocado, crab, and cucumber to prepare California rolls. This dish’s refreshing and crunchy flavor makes it a fulfilling meal.
Five rolls of this dish are enough for 5 servings. The preparation time is quite lengthy compared to the cooking process. The total time required for preparing this scrumptious dish is about 1 hour and 50 minutes.
2. Dragon Roll
The dragon roll is another addition to this top recipe list. It is the perfect blend of creamy avocado and crunchy shrimp tempura, which makes it a heavenly dish. It is popular in American-styled sushi restaurants.
This inside-out sushi roll includes shrimp tempura, avocados, and cucumber. Sushi rice, nori or seaweed, spicy mayo, and unagi sauce.
3. Spicy Tuna Rolls
Spicy tuna rolls are considered the staple dish in Japanese restaurants. Sashimi-grade tuna is seasoned with sriracha sauce and sesame oil. You can use soya sauce to season tuna, along with sriracha sauce and sesame oil.
You must follow three important steps to make the perfect spicy tuna dish. Firstly, prepare good sushi rice, as it is the dish’s main ingredient. Secondly, find sashimi-grade Tuna. Last but not least, make sure you roll sushi with gentle hands but tightly.
4. Oshinko Roll Recipe
Oshinko is a dish prepared from daikon radish. You can use radish to make these delicious oshinko rolls. You can also add cucumber, cabbage, and turnips. This sushi has many names, and the most popular one is tsukemono. It is not easy to find this dish in American restaurants.
Making oshinko rolls is very simple and easy. It includes a few steps and does not include many fancy ingredients.
5. Kappa Roll
Kappa rolls are commonly known as cucumber rolls. These rolls are one of the most popular and demanding rolls all over the world.
You can easily prepare this recipe in your kitchen as it is simple and easy to prepare. It is known for its refreshing and light flavors. It is an excellent choice for vegans and vegetarians.
It is known for its mouth-watering taste. It includes cucumber with sticky rice wrapped in seaweed paper. It does not include any variety of seafood, thus serving as an excellent choice for beginners.
6. Dried Gourd Roll (Kanpyo Maki)
Kanpyo maki is popularly known as a dried gourd roll. It is another traditional addition to the list of the top recipes for sushi rolls. It is served at the end of the meal to coup up for the leftover hunger. But this is quite labor intensive.
It has a soft but toothy texture with a mild flavor. You can also add minced prawn mixed with sugar, mirin, and salt to enhance its flavor.
Top Recipe For Hand Rolls
Let us now see the top recipes for hand rolls.
1. Ikura Temaki Recipe
This dish of hand rolls can be prepared in just 15 minutes and is enough to serve 8 hand rolls. For preparing ikura temaki recipes, you need four ingredients.
A bowl of sushi rice, 8 roasted nori or seaweed, 8 tablespoons of salmon roe, and a small punnet of Japanese radish sprouts. You can substitute radish sprouts with lettuce.
2. Temaki With Kanpachi (Amberjack)
If you admire raw fish, then this dish is here for you. For preparing the Kanpachi (amberjack) temaki recipe, you will need kanpachi as the filling ingredient for the hand roll.
3. Uni (Sea Urchin) Temaki
Uni is the Japanese name used popularly for the edible part of the sea urchin, an ocean delicacy enjoyed in Japan. It comes in different colors, from yellow to orange, and has a salty, creamy taste.
You can make uni temaki by filling the sushi rice with urchin and wrapped in seaweed.
4. Avocado Hand Roll
If you are not a seafood lover and want a vegan option, you can easily substitute raw fish for veggies. You can use different veggies to make hand roll. The avocado hand roll is a perfect example of this.
Fill the vinegared rice with avocado and compile all the ingredients with the help of seaweed. You can use seasoning of your own choice.
5. Takuan (Pickled Daikon Radish) Hand Roll
Takuan is popularly known as daikon radish. Takuan is dried and pickled daikon. It’s a traditionally popular tsukemono which is a Japanese-style pickle.
You can make a takuan hand roll by filling vinegared rice with pickled daikon. This recipe of hand roll is easy to prepare and has a sweet, salty, slightly tart, and crunchy taste.
Can We Substitute Sushi Rolls for Hand Rolls?
Although the shape and appearance of sushi and hand roll are quite different, they have a lot in common. They both are made from almost the same ingredients and can be served with similar food options such as soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger.
So, the answer would be yes. You can easily substitute sushi rolls and hand rolls. Moreover, hand rolls are a type of sushi roll with a conical shape.
Conclusion
I hope all your doubts about the sushi roll and hand roll are cleared now. If I have missed something, let me know in the comments. All kinds of opinions are welcomed. I’ll see you another time. Until then, you keep discovering new things to read on our website. Thanks for reading, and take care!
Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQs )
What is the main difference between a hand roll and a sushi roll?
The main difference between hand rolls and sushi rolls is their appearance and size. The hand roll is conical in shape, whereas the sushi roll is cylindrical.
What is a sushi roll?
A sushi roll is a Japanese dish that is cylindrical. Rice is the main ingredient of sushi rolls. You can use different varieties of veggies, raw fish, and eggs.
What does hand-roll sushi look like?
The hand roll has a conical appearance. Hand rolls just have the ice cream cone-like structure.
What are hand rolls called in Japan?
Hand rolls are popularly known as temaki. This is because it is made of a rolled cone of seaweed wrapped around rice and fillings.
What are sushi rolls called?
In Japanese, a sushi roll is known as maki or makizushi. It requires makisu, which means bamboo mat, to make its shape.
Are hand rolls healthier?
Hand rolls are filled with an abundance of health benefits. You can enhance the nutritional content by adding salmon, veggies, meat, raw fish, eggs, etc.
