Are you a sushi lover looking for a vegan option that’s as easy as it is delicious? Your search is over because this vegan sushi bake recipe is packed with amazing flavors. It’s easier than making sushi rolls and creates a fun and tasty meal that’s sure to impress!
Topped with all your favorite veggies, sauces and garnishes, you can make this unique to your taste preferences. I love making it with chickpea “tuna”, which is truly a game-changer when it comes to sushi as the taste and texture is incredibly similar to canned tuna!
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Vegan Sushi Bake Ingredients
There are three components to a great vegan sushi bake meal that you’ll want to prepare. This includes a seasoned sushi rice, the chickpea tuna topping, and of course lots of fresh veggies to serve!
Seasoned Sushi Rice
- Sushi Rice: This is the foundation of any sushi dish! Its uniquely sticky texture and slightly sweet taste acts as a cohesive base for the sushi bake.
- Rice Vinegar, Sugar, and Salt: The combination of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt forms a vital seasoning. This mixture infuses the sushi rice with a delightful tangy, slightly sweet, and savory taste. It not only enhances the flavor of the rice but also gives that distinct flavor we all love.
Vegan Chickpea Tuna
- Chickpeas: The star ingredient of our vegan "tuna"! When mashed and combined with other seasonings, these versatile legumes provide a satisfyingly tuna-like consistency. Packed with protein and fiber, chickpeas make the dish a wholesome and filling meal.
- Vegan Mayonnaise: Mayo adds creaminess and richness to the chickpea "tuna" mixture, delivering a velvety smooth texture. Use store bought vegan mayo or try making your own!
- Nori: A type of edible seaweed, nori is a staple in sushi-making. Finely cut nori sheets introduce a subtle fishy, umami flavor that helps the chickpeas taste more like tuna.
- Green Onion: Finely minced green onions offer a refreshing and mild onion flavor.
- Lemon Juice: The acidity of fresh lemon juice elevates the overall taste of the chickpea "tuna". Its tangy notes brighten the flavors and complement the other ingredients.
- Soy Sauce and Hot Sauce: Soy sauce, a traditional condiment for sushi, infuses the chickpea "tuna" with umami richness. Optional hot sauce can also introduce a spicy kick for those who crave a little heat. Adjust the amount of each to suit your taste preferences.
- Garlic Powder and Onion Powder: These aromatic spices add depth and complexity. They create a delightful balance between the savory, tangy, and slightly sweet notes in the dish.
- Smoked Salt: Smoked salt imparts a subtle smoky essence and elevates the recipe’s unique flavor profile. I find a slight smoke flavor helps make this taste more “meaty” or “fishy”. If you don’t have smoked salt, no worries, just add regular salt to taste. I don’t recommend liquid smoke as the flavor, even in the smallest amount, would be too overpowering for this recipe.
Toppings to Serve
This is where you can get most creative with your sushi bake! When making this recipe, I love to use:
- Cucumber
- Avocado
- Carrot
- Spicy mayonnaise
- Soy sauce
- Green onion
- Sesame seeds
- Nori sheets
How to Make this Vegan Sushi Bake Recipe
It’s quite easy to make sushi bake, and it comes together in as little as 30 minutes! Just prepare your sushi rice, then the chickpea “tuna”, assemble in a baking dish and heat in your oven!
Step 1: Cook Sushi Rice
First off, you’ll want to make the perfect batch of sushi rice. Start by giving your rice a good rinse, about 3 times, until the water runs mostly clear. Once the rinse water stops becoming so cloudy, add the washed rice to a pot with fresh water for cooking.
Next, bring the rice and water to a boil over medium-high heat. When it's bubbling, lower the heat to a gentle simmer, pop a lid on the pot, and let it cook for about 12 minutes.
While the rice cooks, whip up some sushi rice seasoning by mixing rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until they're nicely dissolved. You can do this in a microwave or a small pot on the stove as heat helps dissolve sugar and salt into the vinegar.
When the rice is cooked to perfection, take it off the heat and carefully stir in your prepared sushi vinegar mixture, coating the rice evenly and infusing it with that classic sushi rice flavor.
Step 2: Prepare Vegan “Tuna”
While the rice cooks, it’s a good time to multi-task and make some chickpea "tuna"! Grab a mixing bowl and mash some cooked chickpeas (canned, drained and rinsed OR freshly cooked) until they're nicely broken down.
I like to mash chickpeas with a circular serrated cutting tool, but you can use a potato masher, fork, or food processor to reach your desired texture.
Now add the rest of the "tuna" ingredients. Mix in the vegan mayonnaise, finely cut nori, minced green onions, lemon juice, soy sauce, and, if you're feeling adventurous, a dash of hot sauce for a little kick. Don't forget the garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of smoked salt for that extra flavor boost.
Give it all a good stir and set aside for now.
Step 3: Assemble and Bake
Time to bring everything together! Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9-inch baking dish. I love using sesame oil for an extra touch of deliciousness.
Start spreading the cooked sushi rice gently across your baking dish, creating an even layer without pressing it down too firmly. We want it to be fluffy and flavorful!
Next up, our chickpea "tuna" takes center stage. Spread it over the rice layer, covering it completely.
Pop this layered goodness into your preheated oven and bake it for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Prepare Other Ingredients to Serve
While the vegan sushi bakes, get creative with extra toppings! Dice, slice or shred some cucumber, carrot, green onion and avocado. Also, don't forget to cut up some extra nori sheets or open a package of roasted nori snacks.
I love to prepare some spicy vegan mayonnaise so that when the sushi bake comes out of the oven I can top it with extra creamy goodness (along with a dash of soy sauce and sesame seeds too)!
Once ready, take your beautifully baked vegan sushi out of the oven. Garnish with fresh toppings and serve, enjoying every delectable bite.
How to Serve a Balanced Vegan Meal
I consider a balanced meal one that contains a good source of plant-based protein, carbohydrates, fats and lots of vegetables or fruits.
This veggie sushi bake is meant to be a completely balanced meal, so go ahead and enjoy it! Its base of rice and chickpea “tuna” offers carbohydrates and plant-based protein. The mayo in the “tuna” (plus any extra for the topping) offers some satisfying fats.
All those fresh vegetables you’ll pile on top are a great way to boost the nutrition content of this meal, and you can tailor your toppings to round out the meal however you like.
Of course, if you want to serve this sushi bake with a nutritious side, there are some classics that would pair wonderfully, including:
- A simple side salad (like this kale slaw with sesame soy dressing)
- A bowl of miso soup, filled with tofu and seaweed
- Steamed edamame sprinkled with sea salt or spicy garlic edamame
Sushi Bake Recipe Variations
The best part of this vegan sushi bake recipe is its versatility. You can customize it however you want! Looking for a few extra ideas? Some options I think you might like include:
- Spicy Tuna: Add diced jalapenos and extra sriracha to the chickpea "tuna" mixture for lots of spicy kick.
- Mushroom Magic: Sautee sliced mushrooms with garlic and soy sauce, then layer them between the rice and "tuna" for a delightful umami experience.
- Avocado Inside: Incorporate sliced avocado between the layers for a creamy, buttery surprise.
How to Store Leftover Sushi Bake
If you have leftovers, simply let your sushi bake cool down to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Or, simply cover the top of the baking dish with a silicone cover or plastic wrap.
Refrigerate it for up to 3 days, and when you're ready for another serving, reheat in the oven at 350 °F (175 °C) or microwave until warmed through.
I recommend keeping the sushi bake portion (rice and chickpea “tuna”) separate from any fresh veggie toppings to make reheating easier.
If you make this recipe, please rate and comment below to help others benefit from your experience!
Vegan Sushi Bake
Equipment
- 9-inch baking dish
- Chickpea masher
Ingredients
Sushi Rice
- 1 ½ cups sushi rice
- 1 ¾ cups water
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
Vegan “Tuna”
- 3 cups chickpeas (540 grams)*
- ¼ cup vegan mayonnaise
- 1 sheet nori , finely cut
- 3 green onions , finely minced (20 grams/ about ¼ cup)
- 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice (22 milliliters)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (15 milliliters)
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce , optional (15 milliliters)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked salt **
To Serve
- Cucumber
- Avocado
- Carrot
- Sesame seeds
- Nori sheets ***
- Spicy mayonnaise
- Green onion
- Soy sauce
Instructions
Step 1: Cook Sushi Rice
- Wash the sushi rice at least 3 times, or until the water runs mostly clear. Drain all washing water and add the washed rice to a pot with fresh cooking water.1 ½ cups sushi rice, 1 ¾ cups water
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, turn heat to low, add a lid to the pot and cook until your rice absorbs all the water, about 12 minutes.
- While your rice cooks, dissolve sugar and salt into rice vinegar (either using a microwave or small pot on the stove).2 teaspoons sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- When your rice is cooked, remove the pot from heat and carefully stir the rice vinegar mixture through.
Step 2: Prepare Vegan “Tuna”
- While your rice cooks, prepare the chickpea tuna. Start by mashing cooked chickpeas in a bowl.3 cups chickpeas
- Then stir through the remaining “tuna” ingredients and set aside.¼ cup vegan mayonnaise, 1 sheet nori, 3 green onions, 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon hot sauce, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon smoked salt
Step 3: Assemble and Bake
- Grease a 9-inch baking dish (I like to use sesame oil).
- Carefully spread your cooked sushi rice across the dish, trying to not press it down too firmly.
- Next, spread the chickpea “tuna” over top of the rice.
- Bake in an oven that’s preheated to 350 °F for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Prepare Other Ingredients to Serve
- While the meal bakes, prepare any other veggies or toppings you want to serve. I like to use some combination of cucumber, carrot, avocado, sesame seeds (white and/or black), green onion, cut up nori sheets and spicy mayonnaise. You can also serve topped with soy sauce.Cucumber, Avocado, Carrot, Sesame seeds, Nori sheets, Spicy mayonnaise, Green onion, Soy sauce
- Serve the sushi bake once it’s out of the oven with your favorite toppings.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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About Nicole Stevens
Nicole is a vegan Registered Dietitian (RD) and founder of Lettuce Veg Out.
She helps people thrive on a vegan diet with balanced recipes and easy-to-understand nutrition science.
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