Easy Gluten Free Sushi Rice

Making sushi at home just got easier with this Easy Gluten Free Sushi Rice recipe. With just a few ingredients, you’ll have perfect sticky rice for homemade sushi!

Easy Gluten Free Sushi Rice

There are hundreds of sushi rice recipes out there, and almost all of them call for unnecessary steps.

If you’ve seen sushi rice recipes that claim you have to rinse the rice for two full minutes until the rice runs clear and then let it soak for 10 minutes or longer before cooking, I’m proving them false! You can choose to take these steps, but you can also make sushi rice without these steps. 

With this Easy Gluten Free Sushi Rice recipe, you’ll have perfect sushi rice is less than an hour and with minimal effort. 

What kind of rice to use for sushi rice:

There are many rices on the market that are specifically labeled as sushi rice. If you can find one of those in your grocery store, they are great for making sticky rice. But there are other rice brands that do not label themselves as sushi rice even though they work great for sushi.

So what kind of rice should you use for sushi? Any short grain white rice will work. But to be honest, medium and long grain rices work as well. The real magic happens when you add rice vinegar to the cooked rice, so any white rice you happen to have on hand can be made into sushi rice. I’ve even used packets of white rice for a quick and easy option.

What ingredients you need to make sushi rice:

• Short grain white rice  
• Rice vinegar
• Salt
• Sugar, optional 

How to make sticky rice for sushi?

1. Cook rice according to package directions
2. While the rice is cooking, make the sushi vinegar by adding rice vinegar, sugar, and salt to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium high heat and whisk until sugar has dissolved
3. Once rice is fully cooked, add to a large bowl and pour the sushi vinegar over it
4. Cover and allow to cool to room temperature
5. Use to make homemade sushi or sushi bowls (see video for how to make sushi without any special equipment)

Is sushi rice gluten free?

To ensure your sushi rice is gluten free, make sure you buy a rice that is labeled gluten free. The ones that aren’t labeled gluten free may be cross-contaminated with gluten containing ingredients.

You’ll also want to make sure your rice vinegar is gluten free. Some rice vinegars do contain wheat or other gluten containing grains, so you should always check the ingredients label to make sure your vinegar is gluten free. 

Why is sugar optional in this Easy Gluten Free Sushi Rice recipe?

Sugar is a traditional ingredient in sushi rice. It helps to cut the acidity of the rice vinegar and it also helps to make the rice extra sticky. But if you’re trying to limit processed sugar in your diet, you may not want to add sugar to your sushi rice.

If you don’t want to use sugar for this recipe but still want to cut the acidity from the vinegar, honey and coconut sugar are great one-to-one substitutions. 

When I make this rice, I often leave the sugar out completely and the rice still gets sticky. Without the sugar you can taste the vinegar more, so if that doesn't bother you, feel free to omit the sugar altogether.

Storing Leftovers

This rice can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours before use.

Store leftovers in airtight container in fridge for up to 3 days.

A few of my other favorite gluten free Asian inspired recipes:

Gluten Free Teriyaki Shrimp Sushi Bowls 

Gluten Free Pork Fried Rice

Gluten Free Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry 

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