This sushi recipe is so nutritious! It's packed with protein, important minerals, vitamins and omega 3, 6 and 9 essential fatty acids, which are very important for your brain function, endocrine system, weight management and overall health.
Let's take a second to talk about the health benefits of Nori, which is an edible seaweed (sea vegetable) that has health benefits comparable to spirulina. It is high in protein, calcium, iron, iodine, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, dietary fibre, and vitamins A, C, E, and K.
It's suggested that people throw our their iodised salt and replace it with nori sheets as one sheet contains approximately 70% of an adult's daily recommended dietary intake (RDI), with much less sodium than salt. Iodine is a mineral that helps your body make thyroid hormones to control the metabolism to help convert food into energy that the body can use. It also assists with healthy bone and brain development, especially during pregnancy and infancy. The thyroid is the largest endocrine gland in your body, so the intake of the right amount of iodine is very important. Deficiencies of iodine in the body prevents thyroid hormone production and can cause an abnormal growth of the thyroid gland, known as ‘goiter’.
As always, I am providing you with a simple, flavoursome and delicious plant-based recipe with a lot of health benefits. I am entering this post into the #fruitsandveggiesmonday contest, created and run by 
RECIPE ~ THAI TOFU SUSHI WITH HEMP SEEDS
Serves 4 | Prep 20 min | Cook 20 min
Ingredients:
- 400g Packaged Thai Marinated Tofu
- 1 Avocado
- 1 Carrot
- 1 Cucumber
- 4 Tbsp Hemp Seeds
- 4 Nori Sheets
- 1 1/4 Cup Sushi Rice
- Water to cook rice (as per packet instructions)
- 2 Tbsp Sushi Rice Seasoning Vinegar
- Small bowl with cold water
Method:
- Wash then cook the rice as per the packet instructions.
- While that's cooking, cut the tofu and vegetables into strips.
- Once the rice is ready, spoon it onto a large serving plate and spread it out to cool quickly.
- Gently fold in the rice seasoning vinegar.
- On a sushi rolling mat, place a nori sheet down and spread a layer of rice on it, leaving a 2cm strip clear (to be able to make the nori sheet stick to itself once it is rolled).
- Sprinkle 1 tbsp of hemp seeds over the rice.
- Place a combination of tofu and vegetables into the centre in a straight line.
- Dip your fingers into the bowl of cold water and then wet the clear strip of nori sheet to make it sticky.
- Use the rolling mat to roll the sushi up, lightly squeezing as you roll to keep the sushi roll tight.
- Repeat this process until all your nori sheets and rice are used.
- With a sharp knife, slowly and carefully cut the sushi rolls into halves, or bite-sized pieces.
Serving Suggestion:
Simply serve with some Tamari sauce in a dipping bowl on the side.
Enjoy!
All images in this post are my own.
References are linked throughout the text of this post.
