Dessert Nigiri

Maybe it’s because Easter was coming, but last week I kept running across recipes for dessert nigiri. Usually, it involved wrapping some sort of gummy candy with rice crisp treat “rice” in a fruit roll up. I think I just got a cavity describing that to you! Luckily, you can make totally delicious dessert sushi that won’t send you straight to the dentist!

• 2 c sushi rice
• 1 can full-fat coconut milk whisked with 1 can water
• 3T agave nectar

• 1 large bunch basil (bigger leaves will make your life easier later)

• 1 plum
• 1 nectarine

Cook the sushi rice with the coconut milk and water. I put it all in the rice cooker. If you don’t have one follow the package directions, using the coconut/water mixture in place of the cooking water. When the rice is ready, stir in the agave nectar and set it aside to cool.

While that cools, you can prep everything else! Slice the basil leaves in half. You want to be careful here, because the leaves will tear if you’re not gentle when you’re cutting them.

Slice the fruit into pieces about the length and width of your thumb, and as thin as you can. Thinner slices will also make the next part easier.

You’re ready to roll! Grab a couple of tablespoons’ worth of rice and ball it up in your hand. You want to mold it into an oval shape. Make sure you really squish the rice up well. The more you squish, the better things will stay together. Top your rice with a piece of fruit, gently pressing, so the fruit won’t slide off. Finally, wrap a piece of basil around the whole thing. The ends of the basil should be touching the rice on the opposite side of the fruit. Carefully smooth the basil down onto the rice – this will hold your nigiri together.

Repeat those steps until you’ve run out of either rice, fruit, or basil! Now sneak a piece before you bring the plate out for your friends.

This will keep overnight if you store the pieces in a single layer in an air-tight container. More than one night in the fridge will cause the rice to dry right out.

PS – Mint would work really well for this, too, and you can of course substitute any fruit you like for the nectarine and plum! Maybe mango?

Related Posts:

• Mulberry Buckle
• Vegan Nutella
• Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush (and Mulberry Muffin Recipe)