Sushi Maki with Avocado, Cucumber and Bell Pepper

Prepare the ingredients. This is what will be on your plate - homemade sushi rolls filled with fresh vegetables. Prepare the ingredients in advance so the work goes smoothly.

Cook the rice. Bring water to a boil in a pot or rice cooker. Add rinsed rice (ideally sushi rice) and cook according to the package instructions, usually 15-20 minutes, until the rice is tender and slightly sticky. If cooking in a pot, reduce the heat to low after it comes to a boil, cover and cook without stirring. After cooking, transfer the rice to a wide bowl so it cools faster, and every 5 minutes gently stir to allow excess steam to evaporate.

Prepare the sushi seasoning. While the rice is cooking, prepare the sushi seasoning. Combine rice vinegar, sugar and salt in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved (do not boil vigorously). Then let the seasoning cool.

Season the rice. Pour the prepared seasoning over the warm rice and gently but thoroughly mix so the rice does not break. With moistened hands or using a spoon you can form small balls or rectangles if you are making nigiri, or prepare the rice for rolls.

Cut the cucumber. Wash the cucumber and cut into long thin strips (julienne). If it has a lot of seeds, you can scoop out the center and use only the firm part.

Cut the bell pepper. Wash the red bell pepper, remove the seeds and white membranes, and cut it into long thin strips.

Prepare the avocado. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, peel and slice into thin slices. To preserve color you can lightly drizzle with lemon juice.

Roll the sushi. Halve the nori sheets. Place them shiny side down on a bamboo mat. With moistened hands spread a layer of rice evenly and leave about a 1 cm free edge at the top. Place strips of cucumber, bell pepper and avocado in the center. Using the mat, roll firmly but gently into a compact roll.

Cut the rolls. Cut the finished roll into 8-12 pieces with a sharp knife (moistened with water). Wipe the knife between cuts so the slices are clean.

Serve the sushi. Serve the sushi with soy sauce. Optionally add pickled ginger and wasabi to taste. One serving contains approximately 6-8 pieces of sushi.