Description
Say goodbye to boring salads and hello to a deconstructed sushi experience—without the rolling mat. This bowl is creamy, crunchy, spicy, and indulgent while being wholesome and packed with protein. Perfect for a sunny lunch, light dinner, or picnic treat.
Ingredients
Base
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½–1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat or 2%; for dairy-free: mashed silken tofu or thick soy yogurt)
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Optional: ½ cup sushi rice or riced cauliflower for extra volume
Protein
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½ cup shredded imitation crab (surimi) or lump crab meat
Substitutions: cooked shrimp, flaked salmon, or rinsed canned chickpeas for a vegan version
Veggies & Healthy Fats
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½ avocado, diced (sprinkle with lemon or lime juice to prevent browning)
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⅓ cup cucumber, diced or julienned
Flavor Kick
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1 tsp (or more!) sriracha
Alternatives: gochujang, spicy mayo (mayo + sriracha)
Optional Toppers
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Soy sauce or tamari
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Toasted sesame seeds
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Pickled ginger
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Crushed seaweed snacks or nori strips
Instructions
1. Prep Veggies
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Dice avocado and cucumber.
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Tip: Lightly salt cucumber, let it sit 5 minutes, then pat dry to remove excess water.
2. Prep Crab
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Shred imitation crab sticks by hand, or check lump crab for shell pieces.
3. Choose Your Base
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Optional: add rice or cauliflower rice to your bowl first. Fluff it, and drizzle lightly with rice vinegar (if using sushi rice).
4. Add Creamy Foundation
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Spoon cottage cheese over base, spreading or making a small well. Blended cottage cheese gives a smooth, ricotta-like consistency.
5. Artful Assembly
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Arrange crab, avocado, and cucumber in separate sections over cottage cheese.
6. Flavor Finish
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Drizzle sriracha over the top. Add a splash of soy sauce/tamari, sprinkle sesame seeds, and crush seaweed snacks on top.
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Optional: mix sriracha into cottage cheese for a spicy marbled effect.
7. The Final Touch
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Add pickled ginger on the side as a palate cleanser.
Serve immediately or pack components separately for meal prep. Add avocado last minute to prevent browning.
Notes
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Flexible, forgiving, and customizable—no wrong way to assemble.
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For watery cottage cheese, drain or blend for thicker texture.
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Adjust lemon/lime, soy, or sriracha to balance acidity, umami, and heat.