Gluten Free Sushi?

[ChelseaS]

I am wondering is sushi is gluten free? Specifically spicy tuna and spicy salmon rolls, those are my favorite. I know obviously I can't have any of the fried sushi rolls or anything with the crunchy onions they put on top (I checked and they fry those onions with wheat flour). I have gluten free soy sauce so I know that is fine. And as far as I know wasabi is gluten free isn't it? I really miss sushi so any info here on what's safe would be great!

[kenlove]

some wasabi powder is made with wheat starch. it depends on what type they use. Many places now are getting fresh wasabi which is gluten free.  Many places  you have to be careful of the  nori , the seaweed wrappers. Some made in Korea are processed with soy sauce and dried and you can get very sick from them.  The plain fish is all safe and sushi rice safe 99% of the time.  Learn to ask the chef and if they only speak japanese tell them you have a ko mugi (Pronounced CO moo GEE)  allergy. ko-mugi is wheat.  Each place has different recipes so you would have to get them to break it down. Spicy tuna is sometimes marinated in soy sauce too.  I trained as a chef in Japan many years ago and still have an office there. Bottom line is you have ot be careful. good luck

I am wondering is sushi is gluten free? Specifically spicy tuna and spicy salmon rolls, those are my favorite. I know obviously I can't have any of the fried sushi rolls or anything with the crunchy onions they put on top (I checked and they fry those onions with wheat flour). I have gluten free soy sauce so I know that is fine. And as far as I know wasabi is gluten free isn't it? I really miss sushi so any info here on what's safe would be great!

[luvs2eat]

Good info, ken... thanks! We make sushi at home... just cooked shrimp and veggies, but it's delicious. I'd love to learn to make spicy tuna (my fave also) but not only is there NO fresh fish where I live... if there was, I wouldn't trust it!

[kenlove]

Living in Hawaii I have plenty of  fish but it doesn't help as I went vegan about 5 years ago. Made vegan sushi for thanksgiving last year using mushroom, paper thin carrot slices looked just like salmon  and red pepper  that looked like  maguro.  For spicy tune many places in the US use sriracha or  sometimes sambal oleek I Japan we used   different hot sauces like yuzu kosho and okinawan chile paste.  The roll is not all that common in Japan though.  I'll see if I can find a link--

Try this one

Open Original Shared Link

 

 

Good info, ken... thanks! We make sushi at home... just cooked shrimp and veggies, but it's delicious. I'd love to learn to make spicy tuna (my fave also) but not only is there NO fresh fish where I live... if there was, I wouldn't trust it!

[LauraTX]

Sriracha is gluten-free.  Thank god, or I would die of sadness.  LOL

[SoLacey]

I've had a really hard time finding gluten free sushi.  It seems like the cross contamination risk is pretty high.  Kona Grill does a great job with that but they are the only place in town I've found and they only have a few choices of rolls, luckily they are delicious.  I've called every sushi place in town and haven't found any others I've felt comfortable with. 

 

I tried one that said they had gluten free sushi and they seemed to be pretty knowledgeable about which rolls were gluten free or what subsitutions could be made to make them gluten free.  I got VERY sick there.  I was newly diagnosed and didn't ask how they prepare the food but I'm guessing they weren't knowledgeable about cross contamination.  I called another sushi place in town that said they had gluten free options but when I asked about prep they said they simply "turn the cutting boards and bamboo mats over" when they are preparing gluten free sushi!!  Aack!! 

 

I've been thinking about learning to make it at home.  We love sushi but for now, I don't feel safe eating anywhere but Kona. 

[kenlove]

lived in Kona 30 years with no problems at all except (not sushi)  at Annies and Keei Cafe. No problems with kenichi sushi with fresh wasabi and not powdered mix.

 

I've had a really hard time finding gluten free sushi.  It seems like the cross contamination risk is pretty high.  Kona Grill does a great job with that but they are the only place in town I've found and they only have a few choices of rolls, luckily they are delicious.  I've called every sushi place in town and haven't found any others I've felt comfortable with. 

 

I tried one that said they had gluten free sushi and they seemed to be pretty knowledgeable about which rolls were gluten free or what subsitutions could be made to make them gluten free.  I got VERY sick there.  I was newly diagnosed and didn't ask how they prepare the food but I'm guessing they weren't knowledgeable about cross contamination.  I called another sushi place in town that said they had gluten free options but when I asked about prep they said they simply "turn the cutting boards and bamboo mats over" when they are preparing gluten free sushi!!  Aack!! 

 

I've been thinking about learning to make it at home.  We love sushi but for now, I don't feel safe eating anywhere but Kona. 

[NatureChick]

The mayonaise that turns up in some items may or may not contain gluten as well, depending on the brand they use.

My local sushi take-out place sells very little other than just plain sushi (very few people even order the fried items available on their limited menu) so I worried less about cross contamination in my early days of being gluten free. But of the three times I tried, I still got glutened once. So I cut that out too.

If I had to go out to eat, I'd probably choose sushi before risking many other types of meals, but I'd probably order primarily sashimi as well.

[skullgrl]

You have to be careful with the sushi rice. It is usually is cooked with vinegar and it can sometimes be one of the types of vinegar with gluten in it. Never hurts to ask.

[Pegleg84]

Sushi has become a very occasional special thing to me. I'm also soy-free, so that makes it extra fun. I've found one nice, reasonably-priced, good quality place here in TO. I haven't had sushi out in the city for a year maybe. I've had much better luck when travelling. In San Francisco, there's a Japanese restaurant with, yes, a dedicated gluten-free tempura fryer. THAT was a treat. Also, there's a completely gluten-free Japanese fusion restaurant in Canmore, Alberta, of all places.

 

At home, make sushi rolls out of whatever you want. It doesn't have to be raw fish. You can cook it up first if you want, or do a more Korean style version with pork or beef. The tricky part is getting the rice just that right amount of sticky/vinegary, and not putting too much in the roll.

 

Have fun.

[skullgrl]

Sushi has become a very occasional special thing to me. I'm also soy-free, so that makes it extra fun. I've found one nice, reasonably-priced, good quality place here in TO. I haven't had sushi out in the city for a year maybe. I've had much better luck when travelling. In San Francisco, there's a Japanese restaurant with, yes, a dedicated gluten-free tempura fryer. THAT was a treat. Also, there's a completely gluten-free Japanese fusion restaurant in Canmore, Alberta, of all places.

 

At home, make sushi rolls out of whatever you want. It doesn't have to be raw fish. You can cook it up first if you want, or do a more Korean style version with pork or beef. The tricky part is getting the rice just that right amount of sticky/vinegary, and not putting too much in the roll.

 

Have fun.

Dedicated... Tempura... Fryer... ohmy. Do you happen to remember the name? In case I ever travel there.