Roll Your Own Sushi Using Smoked Fish

Sushi Night, Reinvented

Sushi is not sacred. That is to say, it does not require reverence so much as care. It doesn’t demand perfection; it invites participation. Like any good homemade meal, it begins not with a set of rules but with raw materials. Solid, simple ingredients such as a bowl of sushi rice, a few sheets of nori, and maybe some pickled ginger or vegetables if you should be so lucky. Throw in a well-loved cutting board and a reasonably sharp knife, and you are in for a memorable night with friends and loved ones.

At Acme, we’ve long believed that great smoked fish should be delicious and accessible. So, if the idea of rolling sushi intimidates you, let us be the first to say, you’re allowed to have fun with it. A meal made by hand, with laughter in the kitchen and a sesame seed or two under your fingernails, is a meal made well.

What we are sharing here isn’t about mastering technique. It’s about rediscovering smoked fish in new ways: folded into sushi rolls, pressed into onigiri, shaped into hearts, or wrapped up for an omusubi lunch or dinner. Whether you’re a first-time sushi roller, or a bit more experienced, these recipes are here not as commandments, but as invitations to explore.

Start Where You Are

You don’t need a sushi chef’s toolkit to make a roll. You need short-grain rice, seasoned with vinegar, sugar, and salt. You need a sheet of nori or soy paper. And you need something flavorful and satisfying, like Acme’s smoked salmon, sesame-crusted smoked tuna, smoked salmon salad, or any of several other smoked fish delights from Acme Smoked Fish. The rest is up to you.

Keep your hands ever so slightly wet. Be gentle with the rice. If a roll falls apart, eat it anyway. That’s part of the joy.

As Tamar Adler wrote in An Everlasting Meal, “The best way to be sure your food will be good is to start out with good ingredients and not to fuss with them too much.” We couldn’t agree more.

Recipes to Get You Rolling

Smoked Tuna Sushi Hearts

@bon_abbetit reimagines date-night sushi with heart-shaped rolls featuring Acme’s Sesame Crusted Smoked Tuna, spicy mayo filling, and creamy avocado. They’re charming, flavorful, and surprisingly simple to make.

Recipe: Smoked Tuna Sushi Hearts

Togarashi Smoked Salmon Sushi Roll

Chef Maylin Chavez and Chef's Roll crafted this spicy, citrusy roll using Acme Togarashi Smoked Salmon, avocado, cucumber, and a punchy ponzu drizzle. A meeting of traditional Japanese cuisine and Brooklyn smoked fish.

Recipe: Togarashi Smoked Salmon Sushi Roll

Smoked Salmon Salad Omusubi

No rolling needed for this nori-wrapped treat. These hand-shaped rice balls filled with our smoked salmon salad are topped with furikake and wrapped in nori for a grab-and-go treat. Great for picnics, lunch boxes, or your next sushi night.

Recipe: Smoked Salmon Salad Omusubi

Smoked Salmon Hot Popper Sushi

Think jalapeño poppers in sushi form. Smoked salmon, cream cheese, and sriracha come together for a roll that’s bold, creamy, and just the right amount of spicy.

Recipe: Smoked Salmon Hot Popper Sushi

Smoked Sablefish and Avocado Rice Balls

Delicate smoked sablefish, buttery avocado, and warm sushi rice sprinkled with everything bagel spice. East-meets-West flavor in a bite-sized portion that works well as an appetizer or meal.

Recipe: Smoked Sablefish and Avocado Rice Balls

Why Quality Smoked Fish Matters

Every piece of smoked salmon, smoked tuna, and all the other smoked fish we produce carries with it a story. From the Pacific Ocean to the Great Lakes to the Fjords of Norway and Chile to our Brooklyn smokehouse, we work with partners who meet rigorous sustainability and quality standards.

Rolling your own sushi isn’t just a creative act. When you choose responsibly sourced smoked fish, you’re casting a vote for healthier oceans and better food systems. That’s a choice worth making and sharing.

Ready to Roll?

You can find our smoked salmon, smoked tuna, and more at select retailers nationwide. Check our Store Locator or stop by our weekly Fish Friday shop in Brooklyn.

Whether you’re slicing sashimi or shaping rice balls, we hope these ideas bring joy to your table and spark a little culinary curiosity.

Because at the end of the day, what matters most is not how perfect your sushi is. It’s that you made it. And that you shared it with those you care about.

Let us know how your sushi turns out. Tag us on Instagram @acmesmokedfish and show us what you rolled!