Kanpyo Roll (Japanese Dried Gourd Strips Maki Sushi)

Name: Kanpyo Roll (Japanese Dried Gourd Strips Maki Sushi)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 400 g Cooked Japanese Rice (2 US cups); 3 Nori Sheet (Full size nori sheet); 20 g Kanpyo (Dried gourd strips); 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce; 2 Tbsp Mirin; 1 Tbsp Sugar; 1 Tbsp Rice Vinegar; ½ Tbsp Sugar; ½ tsp Salt

Discover the tasty goodness of a Kanpyo Roll! This simple recipe teaches you how to make these delicious sushi rolls using flavorful kanpyo.

Looking for sushi roll recipes? Try my OshinkoRoll, Avocado Roll, or Natto Roll!

Featured Comment

From HAROLD: “Excellent recipe plus good, detailed instructions.”

I’ll walk you through the ingredients and step-by-step instructions. I hope you enjoy it!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This kanpyo roll offers a chewy texture and a mild sweetness.
Perfect for beginners who want to try making sushi at home.
It’s a great vegetarian-friendly sushi option.

Types of Sushi Rolls

Sushi rolls, known in Japanese as maki sushi or norimaki, are made by wrapping a sheet of nori (seaweed) around vinegared rice and fillings.

There are three main types of maki sushi:

Hosomaki: thin rolls with a single filling
Futomaki: thick rolls with multiple fillings
Uramaki: inside-out rolls with the rice on the outside

Recipe Ingredients

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this Kanpyo Roll:

Cooked Rice: Use Japanese short-grain rice, which is sticky, fluffy, and perfect for making sushi rolls. If you are not familiar with the rice, see this recipe: “How to cook Japanese short-grain rice on the stove.”
Kanpyo is made from the peeled and dried strips of a gourd called Yugao. It’s commonly seasoned with soy sauce and used in sushi and rice dishes.
Nori Sheets are crisp dried seaweed in sheet form. Use a full-size nori sheet in this recipe and divide it in half.
Rice Vinegar, Sugar, and Salt for vinegared rice. Other types of vinegar might be too strong for the rice, so I highly recommend using rice vinegar. You can also use store-bought seasoned rice vinegar.
Sugar, Soy Sauce, and Mirin are used to season kanpyo.

Kanpyo

Sushi Rolling Tool: Makisu (Bamboo Mat)

A makisu is a traditional bamboo mat used for rolling sushi.
It helps shape the roll and keeps the ingredients tightly packed.

Don’t have a makisu? You can use a sheet of plastic wrap as a simple substitute.

How To Make Kanpyo Roll: STEP BY STEP

Here are some quick visual instructions! For the video and all the detailed ingredients and instructions, go to the printable recipe card below.

Step 1

Boil kanpyo for 10 minutes to soften.

Step 2

Simmer the kanpyo with soy sauce, mirin, and sugar.

Step 3

Combine vinegar, sugar, and salt, add the mixture to the cooked rice and mix well.

Step 4

Place a nori sheet on a sushi mat and evenly spread the rice over it. Place the kanpyo in the center.

Step 5

Roll from the front, applying gentle pressure to shape the roll.

Step 6

Slice the sushi roll into bite-sized pieces.

Serve the kanpyo rolls alongside traditional accompaniments like gari (pickled ginger), and enjoy the harmonious flavors!

Recipe Tips

Rub the kanpyo with salt to remove any dirt and bitterness and to help it absorb flavors better.
When spreading the rice, wet your hands with water to prevent the sticky rice from clinging to your fingers, or use a rice paddle to make spreading easier.
Nori sheets have a shiny side and a rough side. Always place the shiny side down when assembling the roll.
When cutting, have a wet cloth ready. Moistening the knife before slicing makes the rice not stick and makes it easy to cut.

Your Questions Answered

What is kanpyo roll?

The Kanpyo roll features kanpyo (dried gourd strips) as the main filling, wrapped in nori seaweed and sushi rice. The kanpyo strips are rehydrated and simmered in a sweet soy sauce and mirin mixture, giving them a savory flavor and chewy texture.

How do you eat kanpyo?

Kanpyo is typically simmered in soy sauce and mirin to create a sweet and savory flavor. It’s commonly used as an ingredient in maki sushi and mixed rice dishes. Seasoned kanpyo can also be enjoyed on its own as a side dish.

Is kanpyo vegetarian or vegan-friendly?

Yes, kanpyo is both vegetarian and vegan-friendly as it’s made from dried gourd strips.