Salmon Roll with Cream Cheese (Japanese Maki Sushi Recipe)
Enjoy the rich, creamy flavors of this Salmon Roll, filled with fresh salmon and cream cheese. This simple homemade maki sushi is perfect for sushi lovers!
Looking for sushi roll recipes? Try my Oshinko Sushi Roll, Avocado Sushi Roll, or Kanpyo Sushi Roll!

I’ll walk you through the ingredients and step-by-step instructions. I hope you enjoy it!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this Salmon Roll Recipe:

How To Make Salmon 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
Cut the salmon and cream cheese into strips.

Step 2
Mix rice vinegar, salt, and sugar together, then add it to the cooked rice and mix well.

Step 3
Place a nori sheet on a sushi mat and evenly spread sushi rice over it. Add the lettuce.

Step 4
Place the salmon and cream cheese in the center.

Step 5
Roll from the front, applying gentle pressure to shape the roll.

Step 6
Prepare a damp cloth (or kitchen towel) and a very sharp knife to cut the sushi rolls into equal pieces.

Serve the salmon roll alongside soy sauce for dipping. You can also offer wasabi paste (Japanese horseradish) and pickled ginger on the side for added flavor. Enjoy!
Your Questions Answered
Yes. You can use cooked salmon, but fresh raw salmon is traditionally preferred for its distinct flavor and texture.
You can use plastic wrap to shape the roll if you don’t have a bamboo mat. It works surprisingly well!
Not at all! Making sushi rice is simple once you get the hang of it. Follow the instructions, and you’ll have perfectly seasoned rice.
Absolutely! Sushi is highly customizable. You can add ingredients like fresh avocado, crunchy cucumber, spicy mayo, sriracha sauce, or even tempura for a unique twist.

Want More Plant-Based Ideas?
Download 10 Vegetarian Recipes

More Sushi Roll Recipes You Will Love
Leave a Rating!
I hope you enjoy this Salmon Roll! If you try it, don’t forget to leave a rating to share your thoughts—I love hearing from you!
Salmon Roll with Cream Cheese (Japanese Maki Sushi Recipe)

Equipment
- Makisu (Bamboo sushi mat), (You can also use cling wrap to roll sushi.)
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Cut the salmon and cream cheese into 1 cm (½-inch) strips. Rinse the lettuce and pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.
- Make Sushi Rice: Blend rice vinegar, salt, and sugar well in a small bowl. Transfer the cooked rice to a large bowl, and gradually pour the vinegar mixture over the rice while gently mixing it with a rice paddle.
- Assemble: Place the nori sheet, shiny side down, on a bamboo sushi mat. Spread the sushi rice evenly over the nori, leaving 1 cm (about 1/2 inch) of the nori uncovered at the top. Arrange the lettuce, salmon, and cream cheese in the center of the rice.
- Roll: Align the seaweed with the bottom edge of the sushi mat. Use your middle finger to hold down the sushi fillings, lift the mat with your thumb, and start rolling from the front until the end of the rice. Apply gentle pressure to shape the roll.
- Cut the Sushi Roll: Wet the knife with the damp cloth and cut the futomaki sushi roll into bite-sized pieces.
Video

Notes
- 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.
Nutrition
This nutritional information is estimated and provided for general reference only.
Juri Austin
Hi! I’m Juri, founder of Chef JA Cooks and the creator and photographer of this site. I’m here to guide you in authentic yet easy-to-follow Japanese recipes! Let’s explore the world of Japanese cuisine together!