I hope everyone had a great weekend. I took a week off to update my site. Um, where’s the update you might ask? It’s our new Recipe Index. I have to give a huge credit for my husband because he did the majority of work by creating codes while I just did the tedious “cut and paste” part. Updating the recipe index with a better thumbnail for each recipe had been my #1 to-do list for a while. I wanted my Recipe Index to be more user-friendly and visually attractive so users can tell with a quick glance what the dish is (even if they don’t recognize the name). Hopefully this will help with your recipe browsing experience making it easier and more fun. I still have Recipe Index by List, Ingredient, and A-Z available in case you prefer the old version. I also modified my recipe box – I think the new version is easier to read and print out. I hope you like these new updates.
Now, are you ready for the giveaway winner? Here’s the winner. Congratulations Martha! I’ll be contacting you shortly. Thank you everyone for joining this giveaway and I’ll be working on your recipe request. 
*****
Today my Temari Sushi recipe is being featured on celebrations.com. This was a huge honor. Initially my guest post was supposed to go on their blog site, but the editor wanted to feature my post on their main site! Thank you celebration.com for featuring my post.
Temari Sushi is a casual sushi that we can make at home. You don’t need sushi chef’s skill to make these cute delicious little balls of sushi. Temari (“hand ball” in Japanese) originated from China is children’s toy ball made from remnants of old kimonos and covered with colorful fabrics.
Temari Balls made by 90 year old lady in Japan
Photo Courtesy of NanaAkua (click for more photos)
As time passed and rubber balls were invented, Temari evolved from play toys to folk art objects. Since then their unique, colorful, and elegant designs have been enjoyed by the Japanese as decorations inside homes.
Just like Temari, Temari Sushi allows people to create any type of sushi they want using all kinds of ingredients. Enjoy and be creative to make these colorful sushi balls!
{Left to right from top}
1. Egg + Shiso + Carrot, 2. Avocado + Tuna, 3. Smoked Salmon + Lemon, 4. Egg + Nori Seaweed + Ikura, 5. Shiso + Ikura, 6. Uni (sea urchin) + Nori Seaweed + Ikura, 7. Shiso + Tai (Sea Bream), 8. Sakura Denbu + Shiso, 9. Smoked Samon + Lemon, 10. Shrimp + Ikura, 11. Avocado + Tuna, 12. Lotus Root + Carrot, 13. Shiso + Lotus Root + Carrot, 14. Egg + Nori Seaweed + Ikura, 15. Hamachi (yellowtail) + Kaiware Daikon, 16. Salmon + Ikura
Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- Sushi Rice
- 1/2 inch lotus root
- 1/2 inch carrot
- 1 egg
- A pinch of salt
- 2 lemon slices
- 1/4 avocado
- 1/4 cup Sakura Denbu
- 1/2 sheet of nori seaweed
- 3 shiso (Perilla)
- Kaiware daikon (radish shoot) for garnish
- 1/2 cup dashi stock
- 1 tsp. sake
- 1 tsp. mirin
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 2 tsp. usukuchi (light color) soy sauce (or replace with 1 tsp. regular soy sauce + ¼ tsp. salt)
- A pinch of salt
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Tai (Sea Bream)
- Hamachi (Yellowtail)
- Uni (Sea Urchin)
- You can also use cooked shrimp, smoked salmon, etc.
- For US residents, you can buy sashimi grade raw fish at Catalina Offshore Products.
Instructions:
- Remove the part of lotus root to make it look like flower pattern.
- And cut out the carrot slices to look like flower.
- In a small saucepan, bring Seasoning to a boil and add lotus root and carrot. Cook until soft.
- In a non-stick frying pan heat oil over medium heat. In a bowl, whisk egg and salt together. Pour the egg mixture into the pan and make sure the egg is spread evenly. Flip once the bottom side is cooked. When the egg is cooked, take it out and chiffonade the egg into thin strips.
- Place a sheet of plastic wrap on top of scale and measure 30g (2 Tbsp) of sushi rice and make a round ball. Transfer to a plate and measure next batch. Make sure to cover the rice ball with saran wrap and sushi rice with the damp towel to prevent from the rice drying.
- Cut Sashimi into thin slices.
- Place a sheet of plastic wrap and lay down the sashimi of your choice. Put the sushi rice ball on top, wrap the saran wrap around the rice ball. Twist and close the wrap tightly make a ball shape.
- Continue with other ingredients.
- Garnish with ikura, kaiware daikon, and other miniature greens.
Hi, I'm Nami. Thanks for stopping by Just One Cookbook. You can read little bit more about me 
{ 80 comments… read them below or add one }
Nami, these are just way too adorable! I also feel a bit gitty because I got a preview of your posting a couple of weeks ago! Hope you had a wonderful weekend, Trini and I had an all girls weekend because Jon went camping with a couple of guys, he’s starting a new job today and we thought it would be good for him to take a short trip and explore the great outdoors, the weather was beautiful and they really enjoyed themselves! Trini and I hung out, went to a fun birthday party and visited my parents, I didn’t do much work at all and just chilled! So yes we definitely enjoyed a great couple of days also. Hope you have a great week!
Hi Nami! I’m blown away by your Temari sushi!! What a cute idea, and every single one looks so playful, beautiful, and delicious at the same time! Lotus root is such a great ingredient for these here. The pattern is just naturally beautiful.
By the way, I love the recipe index!! It’s like an online magazine. Great job to both you and your husband on that one.
Hi Nami! Really beautiful dish! I”m so impressed!
This is amazing Nami, you are so talented. And congrats on having your recipe on celebrations.com
I love that site and will look for you there.
the COLOURS!! i could just EAT them! : )
welcome back
Everything you make always looks amazing. My mother has seen your blog when I get the email updates and always comments on how good everything looks that you make. I think she would trade me for you at least for one dinner lol.
Nami-san, Dumb question… Do we leave the balls of goodness wrapped in plastic wrap until we eat them? I would think so because they’d come apart in transit, but I just want to make sure.
Hi Tracey-san!
Good question! If you make the temari sushi really tight, it won’t break so easily and it will actually stays for a long time. However, it’s better off to keep it wrapped until you serve so that rice and fish (or other ingredients) won’t dry up. Thanks for asking! 
Nami – welcome back
First of all, I love this temari sushi – and will definitely be attempting to make it! Secondly, i have had a quick peak at your recipe index and it looks fantastic. What a great idea – it really has made your menu so accessible to people who may not be so familar to Japanese food. I love it. All that hard work has paid off X
How pretty is this! Like the new recipe index! Way to go hubby!
The new recipe index is a great addition! And I love these cute temari sushi! There’s a takeaway japanese cafe in london that sells them, a little expensive though so it’s definitely better to make your own.
Great post. Congrats!
I need to make 4 orders for this Sushi!!!
I checked your recipe Index. Some reasons some charaters are under pictures and can’t read. I’m wondering if this is just for my computer setting… Other than that, it looks super cool!
How beautiful! I just wish I was more patient and I had more of an eye for this kind of things. Great job and awesome pictures as usual!
Loving your new recipe index, Nami!! Glad you’re back and that sushi is so gorgeous!
Nami, these are just works of art! What beautiful sushi!!! Great tutorial, too.
PS…nice work with your recipe index. Your blog is so well done
These are so beautiful!! You are so incredibly talented. I don’t care what you say about not needing a ton of skill, mine would not come out nearly as gorgeous. I love the story behind them as well. And congrats on being featured on celebrations.com!! Well deserved.
Also I LOVE the recipe index – it looks great!! I’ve been wanting to do something similar and haven’t been able to find a plugin for Wordpress. Did you use a Plugin or was this just coded by your husband?
I was hoping there’s a plugin, but couldn’t find it – it’s coded by my husband. Hope someone will make a plugin for food blogger’s recipe index!
Nami, this is wonderful! You’re so gifted! I dream about making sushi of my own…
But at least tonight I had for the first time a decent susghi and a decent Japanese meal at a local restaurant… but nothing compared to your meal!
These are amazing! I love these I have never had the patience to make these myself. Can I come over and sample each different type? (Or help you make them) LOL
You did incredible job Nami..wow those look fantastic, what a flavors and combination..
I wish that I am closer:))) Really amazing!!!!
How fun is this?! Aside from being absolutely gorgeous, as all of your photos are – it looks delicious and doable. Sounds delicious!
Wow wow wow!!!! Love it! So creative Nami…such little pieces of art and they look perfect! Thanks for introducing temari sushi to us. I’ve never come across them before.
Beautiful presentation of sushi! Your recipe index looks great too. I can tell it was a lot of work. Great job, Nami!
Nami, those are gorgeous! That looks amazing and delicious, but I’d be sad to eat it because it so darn lovely! Who knew sushi could look so cute!
Oh I loooove so much making these things! And yours is spectacular!!! I haven’t seen lotus root here in NZ… now I feel like some!
You are the queen of sophisticated cuteness, the Temari Sushi are amazing. You attention to detail is amazing.
OMG!!!!! Nami!!! These sushi are amazing and soooo lovely. I can’t bear to eat these. And thanks for all the details steps hope i can lay my hand in making a few too. I love the avocado topping . Great!!! Thumb up for all.
Nami, it is so lovely done and I know it is sure to be delicious; because I love sushi! Hope one day I can give this a try too. Really gorgeous looking sushi.
Nami – this looks absolutely amazing! What a beautiful array of sushi! Congratulations to Martha!
Wow you temari sushi is just beautiful!
And thanks to your instructions, it looks very straightforward to make too! 
The index looks so useful and I like the way that you have organised it into different way to look for a recipe!
I’m sure this will entice us to come visit even more often!!
love temari sushi, these are beautiful!
This is a great how-to. I’ve got to try this one with the kids. Congrats on your feature as well!
Nami, you amaze me, you impress me, I have no words to say what I thought when I opened this post! I cannot believe these are home-made sushi, or rather I can believe, given that they are featured on your blog! You are capable of making miracles!
I have never heard of temari sushi. It is so cute and creative! (and sounds very difficult…) Each ball looks completely different, real masterpieces. I think you would win any sushi contest in the world. Please promise me, you will put this photo (or photos) in your printed cookery book.
Congratulations for guest post, but I think it was rather a huge honour for them to publish such amazing photos and recipe!
I love the new recipe index. When I think that I don’t have even a basic one… (I started of a couple of months ago and then stopped).
Congratulations Martha!
This is the most beautiful sushi i have ever seen, simply Perfect and Pretty! We love sushi, i hope one day i’m able to make this at home!
Nami, you are such an inspiration! Well done to you and your hubby on getting your site all sorted out and congratulations on being featured on celebrations.com.
Mandy
Your sushi and step by step photography is beyond remarkable – absolutely brilliant!
Have a happy day.
I wish my husband knew what he was doing when it came to writing code! Because I do a whole boring, cut and paste jobby on my index and it’s not even finished. Beautiful sushi!
Golly, I forgot to congratulate Martha, I was too busy admiring the sushi, completely missed that… lol!
Ciao
A.
PS
5 stars from me
I think I’ll “never” surprise again reading ur blog post, becoz as I can imagine u’ll always post a tasty recipe with great photos following it, but now… look at that!!
amazing sushi – stunning photos!!
Tq for sharing the recipe nami, even I’m not win the giveaway still happy for the winner
TQ!!
Nami you are an artist!! Really!! These things looks so beautiful like little art works
Such lovely colours and patterns!!
This is me… craving sushi at 6 am! You’re so talented, my dear!
Nami, these are so pretty and creative! You are so talented! Congratulations on being featured on celebrations.com. I must say I love the new recipe index. It is so much easier to browse for recipes now. Thank you!
Ohhhh Nami! This sushi looks fantastic! I love your presentation… it is just so beautiful!!! Amazing job… it looks like a painting!!!
Great job also on your archives… I know how time consuming it is… I am doing some work on that too and it is taking me forever… and I am not even doing any coding (I would have no idea how to do that! LOL)!!!
Nami you are amazing, these are truly a work of art.
Wow, Nami. These are incredible. What gorgeous colours and flavours. Congrats on the article and well done on the recipe index. What amazing work and great team you both make! Lol – “just cut and paste”. Yeh, right.
These are fantastic! My older son is crazy about sushi, I have to show him your recipe. I love the colors and symmetry of the dish. He will go crazy for these. Thanks for sharing it!
Nami, I am speechless…!!! Your temari sushi look gorgeous…!! It’s simply a work of art! I really should give it a try one day. Thank you for sharing this wonderful idea
!
Pretty sure my jaw just dropped, Nami. That sushi is so perfect it almost doesn’t look real. Someone needs to put these photos in a magazine right now! Absolutely gorgeous. xx
Congrats to the winner!
These are ever so pretty and tempting! What fabulous sushis.
Cheers,
Rosa
Gosh Nami, these balls look beautiful!! And so simple to make as well. Great job on updating your blog!
I know I tell you this everyday, but your pictures are SO GORGEOUS
Boo, I’m sad I didn’t win. Next one?
Nami, you must be kidding when you say “casual”…they are so cute and elaborate…love the pictures and would love to try them out.
Thanks for this nice post and have a great week
They are just such gorgeous little things! Almost too pretty to eat…but not really. They are surely all so delicious. Using cling film is such a nifty trick. Good job, Nami.
Dang I did not win it. Anyways at least my request for sushi was granted. This is so far your most beautiful post ever.
What pretty little sushis! Your recipe index is a wonder as well! Very well organized.
These are so beautiful. Thanks for sharing the back story as well. I wouldn’t mind having some temari in my house, they look so cheery!
Oh my gosh, those are just precious darlings, Nami!!! And congrats!!!! I can’t think of anyone who deserves the honor more than you. You put so much passion and effort into your blog, and it shines. It’s seriously one of my favorites. <3 <3
Wow Nami, these look so pretty! Congrats on all of your blog awards and changes, etc, etc, etc! So proud of you
Great job on your recipe index, Nami…and a big congratulations on being featured on celebrations.com! I love the look of your temari sushi! They’re so festive and colorful just like the temari balls!
Nami, these are works of art! So pretty.
The sushi are too pretty to be eaten. I can just look at them, appreciate the beauty and feel satisfied after that.
this is a work of art Nami!
it is so beautiful! and I love all the changes you made..so helpful
Nami, You did such a good job with these! They are all so beautiful & cute! It must have taken you more than an hour to make all this meticulous artwork ;o)
Wow Nami! These are just beautiful. You did such a wonderful job. They are so pretty I wouldn’t want to eat them! No wonder they wanted to feature you on their main site
I am glad I don’t have this in front of me…I certainly couldn’t choose which one to eat first and I would end up eating everything! It is a piece of art and you show us how is is done to boot!
Oh my gosh! Your sushi looks amazing! I might use it as inspiration for one of my jelly mould challenge posts… shhh please don’t tell anyone.
Wholesome Cook recently posted: {Day 9} Rainbow doodle jelly!!!
なみちゃん、お久しぶり。ああーなんて可愛らしい手まり寿司。いくつでも食べられそうね。
Oh my gosh, these are like little works of art, Nami! Your attention to details brings tears to my eyes…I mean it. The temari sushi look too beautiful to eat! I’ve missed so many wonderful posts on your blog, I know you took a week off, but didn’t realize the week was up so quickly. Love the recipe index, btw!
What an adorable sushi presentation!! I love it.
Wow! This is a clever, designacle take on sushi. Thanks for posting!
They are so beautiful. I had been looking for a Japanese food site because my husband and I love Japanese food but I don’t know anything about preparing it. I’m glad I came across your blog. It’s wonderful!
That is quite simply, a work of art. Beautiful photos and beautiful presentation. Gorgeous!
I have been wanting to make these Tamari sushi for the longest time ever! They are just gorgeous!
YUM my mouth is watering! everything looks delicious and so beautiful!
Hi! I wanted to ask if I could use the beautiful pictures in this post for my blog. I read in your About Me that you wanted to be informed if people used your work, so please let me know if I should take down the pictures. Thank you!
I’m fine as long as you link back to my post/blog to give credit. Thank you so much for featuring my picture.
I mentioned your blog in my post today
http://utry.it/2012/02/marx-food-challengehijiki-star-fruit.html
My sushi balls might not look as pretty as yours but they were still very delicious!
I am just planning a Brazilian-Japanese fusion sushi dish for one of my next posts. This will be one interesting dish…It will be delicious although not as artsy as yours. I intend to use your sushi rice recipe, if you permit. Have a blessed week!
These are pretty. This is a fun way to feast. I will make some of these in the summer for a refreshing lunch.
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