Vegan Tomato Sushi (Nigiri-Style) | CookOS

Vegan Tomato Sushi

Name: Vegan Tomato Sushi (Nigiri-Style)
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 2 h 15 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 2 Roma tomatoes; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tsp sesame oil; 2 tsp sugar; 1 cup cooked sushi rice; wasabi, to taste; 1 tsp minced garlic, for garnish; 1 tbsp sliced green onion, for garnish; 1/4 jalapeño, thinly sliced, for garnish; flaky salt, to taste; ponzu sauce, for drizzling

Vegan tomato sushi is a creative nigiri-style dish where peeled Roma tomatoes are marinated in soy sauce and sesame oil to develop a surprisingly umami-rich, firm texture that mimics traditional fish preparations.

🌍Japanese 🏷️Vegan sushi 🏷️Tomato sushi 🏷️Nigiri 🏷️Vegan Appetizer

About·Privacy·Terms

🏷️

0:00

-0:00

Disabled

Auto

0.25x

0.5x

0.75x

Normal

1.25x

1.5x

1.75x

TikTok

Total

2h 15m

Servings

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$22–$36

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

0:00

-0:00

Disabled

Auto

0.25x

0.5x

0.75x

Normal

1.25x

1.5x

1.75x

TikTok

Ingredients

2 Roma tomatoes
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp sugar
1 cup cooked sushi rice
wasabi, to taste
1 tsp minced garlic, for garnishoptional
1 tbsp sliced green onion, for garnishoptional
1/4 jalapeño, thinly sliced, for garnishoptional
flaky salt, to tasteoptional
ponzu sauce, for drizzlingoptional

11 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
Using a sharp knife, carefully peel the tomatoes.
2
Cut the tomatoes into quarters and remove the inner seeds and pulp.
3
Place the tomato pieces into a zip-top bag.
4
In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar to create the marinade.
5
Whisk the marinade until the sugar is dissolved.
6
Pour the marinade over the tomatoes in the bag, seal it, and let it marinate for a few hours.
7
Remove the marinated tomato pieces from the bag and pat them dry with a paper towel.
8
Form small, oblong balls of cooked sushi rice with your hands.
9
Dab a small amount of wasabi onto the underside of a piece of marinated tomato.
10
Place the tomato piece over a rice ball and gently shape it into a nigiri piece.
11
Arrange the finished nigiri on a plate and top with minced garlic, sliced green onion, and a thin slice of jalapeño.
12
Finish with a sprinkle of flaky salt and a drizzle of ponzu sauce before serving.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Peel Roma tomatoes by blanching in boiling water for 30 seconds, then plunging into ice water—this preserves firmness while making skin removal effortless.
Keep sushi rice at room temperature when assembling nigiri; warm rice holds its shape better and creates proper adhesion with the marinated tomato.
Slice the marinated tomato quarters lengthwise into thin, even strips for clean, elegant nigiri presentation.
Taste the marinade before adding tomatoes—adjust soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar to balance salt, nuttiness, and subtle sweetness.

Substitutions

Soy sauce → tamari (gluten-free option)
Sesame oil → toasted sesame oil (use same quantity; flavor intensity is stronger)
Green onion → thinly sliced shiso leaf or chives (more authentic Japanese flavor)

Storage & make-ahead

Store marinated tomatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; assemble nigiri fresh just before serving to prevent sushi rice from absorbing excess marinade liquid.

Common Questions

Why does the soy-marinated tomato get a fish-like texture?

The acid and salt in the soy marinade denatures the tomato's cell structure, causing it to firm up and develop a denser, more substantial bite similar to cured fish.

How long should I marinate the tomatoes?

Marinate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate and the texture to develop. Overnight marination in the refrigerator yields deeper flavor.

Can I make this ahead?

Yes. Marinate the tomatoes up to 24 hours in advance and store in the refrigerator. Assemble the nigiri just before serving for best sushi rice texture.