Skip to content
Chirashi sushi bowl topped with salmon, prawns, egg ribbons, cucumber and avocado over sushi rice
Japanese · Lunch

Chirashi Sushi Bowl

Seasoned sushi rice topped with seared salmon, prawns, egg ribbons and crisp vegetables. It uses cooked fish only, so it is easy to make at home and makes a colourful lunch.

Published 1 Oct 2026Tested by Hina Ikram

Prep30 min
Cook30 min
Total1 h
Serves4
DifficultyMedium
CuisineJapanese

Ingredients

4 servings

Equipment: Medium saucepan with lid, non-stick frying pan, wide bowl or tray for cooling rice, sharp knife

Method

  1. Rinse the rice in a bowl of cold water, swirling and draining, until the water runs almost clear. Drain well, then leave it in the saucepan with the 360 ml water to soak.

  2. Cover the pan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to the lowest heat and cook, still covered, until the water is absorbed and small steam holes appear on the surface. Do not lift the lid during cooking.

  3. Turn off the heat and leave the pan covered so the rice finishes steaming. Meanwhile, stir the vinegar, 2 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp salt in a small bowl until the sugar dissolves.

  4. Tip the hot rice into a wide bowl. Pour over the vinegar mixture and fold gently with a cutting motion, without mashing. Fan the rice for a minute or two until it looks glossy and is just warm, then cover with a damp cloth.

  5. Season the salmon all over with ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper. Heat 1 tbsp oil in the frying pan over medium-high heat and cook the salmon for 3 minutes per side, until golden outside and opaque throughout (63°C inside). Rest it, then flake or slice into bite-size pieces.

  6. Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil and cook the prawns for about 2 minutes, until pink, curled and opaque. Drain and cool, then halve them lengthwise if large.

  7. Beat the eggs with 1 tsp sugar and the light soy sauce. Wipe the clean pan with 1 tsp oil over medium-low heat and pour in half the egg to make a thin omelette. Cook about 1 minute until set, flip briefly, and slide out. Repeat with the rest.

  8. Roll the cooled omelettes and slice into thin ribbons. Divide the rice among four bowls and arrange the salmon, prawns, egg ribbons, cucumber and avocado on top.

  9. Finish with nori strips, spring onions, pickled ginger and sesame seeds. Serve at once with soy sauce and wasabi on the side.

Cooking tips

  • Rinse the rice until the water is nearly clear; this keeps the grains separate and not gluey.
  • Fold the vinegar into the rice while it is still hot so it absorbs the seasoning, and use a wooden or plastic spoon.
  • Cut the cucumber and avocado last so they stay fresh and bright.
  • Cook the salmon fully and cook prawns until opaque; this recipe is made without any raw fish.

Substitutions

  • Sushi rice: use any Japanese short-grain rice or Italian arborio, rinsed well, and cook with slightly less water (about 330 ml).
  • Salmon: use any firm white fish such as sole or cod, or cooked chicken breast.
  • Rice vinegar: use white vinegar with an extra ½ tsp sugar, or apple cider vinegar.
  • Prawns: leave out, or use extra egg or sliced cooked mushrooms for a pescatarian-free, lighter bowl.

Serve with

Serve with miso soup or a small bowl of edamame. A little extra soy sauce and wasabi on the side lets everyone season their own bowl.

Storage

Keep rice and toppings in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 1 day. Rice turns hard when chilled, so it is best eaten fresh. Do not store the avocado cut.

Reheating

Warm the rice in the microwave with a splash of water, covered, for 45–60 seconds. Serve the salmon, prawns and egg cold or at room temperature, or warm the salmon gently for 30 seconds.

Nutrition per serving, estimated

630kcal
37 gProtein
76 gCarbs
19 gFat

Estimated from the ingredient list. Values vary with brands and portion size.

Related

You might also cook

Overhead view of chicken fried riceChinese

Chicken Fried Rice

Day-old rice stir-fried hot with chicken, egg, peas, carrot and soy. Faster than ordering in.

25 minServes 4
Overhead view of beef bulgogiKorean

Beef Bulgogi

Thin slices of beef marinated in soy, pear, garlic and sesame, then seared hot for caramelised edges.

50 minServes 4
A bowl of oyakodon with soft egg and chicken over rice, topped with spring onionJapanese

Oyakodon

A Japanese rice bowl of tender chicken thigh and softly set egg simmered in a sweet-savoury dashi sauce. It is quick, filling and made in one pan.

40 minServes 2
Bowl of gyudon with simmered beef and onions over white rice, topped with spring onions and sesame seedsJapanese

Gyudon Beef Rice Bowl

Thinly sliced beef and soft onions simmered in a sweet-savoury soy and dashi broth, spooned over steamed rice. A quick weekday lunch that needs one pan.

40 minServes 4
More from this cuisine

Asian kitchen

All Asian
Sliced chicken teriyaki with glossy glaze, rice and broccoli on a white plateJapanese

Chicken Teriyaki

Pan-seared boneless chicken thighs brushed with a glossy soy, ginger and garlic glaze. It comes together in about 40 minutes and suits a weeknight dinner with rice.

40 minServes 4
Wide pan of beef sukiyaki with sliced beef, tofu, cabbage, mushrooms and noodles in a glossy soy broth, with rice and a bowl of beaten eggJapanese

Beef Sukiyaki

Thinly sliced beef, tofu and vegetables simmered in a sweet-savoury soy broth in one wide pan. Cook it at the table for a relaxed, shared weeknight dinner.

45 minServes 4
Shabu shabu hot pot with sliced beef, vegetables, tofu and two dipping sauces on a wooden tableJapanese

Shabu Shabu

A Japanese hot pot where paper-thin beef and vegetables are swished through a light kombu broth at the table, then dipped in sesame and citrus sauces. Good for a slow, shared dinner.

1 hServes 4
A bowl of yaki udon with chicken, cabbage and carrot, topped with spring onion and sesame seedsJapanese

Yaki Udon

Chewy udon noodles stir-fried with chicken, cabbage and carrot in a savoury-sweet soy sauce. It is a quick one-pan lunch that comes together in about 25 minutes.

27 minServes 3