Although this roll is fun and delicious, check out our other challenging sushi roll recipes here or visit our entire library of sushi rolls sorted alphabetically!

Click here to visit our sushi roll library!

Las Vegas Roll FAQ and Tips

Is a Las Vegas roll raw?

The Las Vegas roll contains raw salmon, however this can easily be substituted for smoked or canned salmon!

What fish is in an Las Vegas roll?

A Las Vegas roll’s main fish is salmon, which is typically raw although can be substituted for smoked or canned salmon.

How many calories are in a Las Vegas roll?

Although there are many variations of a Las Vegas roll, you can count on there being more than 500 calories per roll since this roll is deep fried! One of these rolls per meal is enough for someone still trying to eat healthy. Pair it with a California roll to fill you up and not make you feel so guilty!

Is a Las Vegas roll spicy?

Yes! The Las Vegas roll is one of the most spicy rolls since it contains sliced jalapeno peppers and spicy mayo sauce which is a mixture of sriracha and mayonnaise.

What other sushi rolls are like a Las Vegas Roll?

The Las Vegas roll is a specialty roll that would typically be on the more expensive side of rolls at a sushi restaurant. What makes this roll unique is the fact that the entire roll is fried! The Las Vegas roll also has jalapenos which is not found in many sushi rolls. Other rolls similar to the Las Vegas roll are the dragon roll, the shaggy dog roll, and the rainbow roll.

What is a Las Vegas roll made of?

Sushi Rice: It is very important to use sushi rice instead of traditional long grain white rice when making sushi. Sushi rice and normal white rice differ in the fact that sushi rice is short grain and has more starch and protiens than long grain rices which is the traditional kind. The increased levels of starch and protein makes the sushi rice sticky which allows you to shape it into a roll. Click here to read our post about why you should use sushi rice instead of white rice!

Smoked, Canned, or Raw Salmon: Finding sushi grade salmon can pose a challenge to at home sushi makers. Raw salmon for sushi must be designated safe for consuming raw, do not assume all salmon can be eaten raw! With that in mind, alternative options for using raw salmon are smoked or canned salmon. My preference is smoked salmon which still has a great fresh flavor. Both of these options are easy to find in your grocery store.

Nori Sheets (Seaweed): Sheets of dried seaweed, otherwise called nori, are what are used to align the guts of the sushi roll. Nori is very healthy for you, and has relatively little flavor. Sheets of nori can be found at most grocery stores like Walmart, Kroger, or HEB or can even be ordered off of Amazon.

Spicy Mayo Sauce: This delicious topping can add a kick to liven up numerous dishes, not just sushi! Spicy mayo sauce is just a combination of sriracha and mayonnaise. You can make the sauce spicier by adding more sriracha and mellower by adding more mayo. Check out our recipe here.

Jalapeno: The jalapeno is one of the reasons the Las Vegas roll is so popular. Jalapenos are extremely cheap and can be found at any grocery store. There are two ways to add jalapeno to a sushi roll. One way to is remove the seeds and slice it in long strips. The other way to is to slice them vertically and leave the seeds in. This makes the jalapeno significantly hotter and can give and extra kick to your sushi roll! Both ways are pictured below.

Avocado: Avocado is found in most sushi rolls, not just the rainbow roll. This is aside from the fact that avocado is just down right delicious! To pick an avocado, look for dark skin colors and place them in the palm of your hand. If it is to firm, it is not ripe yet. If it is to squishy, it is overripe. You should be looking for a dark skinned avocado that you can give a slight squeeze!

Tempura Batter: Tempura batter is easier to make than you think! Tempura batter is a combination of egg whites, flour, corn starch, and cold water. Just follow our link here for our quick recipe. Alternatively, you can buy pre-mixed tempura batter at a grocery store but where is the fun in that?

Las Vegas Roll Ingredients

• 2 Cups Tempura Batter (Click link for easy tempura batter instructions)
• 2 Jalapeno Peppers sliced thinly like this
• 1 Small Avocado Sliced thinly
• 2 Cups Cooked Sushi Rice (Click link for easy sushi rice instructions)
• 1/4 Cup Seasoned Rice Vinegar
• 4 Half Sheets Nori (Click link for folding instructions)
• 8-12 oz Smoked Salmon, canned salmon, or sushi grade raw salmon!
• 1/2 Cup Spicy Mayo Sauce (Click link for an easy recipe!)
• Oil for frying

Cooking Equipment

• Bamboo rolling mat inside a gallon bag
• cutting board and a sharp knife
• Small mixing bowl
• Deep fryer (or something to fry veggies and roll in hot oil)

Cooking Instructions

Preparation

1. Wash and cut jalapeno peppers lengthwise, remove all seeds under running water, and slice jalapenos into long, thin strips.
2. Prepare tempura batter (or buy if from the store).
3. Dip the jalapenos into the tempura batter and fry in the hot oil.
4. Add the seasoned rice vinegar to the cooked sushi rice and mix together.
5. Place your bamboo rolling mat inside a plastic gallon bag (trust us, this makes clean up much easier, all you have to do is throw out the bag!)
6. Place one half sheet of nori on the rolling mat (remember we tore the full sheet in half hamburger style) with the rough side facing up.

Making the Roll

1. ONLY ONCE THE RICE HAS COOLED, grab a handful of rice and cover the rough side of the nori leaving a 1 inch gap at the top without any rice.
2. Starting 1/3 of the way up from the bottom begin to align the “guts” of the sushi roll in a horizontal line beginning with the rolled up smoked salmon, raw salmon, or canned salmon. Quick tip: canned salmon works just as well. The horizontal row of smoked or canned salmon should be about half an inch to an inch thick all the way across the rice.
3. Above the salmon, add a row of tempura jalapenos and avocado.
4. Grab both the sushi mat and the nori and roll the mat over from the bottom until the empty space we left at the bottom is touching the other side, squeezing down on the roll to make it nice and tight and allowing to hold its shape.
5. Dip the roll into the tempura batter and deep fry for 1-3 minutes or until crispy.
6. Once the roll is formed and fried, it is time to add the spicy mayo sauce! There are two ways to do this: 1) The easy way is to just spread it across the top of the roll with a fork. 2) The “Instagram-worthy-way” is to put the spicy mayo sauce in a small bag, cut off the corner and then push the sauce out of the bag while doing zig-zags up and down the roll.
7. Place the roll on a cutting board and get a knife and damp paper towel. Cut the roll into 8 equal sizes (easiest if you start by cutting the roll in half). Before you make each cut DAMPEN THE KNIFE WITH THE PAPER TOWEL or else the roll will fall apart when you slice through it.
8. Serve with soy sauce, take some pictures for your friends, and enjoy!

If you enjoyed this recipe or have feedback, please scroll down and leave a rating, comment, or critique!

See our printer friendly recipe version below!