Temaki

Temaki, or hand-rolled sushi, is a type of sushi prepared by shaping nori seaweed into a cone and filling it with seasoned sushi rice and assorted ingredients. The name comes from Japanese te (hand) and maki (roll), reflecting its characteristic method of eating with the fingers rather than with chopsticks.

Traditional temaki uses a square sheet of nori folded into a cone, then filled with a small amount of vinegared rice, raw fish such as tuna, salmon, or yellowtail, and complementary ingredients like cucumber, avocado, scallion, or pickled vegetables. Cooked seafood, imitation crab, or vegetarian fillings are also common. The fillings can be seasoned with a dash of soy sauce, wasabi, or mayonnaise-based sauces. The nori is usually lightly toasted and kept crisp until consumption.

Temaki developed in Japan and became widely available in sushi shops during the mid-20th century. Its hand-held format makes it a convenient option for casual dining and home preparation, allowing for rapid assembly of individual cones with varying fillings.

Today temaki is enjoyed worldwide as part of contemporary sushi cuisine. It is typically eaten fresh, with diners rolling their own cones or consuming pre-made temaki in restaurants. Variations exist across regions and restaurants, reflecting local preferences while preserving the basic hand-rolled cone technique.