Shaggy Dog Roll Sushi (How to Make it at Home!) (2024)

TheShaggy Dog Roll isa sushi restaurant classic, with crispy shrimp tempura inside and spicy crab on the outside — here’s how to make it at home!

Shaggy Dog Roll Sushi (Easy Copycat Recipe)

Sushi is the one type of food I think I could eat every day and never get tired of it. It’s flavorful, protein-packed, and for the most part healthy.

The Shaggy Dog Roll is ubiquitous at sushi restaurants around the country, and for good reason! It’s crispy, creamy, and a little bit spicy. It’s the stuff cravings are made of!

Now you don’t have to go to a restaurant to enjoy this sushi favorite— this Shaggy Dog Roll recipe is surprisingly easy, and the ingredients can be found in the international aisle of most major supermarkets.

PS- This is a cooked roll, so it’s perfect to satisfy those sushi cravings when you’re pregnant!

Enjoy this easy copycat recipe to make one of yourgo-to sushi rolls at home!

Note: I’ve provided shop-able ad links for your convenience in finding items used to make this Shaggy Dog Roll sushi recipe; read our disclosure policy here.

Shaggy Dog Roll Ingredients

• 3 cups white sushi rice
• 1/4 cup sushi rice seasoning
• 5-6 sheets of Nori paper
• 1 package of crab meat
• 5 tempura shrimp
• 2 whole avocados
• 7 imitation crab sticks

Optional toppings:

• 2-3 TB sesame seeds
• 1-2 tspspicy mayo (click here for our favorite easy recipe!)
• 1-2 tsp teriyaki sauce
• 1 tsp Sriracha
• 1-2 tsp chopped green onion

Click here for an easy homemade teriyaki sauce recipe.

Kitchen Equipment Used:

• Ricecooker
• Sushi mat

(Makes 5-6 rolls)

How to Make Shaggy Dog Sushi

I’ve divided into sections to make the recipe easier to follow: rice making, sushi roll, and toppings.

To Prepare Sushi Rice:

Add dry rice to a large mixing bowl and fill with enough water to just cover the rice. Allow rice to soak for a few minutes until cloudy.Drain and repeat process until water is clear.

Prepare rice according to directions on package, or using a rice maker. (This space-savingand inexpensive Oster ricecookerhas served us well for years!)

Once cooked, dump rice into a large mixing bowl and add the sushi rice seasoning and fold with large wooden spoon to combine. Allow rice to cool for 20 minutes.

To Makethe Roll:

While rice is cooling, cut the crab into 1/4 inches in strips and set aside. Prep your avocado as well by removing from skin and cutting into strips.

Scoop some rice into your hand, about the size of your palm and form into a soft ball.

TIP: When working with sushi rice, I find it helpful to keep a small bowl of water nearby. Dip fingertips into water before touching rice to keep it from sticking to hands. Do this as much as necessary while rolling your sushi.

Place ball of rice onto the top of the Nori sheet and spread to all corners, covering evenly. Leave1/2″ along one edge of nori sheet uncovered, as this will be how you seal your roll.

Carefully flip so that the rice faces down and the nori side faces up. (This will result in “inside out” sushi with the rice on the outside once rolled).

On top of your rice-covered nori sheet, layer down the middle:

• 2 slices avocado
• 4 tablespoons crab meat
• 1 tempura shrimp (cut in half, with each half on the outside of avocado and crab meat)

TIP: You can find pre-cooked tempura shrimp in the freezer section at many Asian supermarkets, or make your own with this recipe.

Starting at the side of the nori that is covered with rice to the edge, tuck the edge in and begin to roll. When you’ve almost rolled it all the way, dip your fingers in water and spread along the 1/2″ of nori you left uncovered by rice. This dampened edge will adhere to the outside of the roll, sealing it as it dries.

TIP:Place a sushi mat over your roll and squeeze gently to tighten. Remove sushi mat, rotate your roll 1/4 turn, then repeat the tightening process with sushi mat. You can do this a few times if necessary.

Put it all together:

Place the crab sticks into a microwave-safe container,and heat about 10-15 seconds for every 2 pieces.

Remove crab sticks from microwave and lay on a cutting board. Cut the crab sticks in half and flatten out on board. Place flattened crab sticks on top of roll.

Place sushi mat over roll and crab, squeezing gently to tighten.

Using a sushi knife or chef’s knife, cut roll into 6-8 pieces.

Drizzle with spicy mayo, teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds as desired. Add Sriracha and/or chopped green onions for an extra spicy kick!

Click here for our favorite Low Carb Spicy Mayo recipe!

More of our Favorite Homemade Sushi Recipes:

• Teriyaki Salmon Hand Rolls
• Salmon Sushi Bake (Deconstructed Sushi Rolls)
• Candy Sushi
• Wasabi Salmon Bowls
• Spicy Crab Rolls

Grab a free printable copy of our copycat Shaggy Dog Roll:

More of our favorite takeout inspired recipes:

Restaurant Style Chicken Pad Thai