The Caterpillar Roll is a visually stunning and delicious roll that has become a favorite at sushi restaurants and in homemade sushi kitchens worldwide. This Japanese maki roll is famous for its vibrant topping of sliced avocado, which gives it the appearance of a caterpillar crawling across your plate. The smooth avocado slices, combined with the rich flavors of unagi sauce, create an irresistible balance of sweet and savory flavors that make this a must-try sushi roll for any sushi lover.
If you’ve ever wanted to try making a Caterpillar Roll recipe at home, this guide will walk you through everything from preparing the perfect sushi rice with rice vinegar and sugar to mastering the technique of layering thin slices of avocado over your roll. Using a bamboo sushi mat, plastic wrap, and a sharp knife, you’ll learn how to finish rolling and slicing your finished Caterpillar Roll like a pro.
What Makes the Caterpillar Roll Special?
✔ Iconic Avocado Topping: The Caterpillar Roll is all about the beautifully arranged avocado slices that cover the roll entirely. The thin yet creamy slices create a buttery texture that pairs perfectly with the slightly crispy nori sheet and the soft, seasoned sushi rice.
✔ Sweet & Savory Flavor Balance: This delicious roll features unagi (freshwater eel) or a sustainable alternative, all drizzled with kabayaki sauce (a thick and sweet glaze similar to unagi sauce) to enhance the umami flavor.
✔ Fun to Make at Home: Rolling sushi is an enjoyable experience, and learning how to layer thin slices of peeled avocado on top of your sushi roll adds an extra layer of skill. Using a sushi mat wrapped in plastic wrap, you’ll master the technique to flip and cover the roll with ease.
✔ Customizable & Gluten-Free Friendly: You can swap out unagi for cucumber strips and other fresh Japanese ingredients to create a gluten-free version while still enjoying the tasty and visually appealing design of this roll.
The Freshwater Eel Crisis: Why You Should Consider Alternatives
One of the most common ingredients in a Caterpillar Roll is unagi (freshwater eel), a rich, savory fish that pairs beautifully with kabayaki sauce or unagi sauce. However, while eel is undeniably delicious, it is also at severe risk of becoming an endangered species.
In Japan and the UK, freshwater eel populations have declined drastically due to overfishing, habitat destruction, and unsustainable aquaculture practices. The demand for eel sushi has led to a significant decrease in their numbers, making it a less ethical seafood choice.
Instead of using unagi in your Caterpillar Roll, consider sustainable alternatives such as:
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Teriyaki-glazed salmon – A flavorful, omega-rich substitute that pairs perfectly with avocado slices and sushi rice
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Grilled eggplant – A gluten-free, plant-based alternative that mimics the texture and umami flavor of eel when brushed with kabayaki sauce
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Imitation eel (plant-based or alternative fish options) – Some companies have developed eco-friendly substitutes that replicate the taste and texture of eel sushi
By choosing a more sustainable option for your Caterpillar Roll recipe, you can enjoy the same delicious flavors while helping to protect our oceans and freshwater eel populations.
For more details on the freshwater eel crisis, why you should consider avoiding it, and what you can do to help, check out my article on eel sushi.
Why Try This Caterpillar Roll Recipe at Home?
Making sushi at home is a fun, rewarding experience that allows you to customize flavors while practicing new culinary skills. Whether you’re a sushi beginner or an experienced home chef, this Caterpillar Roll recipe will help you create a restaurant-quality dish right in your own kitchen. Plus, trying different variations—like adding teriyaki sauce or substituting eel for grilled salmon—lets you experiment with flavor while keeping it sustainable.
Don’t forget to review the recipe and let us know your recipe ratings! Now, grab your cutting board, get your small saucepan ready, and let’s make a Caterpillar Roll that’s as tasty as it is beautiful!
Caterpillar Roll Recipe: Ingredients
So instead of using unagi, I’m going to use tempura shrimp for this tutorial/recipe! It’s tasty, way more sustainable, and easier on your wallet.
For this tutorial, you will need:
- 4 pieces of Tempura Shrimp
- Sliced Cucumber
- 1 Avocado
- 2 cups of Sushi Rice
- 2 sheets of half-cut Nori
- Eel Sauce
- Sesame Seeds
- 2 Makisu (one cellophane-wrapped bamboo mat and one that isn’t wrapped)
- Tezu (hand water)
- Sharp Knife
This recipe makes 2 Caterpillar Rolls.
How to Make the Caterpillar Roll
1. Let’s start by placing a sheet of nori on our wrapped makisu, rough side up:
2. Next, add roughly 2/3 cup of cooked sushi rice to the nori. Make sure that you roll the rice to each edge of the nori and that you’re not smashing the rice down.
3. Take two pieces of tempura shrimp and slice them in half, diagonally. This will help make sure that the shrimp reach from one side of the nori to the other side.
4. Flip the rice mat over and place the shrimp onto the rice mat along the center.
5. Add a few pieces of cucumber to the center as well:
6. Slide your thumbs underneath the makisu and use your remaining fingers to hold the ingredients in place. Slowly roll the rice mat over the ingredients until the edge is touching the nori side:
7. Finish rolling the caterpillar roll up by continuing the motion in step 6.
Putting Avocado on top of the Caterpillar Roll
1. Slice an avocado down the center and peel one half:
2. Making as thin of a slice as you can, slice the avocado from top to bottom.
3. Using one hand to push the avocado slices to one side and the other hand to help the slices slide across the cutting board, slowly spread out the sliced avocado:
4. Keep pushing the slices until you can cover the length of the roll. Use the roll as guide for how long you need to stretch the avocado.
5. Slowly slide a knife underneath the sliced avocado. Use the knife to pick up the avocado slices and transfer it to the roll:
6. Place a piece of cellophane on top of the avocado and gently press an unwrapped makisu over the top of the roll:
7. Slice the caterpillar roll in half. Make sure to use long, sawing motions to get through the roll.
8. Then slice each half into four pieces, making eight pieces total:
9. Remove the cellophane (make sure you don’t leave a piece on there!). Take four pieces and curve them into a partial circle:
10. Take the remaining four pieces and curve them in the other direction:
11. Transfer the pieces (four at a time) to a plate, drizzle some delicious eel sauce over the top, and finish it off with some sesame seeds.
It might seem like a lot of steps, but once you’ve done it once it becomes a lot easier to do it again. Don’t forget to garnish your plate with wasabi & ginger!
The ingredients are all pretty easy to find and it’s sure to impress your guests/family the next time you make sushi at home!
Let me know what you think of this recipe by leaving me a comment below!
