Norecipes - Elevating Everyday Meals

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • Ingredients
  • About
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • Ingredients
  • About
×
Home ► Recipes ► Dairy-Free

Caterpillar Roll

Updated: 11.20.24 | Marc Matsumoto | 14 Comments

5 from 2 votes
Unagi and cucumber sushi with an avocado wrapper. Learn how to make Caterpillar Rolls with step by step photos.
Recipe
A Caterpillar Roll on a plate, with sesame seeds, kabayaki sauce, and sprout antennas.

I often hear from people how surprised they are by the lack of rolls at sushi restaurants in Japan. For those who only eat rolls, it can be a problem, but for those who are a little more adventurous, it's a chance to try authentic nigiri sushi that you'd have a hard time finding in the US. While nigiri sushi prepared by the hands of a master sushi chef is a thing of beauty, I grew up in California, and I love me some rolls! Along with the California Rolls, Caterpillar Rolls rank among my favorites. So when I get a craving for them here in Tokyo, I just make them myself.

To be honest, the origins of the caterpillar sushi roll are anyone's guess. My hunch is that it was created by an enterprising sushi chef at an American strip-mall sushi joint who was trying to sell more unagi. Whatever the origins of this sushi, Caterpillar Roll is probably single-handedly responsible for turning something that was "ewww!"-inducing (unagi is a slimy fresh water eel after all) a generation ago, to something that's sold at supermarket sushi counters across the country.

If you've been to a sushi restaurant in the US over the past decade, chances are you've either had caterpillar roll sushi or noticed it on the menu. You may have even wondered, "What is in a Caterpillar Roll?!?" For those who haven't, let me reassure you that this isn't an episode of Bizarre Foods, where Andrew Zimmern eats butterfly larva. Indeed, there were no insects harmed in the making of this recipe!🐛😆

It's called a Caterpillar roll because the rice is enshrouded with thin slices of overlapping avocado. With stripes of dark kabayaki sauce drizzled on top, and sesame seeds dotting the roll, it doesn't take a stretch of the imagination to see the resemblance. It's a delicious combination of flavors, so don't let the name bug you! It's definitely worth trying.

Skewers of unagi kabayaki

If you've ever wondered what the difference is between Kabayaki and Teriyaki sauce, you're not the only one. After a little research, it turns out that they're one in the same. The difference comes in the preparation of the dishes that the sauce is used in. Kabayaki is usually prepared by skewering things such as unagi, and then grilling them. The sauce is applied by dipping the skewer directly in a tub of sauce during cooking. Teriyaki on the other hand is made by grilling and using a brush to apply the marinade.

Since this roll is neither grilled nor skewered, I deliberated on what to call the sauce, but since the unagi is made kabayaki-style, it made sense to carry the same name over for the glaze. Together with the rice vinegar in the tangy sushi rice, crunchy cucumber, creamy avocado, and rich unagi, the kabayaki sauce provides a sweet and savory glaze that makes this Caterpillar Roll recipe a hit for all ages.

I've also come up with this recipe for a California Bowl, which has all the flavor of a California Roll without all the tricky rolling. It could easily be adapted to become a Caterpillar Bowl; just use unagi instead of the crab.

FAQ

What is a Caterpillar Roll?

Caterpillar roll sushi is a type of non-traditional roll made with unagi, cucumber, nori, and sushi rice. The top of the roll is decorated with sliced avocado. This creates a striped pattern on top that resembles a caterpillar, which is where the roll gets its name. Add two sprouts for antennas, and the illusion is complete.

What is in a Caterpillar Roll?

This sushi roll is most commonly stuffed with unagi kabayaki (grilled eel) and cucumbers, then topped with avocado. That being said, caterpillar roll ingredients can include various other items, like tobiko, shrimp tempura, or crab.

What do I serve Caterpillar Rolls with?

Caterpillar sushi roll goes great with pickled sushi ginger and some extra sauce drizzled on top. Since this roll isn't spicy, wasabi would give it a nice kick. If you're doing a sushi night, how about making a batch of my spicy tuna roll recipe as well as my California rolls. Some hosomaki, or thin rolls, make a nice accent to the more complex flavors, and Cucumber Rolls and Oshinko Rolls are easy types of hosomaki to add to a menu. If you would like a more interactive experience for your diners, try my Temaki Sushi and have them each make their own masterpiece. It makes a wonderful family-style experience and conversation starter.

📖 Recipe

A plate of Caterpillar Rolls ready to serve

Caterpillar Roll

5 from 2 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins

Units

Ingredients 

  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup sake
  • ¼ cup evaporated cane sugar
  • 1 batch prepared sushi rice
  • 2 packs unagi (cut into ½ inch strips)
  • 2 avocados (halved, peeled, pitted and sliced)
  • 1 hot house cucumbers (seeds removed with a spoon and julienned)
  • 1 pack unseasoned nori

Instructions

  • Make the kabayaki sauce by adding the soy sauce, sake, and sugar to a small saucepan and bringing it to a boil. Cook it until most of the liquid has evaporated, and the mixture is thick and syrupy.
  • You're going to roll your Caterpillar Roll with the rice on the outside, so you need to cover your makisu (bamboo sushi mat) with plastic wrap to keep the rice from sticking. Prepare a small bowl of cold water to dip your fingers in to keep the rice from sticking to them.
  • Carefully fold your sheet of nori in half. If the nori is fresh, it should easily split in half along the fold and make two 3.75 inch x 8 inch pieces. If it's not splitting easily, use scissors to cut the nori in half.
  • Lay one piece of nori towards the bottom of the mat. Lightly wet your fingers with water, then add a small amount of rice onto the nori.
  • Make sure your fingers are moist, then use your fingertips to gently spread the rice out to the edges of the nori sheet in a thin even layer. Don't use too much pressure, or you'll end up mashing the grains of rice together.
  • Flip the rice and nori over so that the rice is facing down and the nori is facing up. Place some cucumbers along the bottom edge of the nori, then top with the unagi.
    Filling the roll.
  • Tuck your thumbs under the bamboo mat, then use the rest of your finger to hold the filling in place. Roll the mat up and over the filling.
    Keeping everything tight while rolling.
  • When the mat has come all the way around the roll, you'll need to keep rolling with one hand, while using the other to lift the mat out of the way so you don't roll it into your sushi.
  • Once the Caterpillar Roll is fully rolled, give the whole thing a hug with your fingers. This will compress the rice, which will help keep it from falling apart when you slice it.
    Forming the sushi roll.
  • Splay the slices of avocado over the roll, making sure each thin slice of avocado overlaps the next.
    Placing the avocado slices.
  • Wrap the roll with the bamboo mat again, and give it one more hug.
    Squeezing the sushi roll
  • Transfer the finished Caterpillar Roll to a cutting board and use a long, sharp knife (preferably a sushi knife) to slice the roll into 8 pieces. Start slicing the roll by putting the back edge of the knife on the roll and pulling the knife towards you, using the weight of the knife to slice through the roll. If you press down, you will smash the roll.
  • Plate the roll and drizzle with the kabayaki sauce. You can garnish with two sprouts (antennas) and some sesame seeds if you want, but they're not necessary. I also like dusting a little sansho powder on top.
Recipes in your inboxDon't miss out SIGN UP!

Comments

    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





  1. Bkhuna says

    December 07, 2020 at 1:39 am

    I started eating sushi when I moved to Japan in 1981.

    I DETEST American rolls. I decided to eschew sushi in America unless I stumble across the rare sushi-ya that upholds traditional styles..

    7-11 in Japan has better sushi than 99.99999% of the restaurants in the US.

    Reply
    • Marc Matsumoto says

      December 07, 2020 at 2:36 pm

      Sushi in the US can be bad, but the issue isn't with the concept of making modern rolls. It's the use of cheap ingredients and bad technique in most cases. American style sushi can be delicious if it's made properly.

      Reply
  2. Marc Matsumoto says

    May 02, 2014 at 1:49 am

    Unagi cannot be eaten raw. While you can find it fresh (with some difficulty) in Japan, I've never seen it being sold in the US in any other form than vacuum sealed after being grilled with kabayaki sauce.

    Reply
  3. Tony Caffe says

    May 01, 2014 at 10:04 pm

    How is the Unagi Prepared? Is it cooked? Raw?

    Reply
  4. benanov says

    August 07, 2013 at 10:46 pm

    According to this reddit post (https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1jw5sf/iama_sushi_chef_with_over_25_years_of_experience/) an Itamae named Michelle Carpenter invented the Caterpillar roll.

    Reply
  5. Sook says

    April 30, 2013 at 12:22 am

    What a great looking sushi roll! I love the freshness of these little rolls - with avocado! Looks great!

    Reply
  6. Marilia says

    January 17, 2013 at 11:03 pm

    Unagi can be hard to find. But there is an upcoming trend of substituting the more sustainable (and easy to find!) catfish. When broiled, it has a very similar texture to unagi.

    Reply
  7. foggy says

    January 10, 2013 at 11:27 pm

    very awesome pasome yes yse

    Reply
  8. Marc Matsumoto says

    September 21, 2012 at 11:07 pm

    I don't know where you live so I can't really make specific suggestions. That said, Whole Foods carries it in some locations in the frozen food section. Also, almost any Asian market (chinese, japanese, korean, etc) will have it in the frozen food section. It usually comes whole in flat plastic packs.

    Reply
  9. CelticBrewer says

    September 21, 2012 at 3:47 pm

    Ah yes, let me run down to the store and get some eel. . Seriously, Unagi is one of my favorites, but where do you suggest I find it besides a restaurant?

    Reply
  10. Biren @ Roti n Rice says

    August 15, 2012 at 5:41 pm

    Beautiful rolls! Love the combination of unagi and avocados. I have been making a lot of rolls myself lately 🙂

    Reply
  11. MC says

    August 12, 2012 at 11:06 am

    Gorgeously creative! i love it...

    Reply
  12. Marilia says

    August 12, 2012 at 8:07 am

    Fabulous and enlightening too, great instructions. Will have to try this soon, thanks.

    Reply
  13. Tricia Lye says

    August 12, 2012 at 4:35 am

    What beautiful rice rolls ( or do you call it maki ? ) I love avocado but never thought to incorporate it to Japanese food. Thank you!

    Reply
Marc Matsumoto

Welcome!

I’m Marc Matsumoto, a former chef raising a family in Tokyo, Japan. I believe anyone can become a great cook with the right ingredients and a few techniques, so I created No Recipes to help you unlock your culinary potential!

Start Here

Check out my member site for access to my secret stash of easy original recipes that I cook for my family!

Take a Peak →

Trending Recipes

  • A plate of homemade Japanese yakisoba (stir-fried ramen noodles) with pork cabbage, onions and benishoga (red pickled ginger).
    Yakisoba

  • Closeup of a plate of homemade California rolls filled with crab, avocado and cucumber wrapped in tangy sushi rice and nori.
    California Roll

  • Rich, creamy, and toasty Basque Burnt Cheesecake.
    Best Burnt Basque Cheesecake

  • This Japanese Curry made from scratch gets its flavor and thickness through the power of fruits and vegetables. It's the perfect hearty winter meal for groups of kids and grownups alike.
    Japanese Chicken Curry

  • Easy onigiri rice ball recipe stuffed with a delicious mix of canned tuna, mayonnaise and soy sauce.
    Tuna Mayo Onigiri

  • Black Pepper Beef is a classic Chinese stir-fry made with beef, onions, and peppers.
    Black Pepper Beef

Trending Categories

  • Easy Japanese Recipes

  • Ramen

  • Spring

  • Japanese (Modern)

  • Japanese (Traditional)

  • Japanese (Chinese)

Footer

About

  • About
  • Help Me
  • Hire Me
  • Photography
  • FAQs

Connect

  • Email Updates
  • Contact

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Copyright © 2024 Marc Matsumoto. All rights reserved

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • Reddit
  • Flipboard

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.