Quick and Easy Salmon Sushi Stacks

This post is in collaboration with Minute Rice, but all opinions are my own. 

Next time you need a quick and easy meal, this Quick and Easy Salmon Sushi Stack is the answer. With a little help from Minute Rice Cups, the whole recipe comes together in less than 5 minutes and you won't believe how tasty it is.

Plus you can customize this recipe in so many different ways to use any ingredients and leftover protein you have on hand.  We love making these easy Sushi Bowls with rice cups too.

Last month, I attended the Fresh Air Retreat in Scottsdale, Arizona with an inspiring group of food bloggers. It was such a special time to connect, get inspired, and eat! Whenever a group of food bloggers gets together, you can be sure there will be amazing food.

During the retreat, we were challenged to come up with a creative, fun recipe using Minute Rice Cups. They challenged us to come up with a sweet or savory recipe with a huge spread of stir-in inspirations. 

The idea was simple. Grab any toppings you like and create a sweet or savory rice cup for a delicious, quality meal in minutes. Such a simple concept, but to be honest,  I couldn't believe I hadn't thought to use rice cups in this way before.

With a busy schedule, this is a lifesaver when it comes to quick and easy meals. I have been making this Salmon Sushi Stack on repeat, but I have also been making shortcut stir-fries with leftover veggies, breakfast bowls with eggs, and sweet post-workout snacks almost daily since. There are so many possibilities. 

Key Ingredients

• Cooked rice: The base of this recipe is cooked rice combined with soy sauce and rice vinegar for lots of flavors. To keep things quick and easy, Minute Rice Cups are an excellent option. Simply microwave them for one minute and the bowls are ready for assembly. Minute Rice Cups come in many different varieties - brown rice, Jasmine rice, sushi rice, white rice would all work great.
• Salmon: Leftover cooked salmon, canned salmon, canned tuna, cooked chopped shrimp, or even smoked salmon would all work for this sushi stack. 
• Avocado: Avocado adds flavor to this recipe and also acts as a binder for the ingredients. Make sure to cut it into small chunks or mash it for the best results.
• Cucumbers: To add some crunch, a layer of thinly sliced cucumbers is the perfect way to finish the dish., 

Customize Your Sushi Stacks

There are so many ways to make this recipe your own using any combination of rice, protein, and veggies. Make it a quick sushi bowl or a sushi stack. Here are some of my favorites.

• Swap in cooked chopped shrimp (like these Shrimp Sushi Bowls), raw ahi tuna, canned tuna, crab, cubed tofu, or cooked chicken to change up the protein.
• Make it spicy by adding a touch of mayo and Sriracha to the salmon or protein you are using. 
• Eat this with seaweed sheets, like an Asian taco, or get a more traditional sushi flavor with the seaweed.
• Finish the dish with sesame seeds, Furikake, chopped chives, green onions, fresh jalapenos, or Sriracha for more flavor.
• Try this with different vegetables including shredded carrots, edamame, shredded purple cabbage, or greens. 
• Try this dish with different flavors of rice or swap in a different grain like quinoa.

More Minute Rice Cup Ideas

Once you start making your own creations with these rice cups, you will be hooked. Here are some more ideas for how to use rice cups for quick and easy meals.

• Breakfast bowl: Cook the rice and then add scrambled eggs, veggies, and cheese.
• Stir Fry: Combine the cooked rice with cooked veggies, rotisserie chicken, and a drizzle of teriayki sauce.
• Burrito Bowl: Add black beans, salsa, and cheese to the rice. Top with avocado, lettuce, cilantro, and tomatoes.
• Peanut Butter Banana Bowl: Top the cooked rice with Greek yogurt, sliced bananas, and peanut butter. Trust me - this is good with the nutty brown rice.

Before wrapping up this post, I want to give you a huge shoutout to our amazing hosts, Liz from The Lemon Bowl and Lauren from A Curious Plate. Their hard work and dedication made all of this possible.

I would also like to thank the other sponsors of the retreat. Their support made this opportunity possible. 

• Certified Angus Beef 
• Zwilling
• AdThrive
• Stonyfield
• Grace + Vine Studios