10 Vegan Sushi Recipes That Are Way More Exciting Than a California Roll

From adding creaminess with a sunflower miso paste to subbing grains for celery root rice, all the recipes on this list are innovative, tasty, and full of ingredients that will energize your body—not leave you in a food coma later.

Keep reading for 10 vegan sushi recipes.

1. Veggie Rolls With Spicy Peanut Lime Sauce

If you find the idea of rolling all your veggies up and fitting them in rice paper intimidating, start with this recipe: Oh She Glow's Angela Liddon gives the option of using lettuce wraps instead, which can be a bit easier. Her rolls have tofu for protein, veggies for crunch, and a peanut lime sauce for a hint of spice.

2. Veggie Brown Rice Sushi

Minimalist Baker creator Dana Shultz has a pro tip for making sure your rice sticks together: rice vinegar. She adds just a touch of sugar and salt to it to really amp up the flavor profile, which is also the secret sauce to making the veggies inside extra yummy.

3. Quinoa Nori Rolls

White and brown rice aren't the only grains that can anchor your rolls. Ella Woodward, AKA Deliciously Ella, uses quinoa to reap extra fibrous benefits. Also in her rolls: carrots, zucchini, red pepper, asparagus, and an easy-to-make creamy avocado sauce.

4. Veggie Sushi With Sunflower Miso Paste

Make your rolls low-carb by nixing the rice and making a sunflower miso taste with Love and Lemon blogger Jeanine Donofrio's recipe.  The miso paste is made with sunflower seeds, lemon juice, garlic, miso, ginger, brown rice syrup, and toasted sesame oil—so right away you know this dish has a lot for your tastebuds to enjoy.

5. Golden Avocado Sushi Roll

This recipe by Healthy Happy Life blogger Kathy Patalsky has turmeric and avocado—could this be a trendier, more nutrient-packed roll? The key is to really work the turmeric into the rice to give the sushi that beautiful golden glow, and up the anti-inflammatory benefits.

6. Sushi With Celery Root "Rice," Za'atar Carrots, And Avocado

Cauliflower isn't the only vegetable you can rice. The First Mess blogger Laura Right uses celery root as a grain substitute in her vegan sushi recipe. By adding in pine nuts, dill, and dijon, this roll is truly a take you haven't tried before.

7. Homemade Vegan Sushi

Lee Tilghman, AKA, Lee From America has a very laid-back approach to her sushi making; she just uses whatever veggies and spices she has on hand, rolls 'em up, and voilà—dinner! Something she does like to include is tofu marinated in a blend of soy sauce and sesame oil. It gives it a fishy taste without being, well, fish.

8. Forbidden Rice Sushi Roll

Marie Reginato, the creative force behind 8th and Lake, says these vegan sushi rolls are one of her favorite homemade dinners. Packed inside: sweet potatoes, egg plant, avocado, carrot, cucumber, and forbidden rice. The avocado adds a creamy texture while the eggplant serves as the "meat" of the dish. The result is satisfying, filling, and nourishing.

9. Veggie Sushi Rolls

Well+Good Council member and Nutrition Stripped founder McKel Hill likes to add a sprinkle of a beloved vegan pantry item to her sushi dinner: nutritional yeast. She adds it to her "secret sauce," which also has dijon mustard, Tamari sauce, lemon juice, and cilantro. It adds a creamy layer to every bite.

10. Quinoa Sushi With DIY Pickled Ginger

When you order sushi at a restaurant, it almost always comes with a side of pickled ginger, tucked on the side of the plate. It isn't just meant to be garnish—it's great for your gut. Sarah Britton of My New Roots includes a recipe for how to make it at home along with her quinoa sushi recipe. Everything included is good for you.

For more healthy recipe inspo, check out these 15-minute dinner recipes and these 15 vegan zucchini recipes.