• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Recipes
  • eBooks
  • Spring
  • FREE EBOOK

Create Mindfully

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • eBooks
  • Spring
  • FREE EBOOK
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • eBooks
    • Spring
    • FREE EBOOK
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Asian Inspired

    Modified: Apr 3, 2025 · Published: Jul 19, 2017 by Willow Moon · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

    Baked Tofu Temaki Sushi with Cauliflower Rice

    Jump to Recipe Pin

    These easy sweet, savory, and spicy Baked Tofu Temaki Sushi with Cauliflower Rice are a host's best friend. Each guest can customize their own!

    Baked Tofu Temaki Sushi with Cauliflower Rice on a plate.

    💌 SAVE THIS

    I'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

    What is Temaki Sushi?

    Temaki, also known as a hand-roll, is a large cone-shaped piece of nori wrapped around sushi rice and other ingredients. It is eaten with hands instead of chopsticks.

    These Baked Tofu Temaki Sushi with Cauliflower Rice were inspired by my pantry ingredients - or lack thereof. I wanted a wrap but was out of tortillas.

    I have been making wraps and cones out of nori sheets for years but didn't know there was a name for the cones until recently.

    Temaki sushi is hand-rolled sushi, so you don't need a bamboo mat (although I never use one anyway). It just takes a little practice to get your sushi rolls tight.

    It is best to eat them right away so that the nori doesn't get soggy. They are great for a party because everyone can roll their own, which is great for the guests because they can customize their ingredients.

    I marinated and baked the tofu in maple syrup and tamari, making it sweet and savory. Baked tofu adds a great texture to this dish. It is crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. The marinade gets baked on, adding a lot of flavor.

    For the cauliflower rice, I added similar flavors to sushi rice. You wouldn't even know it is cauliflower instead of rice. That's a win in my book!

    Dijon mustard adds a spicy touch and compliments the sweetness of the baked tofu and cauliflower rice. Mustard is similar to wasabi, in fact, they are in the same plant family, so it works well when you don't have any (which I didn't at the time of making this).

    Other recipes to try are my Vegan Tofu Fried Rice, Teriyaki Tofu with Cauliflower Rice, Vegan Tofu Meatballs with Asian Glaze, Wasabi Chips, and Stir-Fried Tofu and Peppers.

    Jump to:
    • What is Temaki Sushi?
    • ❤️ Why You'll Love It
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 📖 Variations / Additions
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🍽 Serving
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
    • Other Asian-Inspired Dishes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ❤️ Why You'll Love It

    • It's a perfect recipe for people who have never rolled sushi before because it is very forgiving.
    • You would never know that it is made with cauliflower rice.
    • It has the perfect balance of flavors.

    🧾 Ingredients

    Ingredients on a cutting board with labels.
    Ingredients on a cutting board with labels.

    Baked Tofu

    • Tofu: I used extra-firm tofu packaged in water found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store when I first published this recipe and firm tofu when I updated it. Both work.
    • Maple syrup: Adds sweetness. You could also use agave syrup.
    • Tamari: I used low-sodium gluten-free tamari because I like to control the amount of sodium.
    • Paprika: Adds spice. You could leave it out.

    Cauliflower Rice

    • Cauliflower: I used fresh cauliflower that I chopped in a food processor when I published this recipe and frozen cauliflower rice when updated it. Frozen riced cauliflower is a lot less messy.
    • Brown rice vinegar: Adds a tangy flavor. You could also use lime juice.
    • Sugar: Adds sweetness so that it tastes similar to the sticky rice in sushi.
    • Tamari: I used low-sodium gluten-free tamari because I like to control the amount of sodium.
    • Olive oil: For cooking the cauliflower rice.

    Temaki Sushi

    • Cucumber: I like to use English cucumbers because they are less bitter and have fewer seeds than American cucumbers.
    • Nori: I found nori sheets in the Asian section of my local grocery store. You can also buy them online.
    • Dijon mustard: Adds a spicy flavor. You could also use wasabi paste or make your own wasabi paste from wasabi powder.

    To see the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    📖 Variations / Additions

    • Red pepper
    • Avocado
    • Shiitake mushrooms
    • Cabbage
    • Bok choy
    • Carrots
    • Jackfruit
    • Tempeh
    • Quinoa, like I did with my Tofu Sushi Rolls recipe
    • Brown or white rice

    5 Secrets to Vegan Cooking

    Spicy Tofu Bánh Mì on a cutting board.

    Free 5 Part Email Series to Elevate Your Vegan Cooking

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

    🔪 Instructions

    Collage of tofu on a towel, then getting pressed with a skillet. Next, baking dish with marinade, and tofu strips in the marinade.

    Step 1: Drain and press a block of tofu. If you don't have a tofu press, you can place it in between a clean kitchen towel.

    Step 2: Place a heavy object on top, like a cast iron pan to get out the excess water.

    Step 3: Add maple syrup, tamari, and paprika into a shallow dish. Whisk.

    Step 4: Slice the pressed tofu and marinate in the mixture 1 hour to overnight.

    Collage of tofu on a baking sheet before and after baking, then sauce in a bowl and cauliflower rice in a skillet.

    Step 5: Place marinated tofu on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

    Step 6: Bake, flip, and bake until crispy on the outside.

    Step 7: In a small bowl add brown rice vinegar, sugar, and tamari. Whisk.

    Step 8: If using a head of cauliflower, put it into a food processor. Pulse until you get a rice consistency.

    Heat a skillet and add olive oil. Add cauliflower rice and sauce. Cook on medium heat until tender.

    Collage of cauliflower rice on nori sheet, then  sliced cucumber added, then tofu strips added, and last being rolled.

    Step 9: Place a nori sheet on a cutting board. Spread cauliflower rice on half the sheet. Drizzle mustard on top of cauliflower rice.

    Step 10: Place sliced cucumber on top.

    Step 11: Place tofu on top of the cucumber.

    Step 12: Roll the nori into a cone shape and secure the edge by wetting it with marinade.

    🍽 Serving

    These all originated from different countries, but the flavors pair nicely together!

    • Spicy Cucumber Salad
    • Vegetable Stir Fry
    • Vegan Wontons
    • Vegan Tempura
    Baked Tofu Temaki Sushi with Cauliflower Rice on a plate.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

    What is the difference between temaki and sushi?

    Temaki, also known as hand-roll sushi, is cone-shaped and eaten with hands. Sushi rolls are rolled into cylinders and sliced, then eaten with chopsticks

    Other Asian-Inspired Dishes

    • Vegan Teriyaki Reuben with Spicy Thousand Island Dressing
      Vegan Teriyaki Reuben
    • Vegan Tempura
      Super Crispy Vegan Tempura
    • Tofu Sushi Rolls on a plate with dipping sauce.
      Tofu Sushi Rolls with Quinoa
    • Crispy Teriyaki Tofu and Cauliflower Rice on a plate.
      Crispy Teriyaki Tofu and Cauliflower Rice

    If you tried this Baked Tofu Temaki Sushi with Cauliflower Rice Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let me know how you like it in the 💬 comments below. I love hearing from you!

    These healthy vegan sushi rolls make a great light lunch.

    📋 Recipe

    Baked Tofu Temaki Sushi with Cauliflower Rice on a plate.
    Pin Print Add to Shopping List Go to Shopping List
    5 from 2 votes

    Baked Tofu Temaki Sushi with Cauliflower Rice

    These easy sweet, savory, and spicy Baked Tofu Temaki Sushi with Cauliflower Rice are a host's best friend. Each guest can customize their own!
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Japanese inspired
    Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 40 minutes minutes
    Total Time 50 minutes minutes
    Servings 8 rolls
    Calories 104kcal
    Author Willow Moon
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • food processor

    Ingredients

    Baked Tofu

    • 15 ounce extra firm tofu drained and pressed
    • ¼ cup maple syrup
    • ¼ cup low sodium gluten free tamari
    • ½ teaspoon paprika

    Cauliflower Rice

    • 2 cups cauliflower rice (¼ head of cauliflower)
    • 4 tablespoons brown rice vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons sugar
    • 2 tablespoons  low sodium gluten free tamari
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil

    Temaki Sushi

    • 1  cup sliced cucumber
    • 4 nori sheets
    • Dijon mustard optional
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400°F.

    Baked Tofu

    • Mix maple syrup, tamari, and paprika together. Pour in a zip lock bag or large shallow pan.
    • Slice drained and pressed tofu into strips. Add to marinade. Let sit for at least an hour to overnight.
    • Place tofu (without marinade) into an oiled pan or on parchment paper with cooking spray. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes, flip and bake another 10-15 minutes.

    Cauliflower Rice

    • Process cauliflower in food processor until it looks like the consistency of rice (or use package of riced cauliflower).
    • In a small bowl mix brown rice vinegar, sugar, and tamari.
    • Add olive oil to a hot pan. Add cauliflower rice, brown rice vinegar, sugar, and tamari mixture. Cook on medium heat until cauliflower is slightly tender.

    Temaki Sushi

    • Place in front of you rough side up horizontally.
    • Spread ¼ cup cauliflower rice on left side of nori sheet, covering half the sheet.
    • Squirt a little Dijon mustard on cauliflower rice.
    • Place 5-6 cucumber slices diagonally on top of cauliflower rice.
    • Place 3 slices of tofu on top.
    • Fold the bottom left corner over and roll it into a cone shape. Secure the roll by wetting the edge with water or marinade. Repeat with the rest of the ingredients.

    Notes

    The cauliflower rice and the tofu (stored separately) will last about 3-5 days in airtight containers in the fridge.

    💌 SAVE THIS

    I'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 659mg | Potassium: 274mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Vitamin C: 20.3mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1.1mg
    SIGN UP for my newsletter, get a FREE 30 Minute Vegan Dinners 7-Day Meal Plan as a welcome gift! 💌

    *Note: Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only. Different nutrition calculators give you different results.

    More Asian Inspired

    • Thai Salad in a wood bowl.
      Thai Salad with Peanut Dressing
    • Sheet Pan Tofu and Veggies with Peanut Sauce in a bowl with sauce in the background.
      Sheet Pan Tofu and Veggies with Peanut Sauce
    • Thai Pizza on a cutting board.
      The Ultimate Thai Pizza
    • Tofu Peanut Noodles in. a bowl. with chopsticks.
      Tofu Peanut Noodles

    Reader Interactions

    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. Ayi says

      July 22, 2017 at 11:47 pm

      This looks yum! My husband and I are into healthy eating these days for health reasons. This is something we can add to our recipe list 🙂

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        July 26, 2017 at 9:56 am

        Great, I hope you both enjoy it!

        Reply
    2. Maryanne | the little epicurean says

      July 22, 2017 at 11:40 am

      It's lunchtime and this sounds so good right now. Love that you used cauliflower rice!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        July 22, 2017 at 12:01 pm

        Thanks Maryanne!

        Reply
    3. Cat says

      July 21, 2017 at 5:09 pm

      Mmmm, this sushi recipe looks so tasty! Will definitely have to try it!

      Reply
    4. Patricia @ Grab a Plate says

      July 21, 2017 at 7:59 am

      I love this recipe and happen to have all the ingredients on hand (I just picked up a prepacked baked tofu from Trader Joe's). This is really creative, and I love how you made something fun and tasty with what you had on hand!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        July 21, 2017 at 4:14 pm

        Thanks Patricia! I wish I could still eat prepacked baked tofu! Most of them have gluten in them. I think there is one brand that I can still eat though.

        Reply
    5. Maggie Unzueta says

      July 20, 2017 at 3:57 pm

      I'm totally sold on this recipe. Love finding her tofu recipes.

      Reply
    6. Kate says

      July 20, 2017 at 12:29 pm

      Yum! These look so good. I love temakizushi. I don't think I have had it since I lived in Japan!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        July 21, 2017 at 4:06 pm

        Thanks Kate! I have never seen it before until I stumbled upon it on the internet. I have been making hand-rolls for a long time - I just didn't know there was a name for it!

        Reply
    7. Jenna Parsons says

      July 20, 2017 at 7:56 am

      I have always been a fan of sushi, but recently discovered sushi with tofu, and I am obsessed! I think this recipe looks absolutely delicious, and I want to try it!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        July 21, 2017 at 4:04 pm

        Thanks Jenna! Sushi with sweet potato is great too! That's something that I have only been using for the last couple of years.

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Willow Moon with green shirt and tie dye scarf.

    Namaste, I'm Willow!

    I've been vegan for 25 years and
    gluten-free for 13 years. I share easy and delicious vegan gluten-free recipes the whole family will love! Read more →

    Spring Recipes

    • Broccoli Fritters on a plate.
      Broccoli Fritters
    • Benedictine Tea Sandwiches on a plate.
      Benedictine Tea Sandwiches
    • Green Detox Juice
      Green Detox Juice
    • Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Pasta (vegan, gluten free) - This rich vegan gluten free pasta is perfect for date night. It has only a few ingredients, but tastes like it came from a restaurant.
      Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Pasta

    Popular Recipes

    • Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt Bites
      Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt Bites (Vegan)
    • Apple Pecan Chickpea Salad Sandwich on a plate.
      Apple Pecan Chickpea Salad Sandwich
    • Vegetable Fritter being dipped into vegan chipotle ranch dressing.
      The Most Amazing Vegetable Fritters
    • Homemade Payday Bars on parchment paper.
      Homemade Payday Bars
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia pudding in a bowl.
      Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Pudding
    • Banana Cream Pie Overnight Oats
      Banana Cream Pie Overnight Oats

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Accessibility Statement

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for my newsletter and get a FREE 30 Minute Vegan Dinners 7 Day Meal Plan as a welcome gift!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Tip Jar

    Featured In:

    A list of magazines that Create Mindfully has been featured in like Good Housekeeping, Dr. Axe, Peta, and more.

    Copyright © 2014 - 2025
    Create Mindfully - All Rights Reserved.

    Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Willow Moon and Create Mindfully with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. All photos and artwork are property of Willow Moon and Create Mindfully. Do not duplicate or copy without proper consent.

    Baked Tofu Temaki Sushi with Cauliflower Rice photo with text.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

    My family loved this!
    Thank you for sharing this recipe, I loved it!
    This worked exactly as written, thanks!

    Or write in your own words:

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

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.