Grilled Portobello and Roasted Pepper Maki Sushi

Ingredients

• 2 portobello mushrooms, gills removed, grilled with olive oil, salt and pepper, placed in air tight bowl
• 2 red bell peppers, roasted, placed in same air tight bowl with portobellos
• 4 sheets yaki nori
• Sushi Rice, recipe follows
• 8 scallions, grilled with olive oil, salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 minced shallot
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions

As soon as the portobellos and peppers are cool, slice them in long, thick strips. Save the juices in the bowl. Make sure they are well seasoned. Lay nori, shiny side down on sushi mat and lightly pat on rice on bottom half of nori, 1/4-inch thick. Place mushrooms, peppers and scallions 2/3 up on rice. Roll, moisten end and let rest. In the bowl of juices, whisk in vinegar, mustard and shallots. Lift with oil, season, and check for flavor.

PLATING Slice the roll, both straight and on the bias. Drizzle with vinaigrette and serve immediately.

Drink Suggestion: 3. Suishin, Japanese Sake 4. Laurent Perrier Champagne

• MASTER SUSHI RICE
• Copyright, 2000, Ming Tsai, All Rights Reserved
• 4 cups sushi rice (Calrose/short grain)
• Water, up to Mount Fuji
• 1 cup rice wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup mirin
• 1/2 cup sugar

Wash rice at least 3 times or until water is clear. Fill rice cooker or casserole with water to about 1-inch over rice. I highly recommend a rice cooker  more than 2 billion people use them in Asia for a reason. Slowly heat vinegar, mirin and sugar until very hot but not boiling. Fold in su (vinegar and sugar) with the hot rice, add enough so that the rice has a tart/sweet taste. Rice should be shiny, not mushy. Carefully clean bowl with damp cloth, cover and let rest for 30 minutes.