Maki (a cut roll) is actually the hardest of the sushi styles to perfect. There is a lot to have to keep in mind; the proper proportion of rice to filling, where to place the filling, how far to put the rice, how thick the layer of rice should be and how to roll and cut the finished roll. It may take a lot of practice before your maki turn out as they do when made by your itamae. But even if they are not perfect they can still be very satisfying. Follow our simple instructions and you will be on your way to making maki in no time. Very often trimmings are used to make maki. This reduces waste as well having no effect on the quality of the roll, unless lower quality parts of the fish are used (as is sometimes the case in some sushi restaurants, actually). Feel free to use anything you want in these rolls, I often use my choicest cuts to make nigiri sushi and the rest to make maki.

What you will need:
Nori (seaweed sheets)
Seasoned rice
Fillings
A bamboo rolling mat (maki su)
Sesame seeds or Tobiko (optional garnish for inside out rolls)

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Rolling your own sushi

Hosomaki (thin rolls)
Start with a full sheet of nori, shiny side down (yes, there is a shiny side) on the bamboo mat and cover with rice about ¼ of an inch or slightly thinner. Be sure to leave anywhere from an inch or two of the far end of the nori sheet free from rice, the size depends on how much filling you intend to put in the roll. Also, be careful to not make the rice layer too thick, a common error that is easy to make. The rice should not be packed down, you just want to gently cover the sheet and if you can see some of the nori through the rice it is a good thing, don’t worry.

Place your largest filling down first. Then place the smaller filling(s) (if using multiple) on top and in front of the largest, covering it in the direction you will be rolling. When all your ingredients are in place, life the end of the bamboo mat nearest you and fold it over the ingredients, with a careful rolling motion. While doing this, fold the end of the nori into the roll causing it to 'close' and  continue to roll the mat applying a light, steady, even pressure. When you have rolled to the end, press the front and back sides of the roll (the sides closest to you and furthest from you) with the mat to firm up the roll and create a vaguely square tube. Apply a slight amount of pressure and hopefully the roll will seal. Remove the mat and trim any excess nori from the maki with the sharp knife. Cut the roll in half, place the halves next to each other and cut two or three more times to make 6 or 8 pieces, depending your preference and the size of the roll. Congratulations! You have made maki!

It is generally not a good idea to prepare a bunch of nori/rice 'blanks' with the intention of making two, three, or four rolls at a time. The longer the rice sits on the nori, the more moisture the nori will absorb and then become rubbery and hard to work with. It will become tough to chew as well.

Uramaki (Inside out rolls)
A variation on this theme, for more advanced maki makers is to place the rice on the nori, then sprinkle the rice with sesame seeds or tobiko, then flip the roll over to make an inside out roll. Follow the same subsequent instructions to make an pretty roll with the rice on the outside. It looks different, but tastes pretty much the same. However, when making this style of maki, be careful to not have any extra nori without rice at the end or the roll will not seal properly. For this style you will want to cover the bamboo mat with plastic wrap or the rice will try to incorporate itself into the mat and you can say goodbye to your roll. This style is certainly more advanced and I suggest starting off with hosomaki and trying this only when you are more experienced.

Futomaki (Thick rolls)
Another variation is the thick roll. This is accomplished by placing another half sheet of nori on a sheet to extend it by 50% Using a bit of water or rice moisture to seal), and following the same instructions for the thin roll. This type of maki often has up to six ingredients and can be quite large, so it is often cut into thin (relatively) pieces to fit in your mouth. The fillings should be placed continuing further down the sheet away from you for about two to three inches and rolling can be somewhat more frustrating for a beginner. Try this when you have made enough hosomaki to be comfortable with the rolling process.