Transform your next gathering into an elegant yet effortless culinary experience with this semi-homemade Sushi and Sangria Spread. By artfully combining the convenience of restaurant takeout with delightful homemade touches like vibrant Fresh Summer Rolls and two irresistible Sake Sangria recipes, you can achieve entertaining perfection without the stress.

Contents

The Art of Effortless Entertaining: Homemade Touches and Restaurant Ease

Hosting a memorable get-together doesn’t require you to be a master sushi chef. This innovative Sushi and Sangria Spread brings together the best of both worlds: the unparalleled convenience of expertly prepared restaurant sushi and the heartwarming charm of homemade elements. Imagine calling in an order for your favorite sushi, whipping up a batch of refreshing Fresh Summer Rolls, and mixing some truly delicious Sake Sangrias. The result? Hours of magical moments spent enjoying fantastic food and even better company, all without the kitchen chaos.

This versatile spread is ideal for a variety of occasions. Whether you’re planning an intimate ladies’ night, a relaxed dinner with close friends, or looking to impress new neighbors with an easy yet sophisticated “get-to-know-you” gathering, this concept shines. It offers an out-of-the-box, casual entertaining experience that is sure to draw “oohs” and “aahs” from everyone around the table.

Elevating Your Sushi Night: Key Tips for Success

To ensure your sushi and sangria spread is as smooth and stress-free as possible, here are a few essential tips:

Chill Factor: Keep all pre-plated sushi and other cold items refrigerated until the very last moment before serving to maintain freshness and temperature.
Community Effort: Consider making it a potluck-style event! Encourage each friend or couple to bring a different dish to contribute to the spread, making it a diverse and exciting culinary journey for everyone.
Cost-Sharing Simplicity: If your guests are keen to contribute and you want to keep things straightforward, suggest everyone pitch in for the cost of the takeout sushi. This approach is often far more economical than dining out, where you’ll typically spend more on drinks and service charges.

Signature Recipes for an Unforgettable Spread

Fresh Summer Rolls: Your New Favorite Appetizer

No sushi spread is complete without these light, vibrant, and utterly delicious Fresh Summer Rolls. Packed with crisp vegetables, sweet mango, and creamy avocado, each bite is a burst of fresh flavor. The real star, however, is the irresistible peanut dipping sauce that accompanies them, transforming these rolls into your new go-to Asian-inspired appetizer. They add a wonderful textural contrast and a refreshing element to the richer sushi items.

Sake Sangria: The Perfect Pairing

Elevate your entire sushi night experience with these incredible Sake Sangria recipes. Far beyond a simple beverage, these sangrias are crafted to perfectly complement the delicate flavors of sushi. Discover two distinct variations: the refreshing Cucumber Ginger Sake Sangria, offering a crisp and aromatic profile, and the classic Red Sake Sangria, providing a deeper, fruity complexity. Both make a truly delicious addition to your sushi night in, offering a sophisticated twist on traditional drink pairings. Kanpai!

Curating Your Ultimate Sushi and Sangria Spread: What to Include

Variety is the spice of life, and it’s certainly the secret to an impressive sushi spread! Here’s a comprehensive list of delicious items to consider including, combining both takeout convenience and delightful homemade elements:

Savory Starters:
- 12 Gyoza (Japanese dumplings): Pan-fried, pork and veggie-filled, served with ¼ cup soy sauce or dumpling sauce.
- 12 fried vegetable spring rolls, accompanied by ¼ cup sweet chili sauce.
- 2 cups edamame, perfectly steamed and lightly salted.
Fresh Greens & Salads:
- 2 cups vibrant seaweed salad.
The Sushi Showcase:
- 42 mosaic sushi squares: Beautifully pressed sushi, cut into bite-sized pieces and artfully arranged with diverse toppings like tuna, salmon, yellowtail, shrimp, unagi (broiled eel), creamy avocado, crisp cucumber, and fluffy tamago (Japanese omelet).
- 2 rainbow sushi rolls (8 pieces each).
- 12 nigiri pieces (featuring salmon, shrimp, tuna, and yellowtail for a classic selection).
Interactive & Fun: Build-Your-Own Temaki Handroll Board:
- Nori seaweed sheets for wrapping.
- Perfectly seasoned sushi rice.
- Flavorful crab mix.
- Spicy tuna with a kick of jalapeño.
- Fresh salmon slices.
- Creamy avocado slices.
- Crunchy kappa (cucumber) strips.
- Sweet tamago (Japanese omelet).
- ¼ cup traditional soy sauce.
- ¼ cup zesty chili mayo sauce.
Sweet & Spicy Enhancements:
- 16 Strawberry Cream Covered Chocolate Pocky sticks for a playful treat.
- 1 cup Sweet & Spicy Wasabi Snack Mix: A thrilling combination of Wasabi Peas, Wasabi Peanuts, Honey Sesame Sticks, dried Pineapple, dried Cranberries, and salted Peanuts.
- Classic pickled ginger and pungent wasabi.
Homemade Highlights:
- 16 Fresh Summer Rolls with a generous ⅓ cup peanut dipping sauce (see recipe).
- Red Sake Sangria (see recipe).
- Cucumber Ginger Sake Sangria (see recipe).
Dessert Delights:
- 12 assorted Mochi balls (strawberry, mango, green tea, chocolate) for a delightful, chewy finish.

Assembling Your Culinary Masterpiece: How to Set the Sushi and Sangria Spread

Creating this impressive spread is surprisingly simple with a little planning. The key is strategic sourcing and timing:

Sourcing Your Sushi: Begin by ordering the majority of your dumplings, rolls, and sushi items from your trusted local sushi restaurant. Alternatively, many high-quality grocery stores now feature excellent sushi counters where fresh sushi is made daily – a fantastic option for reasonable prices when feeding a crowd. You might even choose a mix, getting items like edamame, spring rolls, and dumplings from the grocery store, and fresh sushi from your favorite specialist. For those in Dallas, Sushi de Handroll is a wonderful recommendation.
Pre-Party Prep: Ensure all cold items remain chilled in the refrigerator until you are just about ready to arrange the spread. This preserves their freshness and taste.
Homemade Summer Rolls: Prepare your Fresh Summer Rolls in advance. You can even make them a day ahead and store them in the refrigerator, but hold off on cutting them until the moment you’re ready to serve.
Sangria Perfection: Mix your delightful Sake Sangrias and keep them thoroughly chilled in the refrigerator until it’s time to pour.
Warm Welcome: As your guests arrive, or just before you plan to serve, begin reheating the gyoza, spring rolls, and edamame according to their package or restaurant instructions.
Sauces and Snacks: Place all dipping sauces into small, elegant serving bowls on the spread table. Arrange the Sweet & Spicy Wasabi Snack Mix in a dedicated serving bowl and the Pocky sticks on a small plate.
The Interactive Handroll Station: This is where the fun really begins! Artfully arrange the ingredients for your Build-Your-Own Temaki Handroll Board on a stylish wood board. Don’t forget the serving bowls of soy sauce and chili mayo sauce right alongside them.

How To Make A Temaki Sushi Handroll:
Start by placing about 1 ounce of seasoned sushi rice onto a nori seaweed sheet.
Carefully layer 1 ounce of your favorite fillings (like spicy tuna, avocado, or salmon) on top of the rice.
Pick up the bottom-left corner of the seaweed sheet and gently roll it diagonally toward the top-right corner, forming a neat cone shape.

Presenting Summer Rolls and Seaweed Salad: Now, cut your freshly prepared summer rolls and arrange them appealingly on a platter. Place this platter on the spread table with the peanut dipping sauce conveniently next to it. Also, transfer the seaweed salad into a small serving bowl and add it to the table.
The Main Sushi Attraction: Introduce the stars of the show! Place a grand platter of the mosaic sushi, alongside a platter featuring your assorted sushi rolls and nigiri, ensuring they are easily accessible and visually striking.

Sangria Station: Set up your sangrias on the spread table. For an inviting display, place them alongside a bucket filled with ice and a stack of elegant glasses, ready for pouring.
Warm Food Integration: Finally, add the warm items – the gyoza, spring rolls, and edamame – to the spread table. Be sure to provide some soy sauce or dumpling sauce on the plate with the gyoza, and sweet chili sauce with the spring rolls for dipping.

Serving Utensils: Set out plenty of chopsticks and serving tongs, making it easy and hygienic for everyone to select their desired dishes.
Sweet Finale: Keep the mochi balls prepped and ready in the freezer. Bring them out to the spread table when your guests are ready for delightful sweet treats.

Important Considerations for Your Sushi Spread

Freshness is Key: Sushi is a dish best enjoyed on the day it is made. For safety and optimal taste, it’s generally advised not to consume leftovers if the sushi has been sitting out for an extended period.
Essential Supplies: Don’t forget to have plenty of chopsticks and serving tongs on hand for a smooth and enjoyable dining experience for all your guests.

We hope this guide inspires you to create your own magnificent Sushi and Sangria Spread! If you decide to bring this delightful concept to life, we’d love to see your creations. Snap a picture and share it on Instagram, tagging @thebakermama. We absolutely adore seeing how creatively and deliciously you interpret the recipes and entertaining ideas we share. Enjoy every moment of your gathering!

xoxo,

Sushi and Sangria Spread

Author: The BakerMama
Yield: 8-10 servings

Description

Homemade touches with restaurant ease come together in this semi-homemade Sushi and Sangria Spread. Fresh Summer Rolls and two delicious Sake Sangria recipes elevate your take-out sushi into entertaining perfection.

Ingredients

Spread Details:

12 Gyoza (Japanese dumplings): pan-fried, pork + veggie filled dumplings served with ¼ cup soy sauce or dumpling sauce
12 fried vegetable spring rolls
¼ cup sweet chili sauce
2 cups edamame, steamed and salted
2 cups seaweed salad
42 mosaic sushi squares: pressed sushi, cut into bite-sized squares and arranged in a gorgeous pattern with the following toppings: tuna, salmon, yellowtail, shrimp, unagi (broiled eel), avocado, cucumber, tamango (japanese omelet)
2 rainbow sushi rolls (8 pieces each)
12 nigiri (salmon, shrimp, tuna, yellowtail)
Build-Your-Own Temaki Handroll Board:
- Nori seaweed sheets
- Seasoned sushi rice
- Crab Mix
- Spicy tuna with jalapeno
- Salmon
- Avocado
- Kappa (cucumber)
- Tamango (japanese omelet)
- ¼ cup Soy sauce
- ¼ cup Chili mayo sauce
16 Strawberry Cream Covered Chocolate Pocky sticks
1 cup Sweet & Spicy Wasabi Snack Mix: Wasabi Peas, Wasabi Peanuts, Honey Sesame Sticks, dried Pineapple, dried Cranberries, salted Peanuts
Pickled Ginger
Wasabi
16 Fresh Summer Rolls with ⅓ cup peanut dipping sauce (see recipe)
Red Sake Sangria (see recipe)
Cucumber Ginger Sake Sangria (see recipe)
12 assorted Mochi balls (strawberry, mango, green tea, chocolate)

Instructions

Order most of the items from your favorite sushi restaurant or get them from a grocery store that carries them. Or do a mix of some items from the grocery store (like the edamame, spring rolls and dumplings) and the fresh sushi from your favorite sushi restaurant. Several grocery stores have sushi counters where they make fresh sushi so definitely check there for reasonable sushi for a crowd.
Keep everything chilled in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve the spread.
Make the fresh summer rolls, but wait to cut them until you’re ready to serve the spread. These can be made a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
Make the sangrias and keep them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve the spread.
When you’re ready to serve the spread, start reheating the gyoza, spring rolls, and edamame according to package or restaurant instructions.
Put all of the sauces in small serving bowls on the spread table. Put the snack mix in a serving bowl and Pocky sticks on a small plate on the spread table.
Arrange the Build-Your-Own Temaki Handroll ingredients on a wood board along with the serving bowls of soy sauce and chili mayo sauce.
Cut the spring rolls and arrange them on a platter then set it on the spread table with the peanut sauce next to them. Put the seaweed salad in a small serving bowl on the spread table.
Add a platter of mosaic sushi and a platter of sushi rolls and nigiri to the spread table.
Put the sangrias on the spread table with a bucket of ice and glasses to serve them in.
Add the warm foods (gyoza, spring rolls and edamame) to the spread table. Put some soy sauce or dumpling sauce on the plate with the gyoza and some sweet chili sauce on the plate with the spring rolls.
Set out plenty of chopsticks and tongs for guests to bring food to their plates with.
Have the mochi balls prepped in the freezer and ready to bring to the spread when everyone is ready for sweet treats.

Notes

Spread Tips:

How To Make A Temaki Sushi Handroll:

Place 1 ounce sushi rice on the seaweed and place 1 ounce of your favorite fillings on top of the rice.
Pick up the bottom left corner of the seaweed and roll it toward the top right.

Keep the sushi plated and in the refrigerator until ready to add it to the spread.

Make it a potluck style gathering with your friends where each person or couple brings a different dish to complete the spread.

If everyone is willing to contribute and you want to keep it simple, have everyone contribute to the cost of the take-out foods. It’s much cheaper than everyone going out where you’ll likely pay more for drinks and service.

Leftovers?

Sushi is best eaten the day it is made. If it sits out for a long period of time, it is best not to eat the leftovers.

Supplies Needed:

Chopsticks and serving tongs