Vegetarian Cooking Class: Temari Sushi & Kakiage (Tokyo)

Join Aoki-san, a certified cooking instructor, to make vegetarian temari sushi, kakiage (vegetable tempura), and sides at a hands-on cooking class in Setagyaya (Tokyo). These colorful, bite-sized sushi spheres are fun and easy to assemble, cute as can be, and are easily recreated at home! You’ll make five types of temari sushi: shiitake mushroom, red paprika, eggplant, broccoli, and carrot with Japanese pumpkin. Guiding you in the kitchen is Aoki-san, a certified cooking instructor and owner of her own cooking salon. Her goal is to make Japanese cooking fun and accessible to everyone, regardless of skill level. Back in February 2022, Aoki-san turned her passion into her purpose with the opening of her cooking school in Tokyo’s charming Setagaya neighborhood. Since then, she has taught countless students from far and wide, with no plans to slow down in sight. She's on a mission to help you create gourmet-quality home-cooked meals, sharing those coveted culinary secrets through her carefully crafted recipes. The star of this vegetarian cooking class is temari sushi; a fun and visually appealing dish, with each piece resembling a small, colorful hand (“te”) ball (“mari”), hence the name. While temari sushi is often associated with seafood, our culinary adventure puts a veg-forward twist on things. Temari sushi originated in Japan and draws its inspiration from temari, traditional handball toys adorned with intricate patterns. Once you’ve created your temari sushi masterpieces, move on to the kakiage! Vegetable (yasai) kakiage is a vegetarian-friendly version of the classic kakiage, featuring thinly-sliced vegetables coated in a tempura batter and fried until crispy and golden. During this authentic, hands-on cooking class, you’ll learn how to: Make and shape vinegared sushi rice Make and decorate five types of temari sushi Make vegetable kakiage (a tempura dish using thinly sliced vegetables) Make tofu salad with homemade sesame dressing and miso soup side dishes