Spaghetti Sushi: the easy and tasty recipe you’ll love

They may be inspired by Japanese cuisine, but these Spaghetti Sushi bites have all the flavor of Italy. Made with basic pantry ingredients (spaghetti, mini meatballs, marinara sauce, and ricotta), you can whip up these fresh bite-sized appetizers in no time.

The quick and easy method is similar to that of making sushi, but is less messy and is perfect for those who don’t like fishy foods. Meatballs, parmesan, and tomato sauce all go onto spaghetti to form a feast of Mediterranean flavors. It’s perfect for kids too, because you have their favorite spaghetti and meatballs all packed into one bite.

Tips for making Spaghetti Sushi

You’ll want to cook the spaghetti to al dente. Which means it must still be firm when you bit into it. If you overcook the spaghetti, it won’t be able to hold up to the ingredients and may fall apart when you cut into it.

If you don’t want to use store-bought marinara sauce, you can make your own. Simply cook the following over medium heat until thickened: 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 cup diced onion,  2 minced garlic cloves, ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, ½ tsp dried oregano, 2 x 28-ounce cans tomato, 2 tsp sugar, ½ cup water.

You can also make your own meatballs. Simply mix together combine 2 pounds of ground beef, 2 eggs, ¼ cup water, 1 small chopped onion, 1 cup bread crumbs, 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, 2 cloves crushed garlic, 2 tsp Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Shape into small balls, and bake at 375°F for about 15 minutes. The meatballs are perfect for freezing. Simply transfer the baked and cooled meatballs to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven to serve or used in the recipe.

How to store Spaghetti Sushi

While the spaghetti sushi will store well in the fridge, it may start to lose its shape. If you want to make them ahead of time (say for a party), you can precook the spaghetti and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also store the meatballs and marinara sauce in the same way.

How to make Spaghetti Sushi

In a small bowl mix the marinara sauce and ricotta cheese.

Lay cooked pasta out on a sushi mat or a sheet of plastic wrap.

Cut the ends to form a square.

Add 3-4 tbsp of sauce, spread it, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and place a line of meatballs.

Use the sushi mat or plastic wrap to roll up the spaghetti.

Cut into slices like sushi.

Garnish with fresh basil and marinara sauce.

Notes

If you can’t find spaghetti, you can use manicotti pasta or large pasta shells. Instead of rolling the ingredients in the spaghetti, you can then simply fill the pasta with a meatball, marinara sauce mixture, and parmesan. Garnish with a basil leaf before serving.