🎃 Japanese-Style Halloween Sushi Plate

🥣 Make the Sushi Rice

1/ Gently rinse the rice 2–3 times and soak it in water for about 30 minutes.

2/ Add about 400 ml of water (slightly less than usual) to 300 g of rice and cook it in a rice cooker or pot.
3/ Once cooked, lightly steam the rice again to warm it up.
Mix vinegar, sugar, and salt together, then pour over the rice and fold gently with a spatula.

Steaming makes the rice fluffy and gives it a gentle texture.
Add white sesame seeds for extra aroma and flavor.

🥣 Steam the Broccoli

(While the rice is cooking, prepare the broccoli and boiled eggs.)
4/ Separate the broccoli into small florets and place them in a steamer basket.
5/ Pour about 3–4 cm of water into a pot and place the steamer inside with the lid on.
6/ Steam over medium heat for 5–8 minutes, or until the broccoli reaches your preferred tenderness.
Keep the bright green color—it makes the plate more appealing.
7/ Serve with miso-mayo dip on the side.

🥣 Make the Boiled Eggs

8/ Place the eggs in a pot, cover with enough water to submerge them completely, and bring to a boil over medium heat.
Once boiling, reduce the heat slightly and cook for 8–9 minutes.
9/ Transfer immediately to cold water to make peeling easier.
Cut the eggs in half to add color and balance to the plate.

🥣 Assemble the Jack Sushi

10/ Use a round mold (cercle) to shape the sushi rice, then cover it with smoked salmon.

11/ Cut small pieces of nori to make a Jack-o’-lantern face and place them on top of the sushi.

🥣 Plating

12/ Place the sushi in the center of the plate. Arrange the broccoli, boiled eggs, halved cherry tomatoes, and stick-style chicken karaage around it for color balance. Serve the purple cabbage soup separately in a small bowl—and enjoy your Japanese-style Halloween plate! 🎃

🌟Little Family Stories & Tips🌟

⭐️ About the Smoked Salmon: You can use sashimi-grade salmon🐟 instead of smoked salmon for a softer and richer flavor. (Drizzling a little soy sauce on top also tastes wonderful!)
In Germany and Dubai, it’s not easy to find raw salmon for sushi, so I usually make it with smoked salmon instead.
The gentle smoky aroma has become part of our family’s unique taste.

⭐️Serving Tip: This time, I made individual “Jack Sushi” using small ring molds, but you can also make one large version using a 20 cm (8-inch) cake pan. It feels a bit like a celebration — and slicing it to share makes it even more fun! 🎉

⭐️ A Japanese Home-Style Halloween Plate
This dish brings a touch of Japanese home cooking 🇯🇵 to Halloween. It’s mild, colorful, and something both kids and adults can enjoy together. The gentle tang of the sushi rice, combined with the bright and comforting sides, adds warmth and a cheerful mood to the table.

📝 A Little Family Story
Yesterday, I made this “Jack Sushi” again with my younger daughter.
Even though she’s now in high school, she still loves vinegared rice❤️she saved it for last and enjoyed every bite with a smile 😊It made me happy to think that something I used to make when she was little is still part of our family’s table, even here in Dubai.

⭐️ A Small Note: The Halloween decorations in the photos were from Daiso —a Japanese shop that sells all kinds of cute and practical items.
In Dubai, almost every shopping mall has a Daiso, and as a Japanese living abroad, I always feel happy (and a little relieved!) to find one.
It’s my favorite place for seasonal decorations and small kitchen goods! 😄🇯🇵

⭐️ Other Halloween Favorites: If purple cabbage soup isn’t your favorite, try one of these other Halloween treats:
🎃 Pumpkin Soup or 🍰 Pumpkin Tart — both seasonal and full of cozy autumn flavor!

👉 Pumpkin Soup with Apple – German-Inspired

👉 Pumpkin Tart with Biscuit Crust – Tarte au Potimarron