Step 1

Clean the fish by removing the skin, bones, and any fat. Cut it into small chunks. Make sure it's completely dry before you proceed!

Step 2

Add it to a food processor along with the egg white, salt, sugar, pepper, and mirin. Process until smooth. If you do not have a food processor, chop the fish into a smooth paste, add it to a bowl, and mix in the ingredients until homogeneous.

Step 3

Boil water in a pot and place the steamer basket above it.

Step 4

Add half the paste to a bowl and add the food colouring one drop at a time (or the egg yolk). Mix until evenly coloured (bright pink or yellow).

Step 5

On a sheet of plastic wrap, spread the white fish paste until it forms a flat rectangle. Spread the coloured fish paste on the top half of the rectangle.

Step 6

Roll this lengthwise so that the coloured fish paste forms a spiral in the centre of the log. (Optional: To add the characteristic narutomaki jagged edges, wrap the log tightly in a bamboo mat and press down gently to shape.)

Step 7

Wrap this log in another layer of plastic wrap and place it in the (already hot) steamer basket. Steam for 15 minutes or until the roll is firm.

Step 8

Let cool before removing the layers of plastic wrap. Slice into 15 individual narutomaki pieces and enjoy!