Iowa sushi

Some of the wrap’s nicknames speak to that sense of humor: Iowa sushi. Lutheran sushi. Alien wieners. The last is my least favorite, but it’s alarmingly on point, and we’ve snickered about it since we were kids.

Midwesterner - Iowa’s “Lutheran Sushi” Jessica Carney 2026

People all over the midwest eat some different sorts of things sometimes. I've also heard this called Iowa sushi, etc. We just call them pickle wraps.

“Minnesota Sushi” - Ham, mayonnaise and pickle. Found on Facebook. Yuck. Jameskeenan718 2026

Sometimes called Iowa sushi, Minnesota sushi, Midwest sushi, or Lutheran sushi, these retro roll-ups — dill pickles slathered with cream cheese, then wrapped in thin slices of deli ham or corned beef — are the kind of dish that inspires both delighted squeals and deeply confused stares.

Iowa Sushi Is the 3-Ingredient Holiday Appetizer the Midwest Swears By Food & Wine’s Editorial Guidelines 2025