Sushi and Sashimi

Sushi and sashimi are fun to eat and can be a great source of nutrients. Sushi is a Japanese dish based on boiled rice flavored with a sweetened rice vinegar, a mixture called sushi meshi. The rice has a glossy sheen and separates easily when it is cooled. Sushi comes in a variety of forms.

Nigiri sushi is made of thin slices of raw fish seasoned with wasabi and wrapped around or layered with sushi meshi.

Hosomaki is the thin sushi roll while futomaki is the thick sushi roll.

Maki sushi is rolled sushi including handrolls and temaki.

Chirashi sushi is made from raw fish and other ingredients served on top of a bowl of sushi rice.

Oshi sushi is sushi shaped into square or rectangle using a wooden mold. It is topped with vinegared or cooked fish.

Stuffed sushi like chakin-zushi and fukusa-sushi are ingredients wrapped in a thin egg crepe; and inari-sushi is stuffed tofu pouch with ingredients.

Sashimi is sliced sushi-grade raw fish that is served with condiments such as shredded daikon radish, gari (pickled ginger), wasabi and soy sauce. It is usually served as the first course in the Japanese meal.

The Nibble.com has a glossary of ingredients used to make Sushi and Sashimi.

It is quite easy to make your own rolls. Use various chopped vegetables like carrots, cucumber or scallions, raw fish like sushi-grade salmon, tuna or yellow tail, pickles, tofu or fried shrimps.

Boil short grain rice and combine with rice vinegar, sugar and salt. Allow it to cool before making the rolls. Check out Alton Brown's recipe for cooking sushi rice.

Grab a few sheets of toasted nori (seaweed) and a bamboo sushi mat. Lay a sheet of nori, shiny side down on the mat, ensuring the mat's slates running crosswise in front of you. Lightly moisten your fingers with water and press evenly the sushi rice onto the nori. Leave at least 1 inch of uncovered nori at the end of edge. Place your favorite fillings and roll up the sushi tightly. To seal the edge of the nori, dab a bit of water at the edge before completing the roll.

With a sharp and wet knife, cut the roll into bite-size pieces. Serve with soy sauce, wasabi and gari. Enjoy!

Date: 8/21/2010

Source:

1. The Deluxe Food Lover's Companion

2. TheNibble.com's Types of Sushi & Sashimi