A Japanese culinary art form, sushi now rules the roost when it comes to experiencing an international flavor. So what is sushi? Sushi is a Japanese term that refers to rice, where
su and
shi (from the Japanese word
meshi) means vinegar and rice, respectively. Hence, contrary to the belief that sushi is raw fish slices, sushi is cooked vinegar rice topped with an array of ingredients like raw fish, spices, vegetables, tofu, etc and to make the dining experience more interesting and fuss free, sushi is served rolled inside or around pressed layers of seaweed sheets known as
nori. There are various types of sushi, where the vinegared rice is the same, but paired with different toppings, spices and condiments, and stuffing. Although the idea of preparing a roll seems easy, a sushi roll goes beyond that, it is a culinary art form, that needs to be perfected with practice. But don't let that daunt you, here in this article one can find tips on how to roll sushi correctly, and recipes for beginners as well as for those who want to experiment with their sushi making knowledge.
How to Roll Sushi
Place a nori, seaweed sheet on a rolling mat and spread a layer of cooked sushi rice. Spread the rice evenly, leaving half an inch from all the edges. Demarcate the rice equally by smearing a small amount of wasabi in a line across the middle of the rice. This is optional. Along the stretch of the wasabi, arrange small portions of the fillings. Very gently, but firmly without spilling any rice, roll up the sushi mat tightly to form a cylindrical shaped roll. Remove the mat from around the roll and place it on a cutting board. Moisten a sharp knife with some water and cut sushi roll into 1½ inch rounds. The sushi is ready to be served.
Tasty Sushi Recipes
Recipe 1
Ingredients:
- Uncooked short-grain white rice, 1 cup
- Flaked salmon, ½ pound
- Rice vinegar, 4 tbsp
- White sugar, 3 tbsp
- Nori seaweed, 4 roasted sheets
- Pickled ginger, 2 tbsp
- Cut into thin strips, cucumber, ¾
- Avocado, 1
- Salt, to taste
In a saucepan, boil 2 cups of water and add rice. Stir. Cover and simmer until almost cooked. Mix together the vinegar, sugar and salt, and blend it in the rice. Set aside. Dampen your hands and spread a thin layer of rice on a nori sheet placed on a bamboo sushi mat. Arrange all fillings in a line down the center of the rice. Roll the mat, pressing gently. Cut into 1½ inch rounds with a wet sharp knife. Serve immediately.
Recipe 2
Ingredients:
- Japanese sushi rice, 1 cup
- Rice wine vinegar, 3 tbsp
- Nori seaweed, 3 roasted sheets
- Water, 1 cup
- Pitted and sliced avocado, ½
- Cut into long strips, smoked salmon, 4 ounces
- Wasabi paste, 2 tbsp
Soak rice for a couple of hours and cook it. As soon as the rice is cooked, mix in rice vinegar. Set rice aside to cool it. Place a sheet of nori seaweed on bamboo mat and spread rice on it. Press the rice down. Draw a line in the center with the wasabi paste and arrange filling along the line. Roll bamboo mat along with the sheet, and press down lightly before removing the mat. Cut 1½ inch rounds with a wet sharp knife, repeat for other rolls and serve.
Get imaginative with the fillings and make your own recipes. Enjoy the fine art of Oriental cooking and dining!
