This menu is Japanese food that main ingredients is rice with fresh meat or cooked vegetable. In Japanese is 寿司 (Zushi or know as “Sushi”). Today I made 巻寿司 (Makizushi) and 握り寿司 (Nigirizushi). Homemade Sushi that you can make at home for special day or even for date with your loved one.
What is Sushi? (寿司)
Now, let’s get to know what is Sushi (寿司). The correct term is Zushi which means vinegared rice, usually seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar and salt. The word Zushi cames from Zu (酢 vinagar) and Meshi (飯 rice) in Japanese. Sushi comes in many forms and varities.
What is Maki? (巻)
Maki (巻) means roll in Japanese. Sushi rice and ingredients (fish and vegetables or meats) wrapped with Nori seaweed.
What is Nigiri? (握り)
Nigiri is a type of Sushi. The correct term is Nigiri Zushi (握り寿司). Ingredients (Neta or ネタ) on top of small Sushi rice. Nigiri means to squeeze or to grab in Japanese, referring to a movement of a chef that makes to form Neta and Shari (射利) together. Ingredients on top of the Sushi rice can be fish, meat or vegetable, which fish being the most widely served and consumed.
Serves for 3 to 4
Preparation for Sushi Rice
- 1 cup of Japanese Rice
- 1 Cup of Water
- 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons of Mizkan Sushi Seasoning
- 1/2 Teaspoon of Sugar or Mirin
- 1/4 Teaspoon of Salt
I use rice cooker to cook rice and it takes approximately 15-20 minutes to cook the rice. After rice cooked, put rice in the bowl and stir and let rice cool for about 3-5 minutes. Then add Sushi Seasoning, mirin and sprinkle salt, mix well.
Tip: I recommend to use Japanese rice for Sushi. Let rice soak in water for at least 30 minutes to get good texture.
Ingredients for Makizushi (巻寿司)
- 1/2 cup of Cooked Japanese Rice
- 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of Mizkan Sushi Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon of Rice Seasoning
- Sugar and Salt (Sprinkler)
- 1/2 lb Frozen Sushi Salmon (make sure you ask seller for sushi Salmon or other fish)
- 1 Roasted Seaweed (Sushi-Hane)
- Some Vegetable that you like such as carrot, cucumber, lettuce, and so on
- Sprinkler of Sesame Seed
Preparation for Makizushi
First thing you need to do cooked rice, after done, mixed cooked rice with Sushi seasoning. Put seaweed on big cutting board. Put rice for around 4-5 inches (depend on how small or big maki you like). Put Salmon and vegetable on a center of the rice. Then sprinkle of rice seasoning and sesame seed on. Then you start rolling from right side to left, make sure all cover with seaweed. Press down by hand for a bit to make sure the roll is tight. Use Japanese shape knife cut 1/2 inch per piece. Put on a plate and they ready to eat!
Ingredients for Nigirizushi (握り寿司)
- 1/2 cup of Cooked Japanese Rice
- 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of Mizkan Sushi Seasoning
- Sugar and Salt (Sprinkler)
- 1/2 pound of Frozen Sushi Salmon
Preparation Nigirizushi
Make a little roll with your finger make sure the size will fit a piece of salmon on top. Then you salmon on top and use finger press down to make fish stay on the rice. Then put on a plate and serve with pickle ginger and wasabi.
“I usually like to use soy sauce to dipping with the sushi.”
