A beginner’s guide to making sushi, including tips that will come in handy

Our newfound love for Japanese cuisine has led to the opening of several Japanese restaurants in almost every major city in India. It all started with sushi, the classic Japanese delight that captured her heart a few years ago. Agreed, maybe not the first time, but after a couple of tries, we finally fell in love with it. Fast forward to now, people are making different types of sushi in their kitchen! Have you also thought about trying sushi making, but don’t know how and where to start? You have come to the right place.

Prepare Sushi It’s surprisingly easier than you might have thought. You just have to gather the ingredients beforehand, and following the recipe should be easy for you. Traditionally, in Japan, sushi is made with raw fish filling but you can choose to make it with anything, from cooked fish to fried prawns. You can even make vegan sushi with avocado, cream cheese, and vegetables like cucumbers, carrots, and bell peppers. Once you have focused on the filling and prepared it, combine these ingredients to make sushi.

Read also: Watch: World Record for Largest Sushi Roll Created by Chef Blogger Duo

_{Image source: NAO by Bercos}

Basic ingredients required to make sushi:

bamboo sushi mat: This mat is essential for properly rolling and shaping sushi into a roll. You can now get it easily in supermarkets and online markets.

advice: If you can’t find a bamboo sushi mat, you can use whatever you think will help your rolling. Plastic sheeting, a stack of plastic wrap, and even a placemat can be used.

Nori sheets: These sheets of seaweed are essential for sticking the rice together, packing it together and adding their own flavor to the dish.

advice: If you don’t want to use nori sheets, you can simply roll and pack the rice together in plastic wrap, keep it for a while until it takes shape, and remove the wrap before serving.

vinegar: Rice vinegar is preferred. It can be easily found in stores.

sushi rice: While you can choose your own sushi rice, you can also use regular, medium-grain rice to make your own sushi.

sushi seasoning: If you can get it, that’s fine. But it’s really optional.

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Here are the basic steps for making maki sushi:

Please note: There are different types of sushi and the method of preparation varies slightly. This is a guide to making one of the most popular sushi – maki sushi.

• Boil rice and water with a pinch of salt for 15-20 minutes. For a cup of rice, take 1.5 cups of water. (Make 8-10 pieces of sushi). Make sure the rice absorbs all the water. Then let the rice cool down.
• Mix the vinegar with a pinch of sugar and pour over the cooled rice. Mix well. For a cup of rice, take 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
• Cut the nori leaves into 2 or 4 parts. Spread a thin layer of cooked rice. Top with your choice of filling, or sprinkle with sushi seasoning, or salt, black pepper, and other seasonings of your choice.
• Wet your fingers so the rice doesn’t stick, and roll the nori sheet to make a log.
• Then place the roll on a bamboo sheet and roll it tightly to form a nori sheet and its consistency. Open the bamboo paper and cut the sushi rolls into 1-inch pieces.
• Served with soy sauce, wasabi and gari (pickled ginger).

Pro tip: Keep rubbing some water on the nori sheet, especially the ends, until they stick together.

You can use these tips to make other types of sushi as well. For example, to make uramaki sushi, put the rice on the bamboo paper first, then place the nori sheet and stuff it on top.

Now enjoy your favorite sushi the way you like it by following these basic tips and steps.