There seem to be two main schools when it comes to this Japanese treat: Those who LOVE sushi and those who haven’t tried it.
“RAW FISH – YUCK!” is a common response from those in the second group…but once they get over the initial preconceived thoughts and reactions, most people truly like sushi. Just look around you – nearly every city in the country has at least one Asian restaurant that features sushi, not to mention many mall food courts!
If you’re new to this ever-growing food craze, there are a lot of misconceptions and mystery surrounding this delectable food. The following information should help demystify and hopefully get you “hooked” on sushi!
What is sushi?
Sushi is a very mild flavored food and is prepared with Japanese rice that is seasoned with vinegar and a little bit of salt and sugar. It may (or may not) contain raw fish.
A few different terms you may see on a sushi menu are nigiri, temaki, and norimaki. Nigiri is raw fish draped over rice. Norimaki are rolls made with raw or cooked fish and veggies while temaki are little cones (or “hand rolls”) of seaweed filled with the same fillings. Sashimi (slices of raw fish served without rice) is also usually available at sushi restaurants, despite not being “true” sushi.
Nothing too scary or yucky yet, right?
What fish is used for sushi?
Almost every type of fish may be used for sushi, but common favorites you’ll see in any sushi restaurant include salmon, tuna, shrimp and crab. There are also more exotic ingredients like eel, sea urchin, monkfish liver and octopus. Oh, and if you don’t recognize the names of the fish listed on the menu, ask your server. Often the names used in sushi restaurants are the Japanese names for the fish used. Iwasii, shirokiya and tai are what we know as sardines, whiting and snapper.
How do I eat sushi?
The good news is, you don’t have to use chopsticks! It is totally acceptable to use your hands to eat sushi (and save the chopsticks for your sashimi or other items). There are three primary accompaniments to sushi – wasabi, pickled ginger, and soy sauce. Use the soy sauce as you would salt to enhance the flavor of the fish, the wasabi to give it a spicy kick, and the ginger to clear away the flavor of the last roll.
DO: apply soy sauce only to the fish. Dip the fish in the small saucer of soy sauce or use a piece of pickled ginger to “paint” the fish. The soy sauce is NOT for the rice. When you dip the rice into the soy it absorbs way too much sauce and the taste is unbearably salty. Plus it may overwhelm the taste of the roll.
DON’T: mix the wasabi in the soy sauce. Just use tiny dabs of wasabi on each piece if you want some extra spice.
DO: eat a piece or two of ginger to cool your mouth if you used too much wasabi or when you’re ready to try a different roll. The ginger is a palate cleanser so that you can experience the full flavor of the next piece.
DON’T: place a piece of ginger on the sushi and eat it together.
Ok, it sounds pretty good (and easy) so far, now what should I try?
You can be as adventurous as you’d like when you’re eating sushi, so try what you feel comfortable with to start out. I started my sushi eating career with California rolls and unagi (cooked eel with a sweet teriyaki sauce) and expanded from there. Now I love spicy tuna, scallops, sweet shrimp (you get the shrimp heads on the side for a crispy snack), spider rolls, rainbow rolls, caterpillar rolls, and the list goes on!
In choosing what to eat, ask your server for recommendations or look for familiar taste or ingredient combinations you like. Rolls are the easiest way to get into sushi as there are several “standards” available most anywhere that incorporate cooked items like a Boston roll (poached or tempura shrimp, avocado, and cucumber) or California roll (imitation crab, avocado, and cucumber).
And if you are truly uncomfortable eating raw fish, look for the word “tempura” in the menu. This is a breaded fish or vegetable that is lightly battered and fried. It has a nice crunch and is delicious in any roll you choose.
Don’t let the sushi snobs or the thought of raw fish turn you off to this fine feast! Remember, you don’t have to order anything you don’t think you’ll like. You don’t have to eat with chopsticks — fingers and even a fork are just fine.
ENJOY your meal… and we’re betting you become a sushi lover for life!
