Top 5 Tips on Making Sushi at Home

If you are a great fan of sushi and crave for this Japanese delicacy any time of the day, even in your dreams then trust us you are not alone. There are many who eat, sleep, and dream sushi but dining out at the finest sushi restaurants even once a week can be financially draining. Plus, if you have a dietary restriction such as sensitivity to gluten or you are strictly vegan, it can be difficult to find a restaurant that accommodates your needs. Even if they do, there can be a fair risk of contamination.

To satisfy your cravings and save your wallet too, we suggest that you learn to make sushi at home. You will just need a few basic ingredients to get started and trust me, it’s not as hard as you think. The ingredients can be sourced from any Asian grocery store and most of them have a good shelf life. The sushi rolls may not turn out restaurant-like on the first attempt, but you will love the fruits of your labor. Here are our top 5 tips to help you in this endeavor.

5 Tips on Making Sushi at Home 

1. Cook the Sushi Rice Perfectly 

Sushi rice is one of the most important ingredients that lends a body and texture to the dish so don’t ignore it. Always buy the shinmai variety (new crop) short-grain Japanese rice to get the perfect restaurant like flavor and taste. Avoid using medium or long-grain rice as they will not yield the same results. After you have cooked rice, let it cool down a bit before you season it with vinegar, sugar, and salt.

Photo by: James

2. Always Use Sushi-grade Fish 

When using raw fish for sushi, always buy sushi-grade fish that has been carefully handled from the point of catch to the point of sale. Always source fish from a trusted fishmonger and ask questions when in doubt. If you don’t plan on preparing sushi immediately, store the fish in a vacuum-sealed bag inside the freezer. Be very careful with handling, storing, and using raw fish as any bit of carelessness can lead to food-borne sickness.

Photo by: cottonbro on Pexels

3. Try Vegetarian or Cooked Sushi Options 

If you can’t find sushi-grade fish near you, there are many cooked sushi options to try from. For example, you can enjoy making California sushi roll, which is both delicious and easy to prepare at home. You will need imitation crab meat to use as fillings and they are easily available in any Asian grocery store. You may also make vegetarian sushi rolls using fresh fruits and vegetables such as seedless cucumber, avocado, asparagus, shitake mushrooms, and tofu.

Photo by: James

4. Try Sushi Making Kits and Tools 

If you are a sushi enthusiast and would love to enjoy making restaurant-like rolls at home then we suggest that you invest in a few essential tools to help you. A bamboo mat will help you give a perfect compact shape to your sushi rolls without the ingredients falling apart. A good sushi knife also comes handy to cut raw meat and vegetables with precision. You may also invest in some of the specially designed sushi roll kits and molds that can help you make a lot of sushi quickly for a kid’s party.

5. Measure the Ingredients Correctly! 

When cooking sushi at home, always use the right measurements depending on the number of people. A sushi roll can be cut into 6 to 8 bite-sized pieces and on average, a person can eat up to a maximum of three sushi rolls. So, cook rice and prepare the meat and vegetables accordingly or else you will end up with a lot of waste after dinner. Don’t forget to store the leftover raw fish immediately and if it has stayed outside for more than 2 hours then discard it as there will be a risk of food poisoning.

Conclusion 

Making sushi at home not only saves you from having to shell out a lot of money at fine dining restaurants, but it can also turn out to be a fun activity at home. Every member of the family can come together to prepare the fillings and do the rolling to make their own sushi rolls. If you are a beginner at sushi making, start with the simple and basic recipes and then move on to the more complex choices including various ingredients and inside-out style.

About the Author 

Today's guest post is from sushi blogger, James.

James is a sushi enthusiast and owner of a sushi blog called Easy Homemade Sushi. He has been to Japan several times and loves Japanese food and culture. He is also a passionate writer and likes to share his experiences and knowledge through his blog.

Kappa Zushi

Kappa Zushi or かっぱ寿司 in Japanese is a family chain of kaiten sushi restaurants in Japan. The chain is well known for offering delicious sushi at reasonable prices. The sushi passes your table via a conveyor belt and you can just take the sushi that you want to eat. You can also order your choice of sushi by using the touch screen computer at your table. The order is then delivered to your table via a plastic shinkansen (bullet train) that runs on a separate track. It is fun to do and watch the train arrive with your sushi.

The kaiten (conveyor belt) at Kappa Zushi

The Kappa Zushi Shinkansen (Bullet Train) with our order

The interior is very plain and simple with wood a common feature. You can either sit at a bench type table or at a counter.

Table at Kappa Zushi

Most of the sushi cost 105 yen for a plate of two. There is a large selection of sushi ranging from nigirizushi to makizushi. There is also salad, soup, fresh fruit, pack juice, cakes and desserts along with side menu items like karaage (fried chicken) and French fries.

Maguro Nigirizushi (tuna)

Salmon & Avocado Nigirizushi

Ebi Tempura Nigirizushi (prawn tempura)

Tuna Makizushi

Gyuushigure gunkan Makizushi (Japanese beef)

There are many condiments which can be found at your table and these include things like soy sauce, wasabi, plastic chopsticks, green tea powder, pickled ginger and small dishes for the soy sauce.

The green tea at Kappa Zushi is also very good and you can make your own for free at your table.

Japanese Green Tea

The final bill is based on the number and type of plates you have eaten. The plates come in different colours and shapes ranging in price from 100 yen to 500 yen. The bill is calculated by counting these plates. When you are done you just select the bill on the touch screen computer and one of the shop staff will come and work out your bill for you. The final price is recorded on a paper tab which you take to the register to pay as you leave. It is a very simple, quick and effective system.

Kappa Zushi can be very busy so if you arrive at peak times (12 – 2pm or 5:30 – 7:30pm) you might need to wait to be seated at a table.

If you are looking for a good affordable sushi restaurant in Japan then give Kappa Zushi a try.

The Rules of Sushi

Like most things in Japanese life there are precise codes and formalities involved with eating the national dish of sushi. Its preparation, presentation and consumption are subject to a surprising number of rules.

Here are some of the most important sushi etiquette

Preparing Sushi Rolls

Hoso-maki (Slender Roll)

This is a basic method for rolling up sushi. Hoso-maki or Slender roll is one of the easier rolls to start with. Once you master this, try some larger or more complicated rolls.

Makes 6