The easiest to make is Maki, or the rolls you'd usually refer to as sushi, although this is innacurate. The word sushi itself means "vinegar rice" or something along those lines. Sashimi refers to the fish on its own, Nigiri is a log of rice topped with fish, and Maki are the cute rolls that we all known and love.
THE BASICS: you need....
- sushi rice [recipe to follow]
- Nori [seaweed sheets]
- fillings
- a bamboo mat is very helpful, and plastic wrap.
- a knife.
HOW TO MAKE SUSHI:
- 1. get sushi rice from the groceries. you can't use normal rice, it HAS to be sushi rice. find it in the asian section, or rice section.
- boil sushi rice according to direction. taste to make sure it's done, but don't overcook it; it'll turn to mush.
- . for each cup of cooked rice, add in 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon sesame oil. mix and cool, until you can handle it.
- lay out bamboo wrap, top with plastic wrap, Nori, and rice. [as in picture, above] add fillings in a strip at one end, and roll, tightly. don't worry if some of the stuff spills out the edges, you're going to cut it anyways. just snack on the unsightly bits. make sure you don't accidentally roll in the plastic wrap... gross.
- run a sharp knife under hot water, then cut into slices.
- serve! ginger and wasabi and soy sauce!
SUSHI FILLINGS:
Classic Salmon Roll. Sushi grade salmon by itself, or add avocado and cucumber for a bigger roll.
Tuna Roll: Sushi grade tuna, you can add green onion and some avocado.
Spicy Rolls: mix some mayonaisse with sriracha or asian garlic-chili paste [found at the groceries] and mix fish in. this is how you make spicy tuna, spicy salmon, etc.
California Roll: the classic. Imitation of real crab, cucumber, avocado.
Sushi Pizza: a rice cake, topped with fish and other sushi things.
OTHER ROLLS:
- Dynamite Roll: spicy mayo, tempura shrimp, avocado, cucumber, green onion
- Spider Roll: deep fried crab, spicy mayo, avocado, cucumber, green onion
- Safe Roll: baked fish filet, spicy mayo, avocado, green onion
- Veggie Roll: asparagus, cream cheese, avocado, cucumber
- Unagi Roll: BBQ squid, avocado, cucumber
- Pickled Roll: pickled ginger, pickled cucumber, green onion
- Sunshine Roll: green mango, avocado, cream cheese
- Calamari Roll: Squid, tempura flakes, spicy mayo, cucumber
- Rainbow Roll: california roll with assorted sashimi: red snapper, white snapper, tuna, salmon
- Green Dragon Roll: california roll with avocado on top
- Red Dragon Roll: california roll with salmon sashimi on top
- Shiitake Roll: shiitake mushroom, avocado, cucumber
- Firecracker Roll: scallop, spicy mayo, avocado
- Philadelphia Roll: cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers, green onions
- Hamachi Roll: Yellow-tail, cucumber, avocado
- Egg Salad Roll: egg, mayo, green onion
- Tako Roll: no, not tacos. it's octopus.
NOTE: if you're not willing to spend a ton of money on sushi-grade fish, here are alternative:
-deep fried shrimp
-fried or baked fish, such as haddock, halibut, or cod
-imitation crab is cheap
-vegetarian rolls
-bastardisation rolls, using the least-japanese things ever. [example, the texas roll is beef, cucumber, and spinach, and the holiday roll includes turkey, cream cheese, and cranberry sauce.
you can always keep it simple and make Kappa Maki [cucumber, and only that]
WORTHY ADDITION: fish eggs. sesame seeds. of course, like i said, ginger and wasabi and soy sauce are a must.
and for dessert..... candy sushi. because someone was fat enough to come up with this.
rice crispy squares, fruit roll-ups, and swedish fish.
