Sushi is a popular Japanese dish consisting of cooked vinegared rice, which is commonly topped with other ingredients like fish or other seafoods. The traditional form of sushi is fermented fish and rice, preserved with salt during the process.
In China, fish caught had to be preserved, so they were cleaned, filleted and then pressed between layers of salt for months. With time they figured that if they rolled the fish in rice that was soaked in vinegar the fish fermented faster. They used to throw the rice out and then eat the fish until drought and lack of food forced them to consume it all. Hence the traditional sushi was born.
After China Sushi became popular in Japan, which inturns creates various other types of sushi. The modern day Sushi was invented by “Hanaya Yohei” in the 17th century in Tokyo. Hanaya was an innovative chef who took his chances with sushi that had fish which was not fermented.
Sushi Ingredients: -
1. Sushi Rice – Sushi is made with white, short grained Japanese rice mixed with dressings of rice vinegar, salt and sugar.
2. Nori – It is nothing but the black seaweed wrappers, traditionally cultivated in the harbors of Japan. It is a type of edible algae which is scrapped from dock pilings rolled out in thin and edible sheets.
3. Toppings and fillings – These includes fish, seafood, vegetables and eggs. Important fishes used are Tuna, Sardines, Salmon, snapper, Mackerel, yellowtail, etc. Sea foods include Squid, Eel, Clam, Octopus, and Shrimp. Vegetables include Avocado, Cucumber, asparagus, yam, gourd, sweet corn. Eggs and tofu are also commonly used as fillings.
Sushi Types: -
There are so many types of sushi derived from the original Sushi. The sushi rice is common to all sushi types, it is the type of filling, condiments, topping added and how it is presented that makes one Sushi different from the other.
Most important types are: -
Nigirizushi- Makizushi
- Oshizushi
- Inarizushi
- Chirashizushi
- Western style sushi
Nigirizushi - Nigirizushi literally means “Hand formed sushi”. It consists of a small hand moulded sushi rice topped with various fish such as Salmon, Tuna, Shrimp, Eel, Squid, Octopus. In this sushi sometimes fried eggs is also used.
Makizushi - It is a type of rolled sushi in cylindrical piece, formed with the help of a bamboo mat. It can be filled with fish, eggs or vegetables.
Oshizushi – It is the specialty of Osaka which is popular for pressed sushi. A block sized wooden mould used to shape and press the toppings and fillings.
Inarizushi – This is a regional varietal sushi where sushi rice and fillings are filled into a bag made out of tofu or omlette. It is sweeter than the normal sushi.
Chirashizushi - This is a simple sushi preparation in which seafood, mushroom and vegetables are spread over sushi rice.
Western-style sushi - The increasing popularity of sushi in Europe and America led to invent the variety to sushi different from Japan. Western style sushi preparation consists of simple preparation where sea foods, mushrooms and vegetables are spread over the sushi rice. Such type of sushi is made tease the western palate.
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In Bangalore, there is a restaurant named "HARIMA", (Address: 4th Floor, Devatha Plaza, Residency Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560025) which serves authentic sushi. Harima also serves other traditional Japanese dishes which will relish your taste bud.
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(Info courtesy to Wikipedia and ifood.tv)
