AsianIdeas

In Southeast Asia, the traditional form of sushi is fermented fish and rice, which is preserved with salt. Sushi means "it’s sour". The vital seasoning used is soy sauce and Wasabi. Soy sauce is utilized as a dipping sauce. While Wasabi is either out in Nigiri-zushi or is mixed with soy sauce, for dipping. Pickled ginger is the most crucial side ingredient in Sushi. It is usually served with sushi and is called Gari. Gari should be eaten in between bites of sushi, so as to refresh your mouth for each new taste.

The origin of Sushi dates back to the 7th century in China. As a method of preserving fish, Chinese people made Sushi but without the modern refrigerators; they used a natural process of fermentation. To make Sushi, they used only rice and salt.

There are two types of sushi sets. One is for dining, and the other is for preparing or making sushi.

A sushi set intended for dining, usually had two dishes, two bowls and two pairs of chopsticks. The dishes usually made of ceramic though there can be some wooden and plastic ones as well. Most of the dishes are square shaped with rounded edges, with a slight raise at the edges to prevent any sauce or liquid spillover.

The other type of sushi set used for the making sushi, has a different set of utensils. A basic sushi set will have a rolling mat and a rice paddle and may include cooking chopsticks, special sushi knives and a tub for making rice and an omelet pan. The rolling mat, makisu is made of bamboo and tied together with string. The mat is used in shaping makizushi rolls and draining some wet foods like Tofu.

The rice paddle, shamoji is an almost flat paddle used to make and serve rice. Usually it is made of wood or plastic. Good plastic paddles have non stick surfaces so that rice does not stick to it. Cooking chopsticks may be included in a bigger Sushi set. These are longer then the dining chopsticks and usually made of wood to have a better grip and to avoid warping at high temperatures.

The rice tub, hangiri is used for making rice. Most sushi sets don’t have this, only the costly ones may have. The hangiri is made of cypress wood and bound with copper. The rice is cooked in a different utensil and then put in the hangiri, where salt, sugar and vinegar are added to the rice. This gives it a distinct flavor. The rice is left to cool.

Sushi is immensely popular especially in this health conscious and fitness era. Sushi is low fat, has many nutrients and is easy to make. For example, a serving of Sushi comprises of 8 to 1o pieces which is around 300-400 calories. Sushi is high in protein because of the fish and a great source of Omega 3 fatty acid. Vegetables give you vitamins and Seaweed is rich in Iodine. Rice gives you complex carbohydrates.

If you never tried sushi, you should, you will be pleasantly surprised at how delicious it is; it has a nice taste that makes you want to have more.