Not only is this wonderous delicacy a pleasure to the palette, it's good for you. So those who would like to learn about sushi, its terms and what sushi really is, let's have some Sushi 101 right here!
Many people shudder at the thought of placing raw fish of any kind into their mouth. I thought the very same when I was first approached with the idea of trying sushi. But once I got my nerve up, and actually tried it, I became hooked like millions of other sushi lovers all over the world.
Most people confuse sushi with sashimi. Nowadays, sushi is commonly known as raw fish on a piece of rice.But actually sushi means vinegared rice that is rolled with vegetables, fish or pickles, then wrapped in nori, and sliced into rounds (norimaki). There are different sushi formats: nigiri (hand-shaped), futo (thick), maki (rolled), temaki (hand-rolled), chirashi (scattered on top of the rice)
Sashimi is actually raw, slivered fish, usually served with a dip made of shoyu and wasabi. The different styles of filleting are highly ritualised,different fish are cut in different ways. This is an aquired taste, but an incredible one, once you start to appreciate the many flavors.
Amazake is a sweetener or refreshing drink made from cooked sweet rice and koji starter that has fermented into a thick liquid. Also spelled amasake.
Wasabi is a light green Japanese root that has been dried, powdered, and made into a paste. It is traditionally used as a seasoning in sushi, sashimi, and in dipping sauces. Wasabi is very hot with a taste reminiscent of horseradish. They are not kidding about how hot this delicate root it.
Gyoza is a soft pastry case stuffed with spiced pork and herbs, broadly similar to ravioli, or some types of chinese dim sum. They are cooked by a combination of frying and steaming, and usually eaten as an accompaniment to ramen noodle dishes.
Kaiseki is a traditional Japanese meal consisting of a series of small,seasonal dishes, each resembling an appetizer both in size and beauty of presentation. Natural, hand-crafted serving-ware is carefully chosen to complement the season, the food, and the food's arrangement. Like the tea ceremony, kaiseki was initially a formal, highly refined, spiritual discipline marked by the Zen ideals of simplicity, harmony and restraint.
So there you have it, the basics of sushi! Learn, enjoy and be a bit daring! I think it's something you might find surprisingly good!
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