Can sushi be cooked at home?

Question

We have no Japanese restaurants here. I really want to cook some sushi for my family. Is it easy to cook? Or should I give up the idea?

Answer 1

Forgive the ignorance of all those who insist that sushi is always raw and never cooked.

In Japan much of the sushi are cooked bits of meat, fish, or vegetables wrapped in rice.

Here is definition of SUSHI:



NOUN:

Cold cooked rice dressed with vinegar that is shaped into bite-sized pieces and topped with raw or cooked fish, or formed into a roll with fish, egg, or vegetables and wrapped in seaweed.

YES -- you can make it at home.

Here is a link for you.

Answer 2

Some sushi is seared (placed on high heat for a short period of time to seal in juices, this is different from everyday cooking). By in large though, sushi is made with RAW fish/meat. If you are really interested in sushi, try making a California roll. It's like normal fish sushi but it typically uses avacado and cucumber slices instead of meat. There is also a roll you can make with egg called tamago.

Sushi is a complicated item to make not only because it deals with raw meat that must be handled in an exact way so as not to cause illnesses. But It is also considered an art form in Japan and the handling of the seaweed/Nori wrappers and the cooking of the rice can be complicated for firsttimers.

A slightly easier Japanese dish is Tempura. It is deep fried, batter dipped seafood, chicken and vegetables skewered on a stick like ka-bobs.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Are you seasoning your rice properly? Sushi rice should be seasoned with a little bit of rice vinegar and some mirin (a sweet non-alcoholic rice cooking-wine). You can buy so-called "seasoned" rice vinegar, which is basically all the seasoning you need to season sushi rice, in one bottle. You need to spread out the hot rice on a tray to cool, and while it's still warm, you sprinkle it with some of the sushi seasoning liquid. You want the rice to cool down rather quickly, without putting in the fridge. Most good sushi chefs will fan the sushi rice to help it to cool. Also, it's very hard to find sushi-grade fish in supermarkets. Sushi restaurants have special suppliers that bring in the super-fresh fish daily. The sushi chefs are trained to only use the best parts of the fish, and to slice the fillets in just such a way as to make the fish tender enough to eat raw. Without the proper training, this technique is very tricky. The sushi chefs make it look so easy, but it's not.

Answer 4

My husband and I love sushi as well, but don't like the prices at our ritzy restaurant. We make it all the time. There is a bit of work to it though.

First, you need to get good ingredients. Sushi rice is different than other kinds, so you need to look for it in your grocers ethnic section or someplace like World Market. It is very short grain, sticky, and somewhat "sweet." You will also need sugar and RICE WINE vinegar for it. Do not use regular! This can also be found in the ethnic section.

Contrary to previous answers, sushi does not refer to it's "rawness"... It is the rice. There are also different forms of sushi... maki-sushi (which is the standard rolled kind) and nigiri (which is usually a rectangular hunk of rice w/ the fish on top).

To make maki sushi, you'll need nori as well --- the toasted seaweed sheets. You'll also need a sharp non-serrated knife. One or two sushi mats will help with the rolling also. Other accompaniments include pickled ginger in a brine and wasabi paste (the hot sticky green stuff.) I've only been able to find those at my local World Market. The wasabi comes in a powder that you mix w/ water.

There is a good recipe for the rice and for California rolls from Alton Brown's Good Eats on Food Network. (And it looks like it will be reshowing in December) We love it. The only thing I do different for it is not to cut the nori in half. I can never make everything fit! So, our sushi is a bit bigger than "standard." Still tastes great!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_ea/episode/0,1976,FOOD_9956_38666,00.html

Doing the nigiri sushi is really simple... You see this type used w/ cooked shrimp a lot. Just form little "blocks" of rice, put a dab of wasabi on it and cover with desired fish. Wasabi is potent though, and a little goes a long way!

The most common fish in sushi include tuna, salmon, cooked crab and shrimp. If you think your family may be squeamish about raw fish, you can used the cooked options or some smoked salmon. If you are using raw tuna and salmon, be sure that it is fresh. You can get some recommendations from your fish counter.

You can find countless combinations in recipes online. Just search for "easy sushi recipes" for example.

Be sure not to use raw fresh-water fish. These have a better chance of having parasites. (That's why you notice most sushi is ocean fish). Most of all, have fun! Don't worry if your rolls aren't magazine-cover perfect. It all tastes good in the end. Good luck!

Answer 5

Well, you can make sushi at home. Just get all the ingredients and the equipment and you're ready to go. Don't give up on the idea at all! Get a book or look it up on the Net. It's fun to do, if you have children, they can help you and it's great to eat! Happy cooking!

Answer 6

First off, you don't really "cook" sushi. It can be done at home, but the main problem is finidng fresh fish. The best sushi places around here that I know of import fresh fish in bulk. If you have a good place to buy fish around though then go for it.

Answer 7

Well, like veryone said u dont really cook sushi! but here's a simple recipe that I found not only easy too make but a huge hit at a Bridal shower I just attended Good Luck!
2/3 cup uncooked short-grain white rice
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 sheets nori seaweed sheets
1/2 cucumber, peeled, cut into small strips
2 tablespoons pickled ginger
1 avocado
1/2 pound imitation crabmeat, flaked
DIRECTIONS
In a medium saucepan, bring 1 1/3 cups water to a boil. Add rice, and stir. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. In a small bowl, mix the rice vinegar, sugar ,and salt. Blend the mixture into the rice.
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). On a medium baking sheet, heat nori in the preheated oven 1 to 2 minutes, until warm.
Center one sheet nori on a bamboo sushi mat. Wet your hands. Using your hands, spread a thin layer of rice on the sheet of nori, and press into a thin layer. Arrange 1/4 of the cucumber, ginger, avocado, and imitation crabmeat in a line down the center of the rice. Lift the end of the mat, and gently roll it over the ingredients, pressing gently. Roll it forward to make a complete roll. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
Cut each roll into 4 to 6 slices using a wet, sharp knife.

Answer 8

if i was you and your just starting out cooking sushi is not the type of food you should do as it is raw fresh fish and you should be able to tell the difference in good to bad fish ......why dont you look up some oriental meals and cook a few different one that seem easy and give them a little oriental buffet.....the idea was really great but you want it to be a good first time....there are a lot of easy oriental meals and find some ideas on setting up a little buffet and garnishing make there evening enjoyable......good luck

Answer 9

No, it is not really that difficult..
I have made good sushi several times at home..
You need to get some special sticky / short grain / sweet / sushi rice...
You should be able to find some good home DIY sushi recipies with instructions on the internet ...
You will also probably want to get some Wasabi / Hot Mustard....

Answer 10

NO Sushi is not cooked. You can prepare it at home though. You just have to make sure you handle the raw fish carefully.