Is vinegar necessary in sushi rice?

Question

I have the sugar and salt, but no vinegar. Also, I have no money. I realize you don't strictly need the sugar and salt, but will those ingredients without the vinegar change how sticky it is?

Thanks. :>

Answer 1

Yes, it's necessary, not only for the consistency of the rice but the taste too. Don't just use any kind of vinegar, use rice wine vinegar, and that's available in a lot of asian stores

Answer 2

I would probably recommend to leave it out if you don't have any rice vinegar available. Rice vinegar is very mild with a delicate taste that just gives the rice a hint of sweet/sour taste. As rice vinegar is so mild, it is hard to find a suitable substitute that won't overpower the flavour of the fish or other ingredients you are using with the sushi. If you really want to try, you could try adding a little sugar to white wine or cider vinegar for the closest taste. You may even need to dilute it down a bit. Just make sure not to use a malt or balsamic vinegar, or anything that has a particularly strong flavour.

Answer 3

You Do need rice vinegar as well as the salt and sugar. It is integral to the taste. You can actually tell which are the stores which are economising and don't use it - there is an obvious difference in the taste.

Don't use ordinary vinegar - you need to use rice vinegar - any rice vinegar will do. It doesn't need to be sushi rice vinegar, as it can be quite expensive. You can buy any cheap rice vinegar from Asian food stores.

It is actually the sushi rice which is sticky not the other ingredients. Make sure that you use sushi rice as long grain rice is drier and not prone to sticking together when trying to mould it

Answer 4

Yes. Though we think of "sushi" as the fish, rice and seaweed, in truth the term "sushi" is defined as "vinegared rice".

But unless you're cooking for a culinary class, or opeining a sushi restaurant, then you can live without it. There will be a change in the flavor (I would avoid the sugar, since you don't have the vinegar to balance it out), but it won't change the "stickiness" of the rice.

Answer 5

the vinegar that they use for sushi is different from Heinz vinegar. The vinegar makes it more shiny and not get mushed up even thoughits sticky. ingredients for sushi can be very expensive. some supermarkets sell prepared sushi, so ou could try those out so you don't have to buy all the ingredients.

Answer 6

it's not about the stickiness. it's about the flavor. and i don't think you salt in it. but yes you do need sugar and vinegar. but you can make it without it. if so, then don't put in anything in it like salt or sugar. and the stickiness is in the rice. make sure you don't buy chinese rice. because they are not sticky. look for the japanese rice.

Answer 7

yeah you need sushi rice vinegar. i would delay making sushi for the day and get the proper vinegar.
it's not just about the sticky. it's also about the flavor you get from it.

Answer 8

Or you can skip the sushi and eat sashimi. That's what I usually do. Slice up some tuna or salmon. Wasabi and shouyu on the side. A beer. And I'm fine.

Answer 9

Of course... Vinegar is one of basic materials in Shusi.

Answer 10

yeah ..and you need apple vinegar ...the taste will be better