Japanese Sushi
There are various types of sushi and these can be classified according to their shapes, size and also whether they are rolled or perhaps filled as the inari sushi is. These are the basic forms and there have been many adaptions to these as the popularity of sushi grows and creativity and talents inspired by the ingredients develop.
Basic Sushi Types
Chiraizushi refers to the vinegared sushi rice and is delicious on its own or with one or two simple accompaniements .Amazingly 3 slices of fresh salmon will transform this simple bowl of rice into a delicious light meal.
Chirashizushi I often call this garden sushi, because when set out in a beautiful bento box it can resemble a beautiful garden of colour set upon a bed of vinegared rice as seen in the image above.
Nigirizushi what you are probably familiar with when you see a slice of raw fish moulded over a finger shaped vinegared rice mould,with a dot of wasabi paste on the rice.
Gunkanzushi similar to nigirizushi except it is wrapped with a raised nori strip to contain a delicacy such as tobiko roe, chopped crab, smoked octopus or uni otherwise known as sea urchin.
More Familiar Styles of Sushi
Makizushi is the familiar rolled sushi usually with outside wrapping of a nori sheet,
Futomaki is the larger nori wrapped sushi roll , usually with 3 complimentary fillings.
Hosomaki is the thin nori wrapped roll with only one filling
Futomaki is the larger nori wrapped sushi roll , usually with 3 complimentary fillings.
Hosomaki is the thin nori wrapped roll with only one filling
More Interesting Sushi Forms
Temaki is what we call the hand roll, like a small ice cream cone,
Uramaki the inside out roll said to be invented because westerners didn’t like to know they were eating seaweed and didn’t want to see it! So the nori is on the inside and the rice is on the outside usually with a sprinkling of toasted black or white sesame seeds.
Inari are stuffed formed bags filled with sushi rice and garnish . The bags are usually made from sheets of bean curd known as abura age which is perfect for this. Deep fried tofu may also be filled and is also popular.
Oshizushi is probably the easiest sushi for beginners, because you use the blocks for shaping and molding the rice.The rice is pressed into the block and layered with the other ingredients, then pressed down to compress , once removed from the block you have a rice mould of ready made Oshizushi ready to be cut into pieces.
Uramaki the inside out roll said to be invented because westerners didn’t like to know they were eating seaweed and didn’t want to see it! So the nori is on the inside and the rice is on the outside usually with a sprinkling of toasted black or white sesame seeds.
Inari are stuffed formed bags filled with sushi rice and garnish . The bags are usually made from sheets of bean curd known as abura age which is perfect for this. Deep fried tofu may also be filled and is also popular.
Oshizushi is probably the easiest sushi for beginners, because you use the blocks for shaping and molding the rice.The rice is pressed into the block and layered with the other ingredients, then pressed down to compress , once removed from the block you have a rice mould of ready made Oshizushi ready to be cut into pieces.
