Sushi!

[eau_xplain 2]

Why do people keep saying sushi is only raw food or raw seafood? I don't think those people have even even seen a piece of sushi, much less tasted it....

"Contrary to popular belief, sushi does not mean raw seafood. Instead, the word refers to the vinegared rice that can (but need not) be paired with raw seafood.

The pressed seaweed paper used to hold sushi together is nori. The raw fish is called sashimi. Sashimi can be combined with vinegared rice (and sometimes a bit of nori) to form a type of sushi, or can be ordered on its own.

There are two main types of sushi: maki and nigiri. Maki is rolled sushi, with the ingredients laid upon a sheet of nori, rolled to form a log-like shape, then sliced into several round pieces. Sometimes ingredients are arranged upon the outside of the nori as well as within ("reverse sushi," this is called). Temaki is a form of maki better known as a "handroll." In temaki sushi, the ingredients are laid upon a sheet of nori which is shaped into a cone and handed to the diner.

Nigiri sushi features one main ingredient offered upon a formed finger of vinegared rice. If nori is used, it will be present only as a thin ribbon nominally securing the primary ingredient to its rice base.

Not all seafood used in sushi is served raw. Crab, shrimp, and octopus, for instance, are cooked before being incorporated into nigiri or maki. Eel is also served cooked, having been first grilled then marinated for days in a sweet sauce. And not all sushi is seafood-based: tamago, for instance, is a nigiri sushi made of sweet egg omelette."

Some types of sushi that do NOT involve raw seafood:

- The dynamite roll includes prawn tempura along with vegetables like radish sprouts, avocado or cucumber, as well as Japanese mayonnaise.

- The spider roll includes fried soft shell crab and other fillings such as cucumber, avocado, daikon sprouts or lettuce, roe, and spicy mayonnaise.

- A Philadelphia roll contains smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumber, and/or onion.

- A BC roll has grilled salmon with sweet sauce and cucumber.

- A crunchy roll is typically a California roll with shrimp tempura wrapped inside with the other ingredients, with the outside of the roll coated with fried tempura batter crumbs. It is often served with chili sauce on the side.

- The Godzilla Roll includes yellowtail, deep-fried in tempura, topped with teriyaki and a stripe of hot sauce, and then sprinkled with green onions.

And this doesn't even address veggie sushi...

Great info Sister Fracas!

I agree, a lot of people here cringe at the thought of sushi as they only associate it with raw fish. We've been trying to introduce some of our southern friends to the joys of eating sushi and we start them off with sushi that has either the smoked salmon or the barbecue eel. Yum!

Edited January 24, 2008 by eau_xplain

[mawilson 2,133]

Tuna roles have unacceptable amounts of mercury!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/dining/2...&ei=5087%0A

I don't care. I love tuna and a little mercury is not gonna kill me.

Japanese sushi lovers shrug at mercury

Sushi lovers said it would take more than a U.S. report to take them away from their

tuna rolls, and they argued a little mercury was probably harmless compared to the

fats and oils in something like a hamburger and fries.

"I would think tuna sushi is much better than fast food," said Ukiuchi. "I'd have to be

really unlucky if I die from eating tuna sushi."

[sereia 0]

one of my favorite foods! and now my husband also loves it too! i love almost all sushi except for uni. *barf*!!

[Converse34 1]

Yum

[In Gods Hands 0]

Delicious and I LOVE majority of the different types available, although I've never been to a sushi bar..just get easily at restaurants or small diners where I used to live (Hawaii). You pretty much can create your own too. This was just a part of the kinds of foods that we included with our meals. Mostly Maki (black seaweed wrap) sushi filled with asstd veggie & choice of flavored fish (i.e. flavored tuna)..and cone sushi (flavored rice stuffed into tofu "aburage" cone). Just had some cone sushi with deep fried fish tonight..Mmmmm I've enjoyed the different varieties from the plain "finger size" cucumber or daikon maki sushi (veggie in the mid of rice, wrapped with blk seaweed) -to- sushi with raw fish or sprinkled with tiny red caviar -to- elaborate "dragon shaped" ..which had seasoned fish, avocado, delicious sauce, veggies and other ingredients that made it so complete and scrumptious.

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Sasha and I really enjoy sushi together. Though she probably eats it more often than I do.

[Babsi 0]

I could eat sushi every day...if it wouldnt be so expansive!!

[mawilson 2,133]

Sasha and I really enjoy sushi together.

Sasha and I really enjoy sushi together.

Sasha and I really enjoy sushi together.

Sushi and I really enjoy Sasha together.

Sushi and I really enjoy Sasha together.

[Queen Jenn 0]

Sasha and I really enjoy sushi together.

Sasha and I really enjoy sushi together.

Sasha and I really enjoy sushi together.

Sushi and I really enjoy Sasha together.

Sushi and I really enjoy Sasha together.

I will eat the COOKED kinds, but I can't do the seaweed. I just can't. I've tried. But I do LOVE wasabi. And flying fish eggs are just the right amount of crunchy and salty.

[Marilyn. 340]

speaking of wasabi...

I went to a wedding last Saturday and for appetizers they had some sushi rolls and other kinds of seafood... well, my father-in-law thought the green stuff was avocado and put a big scoopful into his mouth ... he was coughing and sputtering and his face was turning red

Edited January 30, 2008 by MarilynP

[john & jean 37]

Ilove it, however have not been brave enough for balut... john&jean

[mawilson 2,133]

speaking of wasabi...

I went to a wedding last Saturday and for appetizers they had some sushi rolls and other kinds of seafood... well, my father-in-law thought the green stuff was avocado and put put a big scoopful into his mouth ... he was coughing and sputtering and his face was turning red

[Jenn! 918]

speaking of wasabi...

I went to a wedding last Saturday and for appetizers they had some sushi rolls and other kinds of seafood... well, my father-in-law thought the green stuff was avocado and put put a big scoopful into his mouth ... he was coughing and sputtering and his face was turning red

I did that once. It was indescribable. I don't think I even realized what was going on, but tears were pouring out of my eyes.

Also pretty embarrassing since it was an outing for the Japanese American student club.

[tom&tata 2]

It's like your nostril is exploding

[Marilyn. 340]

my father-in-law can handle some pretty spicy and or hot stuff so wasabi must really be hot...