To rice or not to rice? That is the question when it comes to choosing between two superstars of Japanese cuisine, sashimi and sushi.
If you prefer to go au natural, opt for fresh and tasty slivers of sashimi, which is commonly prepared using a variety of seafood, though various meats including beef, pork, chicken, and even horse are options if your stomach is up for the challenge. Whether fish, fowl, or four-footed, the featured protein is sliced thin and served raw with accompaniments such as soy sauce and wasabi used sparingly. A garnish of shredded daikon and shiso leaf might also make an appearance, but sashimi is undoubtedly a solo act.
When it comes to sushi, things get a bit more complicated. Think of it as a Fleetwood Mac situation: The name “sushi” actually refers to rice despite the fact that most people associate the dish with its most notable partner, raw fish—the Buckingham/Nicks, if you will (which leaves soy sauce and wasabi as its Christine McVie, to round out the analogy).
Half Baked Harvest
The history of sushi dates back centuries and is rooted in necessity with fermented rice used as a means to preserve fish. Today, sushi is most often served in the style of maki and nigiri. The latter begins with thoroughly washed white rice that is cooked and then delicately seasoned with vinegar (a nod to its fermented origins). Once cooled to room temperature, the rice, which should have a slightly sticky consistency, is formed into a palm-sized ball and often spiked with a dab of wasabi. Next comes the topping—primarily a slice of raw seafood, though cooked items such as eel, shrimp, and egg are also used, not to mention assorted vegetables and meats—again, it’s the rice that’s the constant. A gentle dip in soy sauce (protein-side down) provides the finishing touch.
Rivaling nigiri in popularity is maki which consists of fish and other assorted ingredients layered on top of sushi rice and then rolled inside a sheet of toasted seaweed. Maki can either be served whole as a hand roll or cut into bite-sized pieces. Variations range from a classic tuna roll to more modern, American-born creations such as the crab, avocado, and cucumber-stuffed California roll—not to mention the mega-sized Frankenstein creations that are found at numerous stateside Japanese restaurants.
But not all.
Shuttestock
As free-wheeling half-priced sushi joints continue to rise in popularity, so to do the strictly traditionalist, budget-busting temples of seasoned sushi masters who hand-polish each individual grain rice, source the finest ingredients from around the world, and absolutely, positively will not serve you a spicy tuna roll no matter how nicely you ask. That’s the beauty of sushi and sashimi: Whether you’re hungry for a cheap, mayo-laden gut bomb or a several hundred dollar omakase (chef’s choice) meal where each bite is pure, pristine perfection, your options are seemingly endless.
Related Video: How to Make Sushi Pizza
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