Sushilicious: Types of Sushi

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Types of Sushi - Nigiri Sushi

(nigirizushi, 握り寿司)

A sushi made by using one's palms to gently press the rice to create an oval shape. It is usually wrapped in a thin strip of seaweed. Then, it is topped with different types of seaweed, such as, tuna, unagi (freshwater eel), or squid. It can also be topped with vegetables.

Video: How to Make Nigiri Sushi

The Origin of Sushi

Sushi is a Japanese dish that contains cooked rice that is usually topped with fish, seafood, made into rolls. The word Sushi literally means “it’s sour”. Sushi was first used in South East Asia to preserve the fish inside the rice, and the only thing that people would eat would be the fish.

The contemporary sushi we now know internationally, was invented by Hanaya Yohei. Sushi is molded into rolls using wooden molds that are usually made from bamboo wood. This occurred during the early 1800’s. Hanaya tried to make sushi so that people on the road could have it quickly and with fresh fish caught from the Tokyo Bay in Japan. Above all, this type of sushi was created during the Shogun period in Japan. Now around the world Sushi has come across different cultures and it has become a world sensation. There are also many different types of sushi.