If you happen to visit a Japanese restaurant or a restaurant that serves fresh Japanese seafood, you will come across two options: Sushi and Sashimi.
Both the terms sound very similar and even though many people say that sashimi is a type of sushi, but the fact is both are quite different.
The only thing similar about both is their origin, which is Japanese.
In general, Sushi and Sashimi are very delicious; however, these seafoods have some major differences and we are going to talk about the same in this article.
As a sushi enthusiast, I believe that the more you know about the difference between sushi and sashimi the more educate you will be when ordering seafood next time.
So, let’s know the difference between Sushi and Sashimi.
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Difference Between Sushi & Sashimi
The main difference between sushi and sashimi is that sashimi is thinly sliced raw meat and is served without rice. This meat is a type of salmon or tuna but mackerel, yellowtail, shrimp, scallops, clams and octopus are also used in sashimi. Another name for sashimi you may find on the restaurant menu is pierced fish.
When it comes to sushi, a common misconception is that it is also raw fish. But the fact is that it is actually vinegar rice mixed with different ingredients like cooked or raw fish. Most of the sushi is stapled with the traditional Wile raw fish but it is not always necessary. Also, because sushi is served with vinegar rice, it means “it is sour”.
The next time you are served with sushi and sashimi, you can easily tell the difference between the two because sushi is served with vinegar rice and sashimi without it.
A type of sushi that looks similar to sashimi is Nigiri, but it is not the same.
Nutrition Value
The number of calories and carbs including fats, fiber and protein in sashimi or sushi depends on the fish or meat used in it along with other ingredients. Usually, sushi has more calories and carbs as it is served with rice and other ingredients; whereas, sashimi isn’t. However, one thing common among both the dishes is that they tend to be higher in omega-3 fatty acids and it has several health benefits.
Types Of Meat Used
Sashimi is mostly served with tuna and salmon but other kinds of meat and fish are also used. These include sea bream, mackerel, yellowtail, shellfish and mollusks, such as squid, octopus, scallops and clams. You may also find salmon eggs and sea urchins served with sashimi. However, due to the risk of foodborne illness, raw red meat like horse is less frequently consumed, but it is still served in some restaurants.
In case of sushi, vinegar rice is served with it and the rolls are wrapped in dried sheets of seaweed, rice paper and soybean skin. The most common types of sushi include nigiri, gunkan and temaki. If you are in Japan, you will be served sushi with rice and other ingredients wrapped inside the dried seaweed; outside of Japan, sushi rills are served with rice on the outside and other ingredients inside.
Ordering Sushi And Sashimi
Next time when you are at a Japanese restaurant, you may want to order both and decide which one you prefer more. Both are delicious and mouthwatering and make up for a great snack or dinner.
When it comes to safety standards, you will find many stores that sell sashimi or sushi grade fish but the labels on them are just marketing buzzwords as FDA has no clear guidelines on what fish is considered sashimi or sushi grade.
Moreover, when you eat raw fish, whether in sashimi or sushi, there is always some containment of mercury and other heavy metals. We advise you not to consume these foods in large quantity. If you are a pregnant woman, avoid both.
We hope we covered everything that you need to know the difference between sushi and sashimi. Let us know your thoughts on which one you prefer more.