Making sushi yourself is easy and also successful at home. With our tips and recipes, the preparation of small rice rolls with algae, vegetables and fish will also work for you. Here you will find all the important tips, information and recipes for the Japanese specialty.
What is Sushi?
Sushi is probably the most famous Japanese dish. The small rolls or balls are made from mildly acidified rice, raw or cooked fish and various vegetables as well as Nori algae leaves. And Sushi can also be made at home.
In our country the varieties “Maki Sushi” and “Nigiri Sushi” are best known, they come from the “Edo-mae-zushi”, which has its origin and a long tradition in Tokyo.
Make your own Sushi: this is how it works
Make Sushi yourself
With the right sushi ingredients and the right tools, you can easily enjoy homemade sushi at home. In addition to the prepared sushi rice, you will also need various fillings.
Vegetables and fish should be cut as thinly as possible with a sharp sushi knife, so that they can be easily placed in the rice rolls. To make maki sushi or California rolls you also need a bamboo mat (makisu). It is available in Asian grocery stores.
Tip: Put a layer of cling film between the rice and the bamboo mat so that no rice sticks to the mat.
Cut the Norialge in half or leave it whole and place it on the bamboo mat with the shiny side down.
Spread the rice about 1 cm high on the algae leaf, leave 2 cm free at the upper edge and 1 cm free at the other edges.
Tip: Put some vinegar water on your hands so that the rice sticks less.
Now you can fill the roll: Place your filling crosswise in the lower third, for example strips of salmon or cucumber. If you like, you can also spread some Wasabi on the rice. Caution: It is very hot!
Using light pressure, roll the nori leaf around the filling using the bamboo mat. Press the roll again and cut into even pieces with a large, very sharp knife. To make the pieces the same size, first cut the roll in half, place the two halves next to each other and cut them in half again. Continue until you have cut the roll into eight small or four larger sushi pieces.
Tip: Moisten the knife slightly so that the rolls can be cut more easily. Arrange the sushi on a platter or board and serve.
Making California Rolls yourself
California Rolls are also among the Maki rolls, but differ in their rolling technology:
The rice is spread on the bamboo mat, the algae leaf is placed on top and the filling is then placed on top. Very popular fillings are avocado, cucumber, surimi or salmon. They are spread in the middle and seasoned with wasabi to taste.
Then roll up the roll with the bamboo mat. Now the rice is outside and can still be rolled in sesame or fish roe using a sushi roller. They are then also cut into even pieces.
Make Nigiri yourself
For the preparation of Nigiri Sushi you need Sushi rice, fish and Wasabi.
Simply form small, elongated oval balls out of the rice with moistened hands.
Depending on your taste, place a pinch of Wasabi on the middle of the rice ball, place the fish on top and press down.
Tip: When making sushi yourself, be sure to pay attention to hygiene: clean working is very important with raw fish. Work surfaces and chopping boards must be absolutely clean and hot washed after preparation. The knives should also be cleaned after each work step.
Preparing sushi rice
Put the rice in a bowl.
Cover with cold water and wash thoroughly. Drain the water and repeat until the water remains clear. Drain the rice in a sieve, place in a pot with water and soak for 30 minutes.
Bring the rice to the boil with the lid half open at medium heat and cook for 4 minutes. Cover and cook for 15 minutes at a low heat.
Remove from heat and let simmer for 18 minutes.
Put the rice in a wooden or porcelain bowl. Using a spoon, carefully mix in the vinegar bit by bit. Process the rice while it is still warm.
Remember you can also use a sushi rice cooker for cooking the rice.
Here is a selection of my favorite sushi recipes
Base recipe
Sushi Rice Recipe
Every sushi begins with rice, so what’s more obvious than first learning how to make sushi rice?
Advanced recipes
Tuna, Mussels, Avocado & Masago Inside-Out Roll
This is by far my favorite recipe . Definitely try it, with the ingredients you can also vary if you like, for example, no clams.
Spicy-Tuna rolls
Spicy-Tuna should be one of the better-known sushi recipes. Here is a simple recipe to make this variant.
Sweet Sushi
Do I have to say more than “sweet sushi”? Maybe with Nutella!
The plum blossom
roll The name of this roll is derived from the look. By an outer layer of tuna this role looks very extravagant in the end.
The Lemon Sushi
This recipe is a bit more fruity, and of course delicious.
Tempura rolls
Tempura are the delicious, deep-fried rolls. With this recipe, you can turn every roll and ingredient into tempura sushi.
Unagi (eel), salmon and avocado roll
A super savory, spicy roll with teriyaki sauce.
Sushi for men – with bacon!
A roll of absolute sushi muffle luring out from behind the stove. Who could resist Bacon?