I love sushi! We didn't have a sushi restaurant here where I live so I learned how to make some myself. We do have a sushi restaurant now but I am not impressed and I'll still rather make my own. :) I have many friends who love sushi too and they are eager to learn how to make it at home. So as I have done these many many times I have now also started to teach my friends. Last night I once again had "an apprentice" and we made a big patch of absolutely delicious makis,futomakis gunkanmakis and nigiris.
I have a great recipe for the rice and it comes out great every time as long as you follow it to the letter (no shortcuts, tried that once, didn't work...). The recipe is from a book Easy Sushi by Emil Kazuko. I don't use kombu but you can add a piece of kombu to the water.
Sumeshi (sushi rice)
4 dl sushi rice
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2½ tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
Rinse the rice well in cold water, as long as the water is clear. Then soak the rice in cold water for 10-15 minutes. Rinse. Put rice and 5 dl water to a heavy based pan, put the lid on. Boil 5 minutes in medium, then lower the temperature and simmer 10 minutes. Do not open the lid at any point and do not stir the rice. Take off the stove and let it sit 10-15 minutes (lid still on).
In a small bowl combine the rice wine vinegar, sugar and salt. Stir until sugar has dissolved.
Take a large plate or a tray, pour the rice on it. Add about 2/3 of the rice wine vinegar. Fold the rice, do not stir, and use a fan to cool it at the same time. Taste and add the rest of the rice wine vinegar if needed. When the rice is about room temperature it's ready to use.
We also had salmon, tuna, salmon roe, avocado, carrot, cucumber and mayonnaise. And of course you also need nori, wasabi and soysauce. The small makis didn't make it into the photo, they were not pretty but they tasted amazing. :) Try a combination of salmon roe and avocado. That makes a divine maki roll!
You can find loads of good sushi tutorials, recipes and ideas online.
Drink: We had a mildly sparkling organic white wine (vino frizzante) with the sushi. It went well with the food.
Il Sole Gardanella 2011, Italy
Go ahead and try makings sushi yourself. It's not too difficult. :)
