Shortcuts to Scrumptious Japanese Food
“Temaki-zushi”: Get Creative with Roll-Your-Own Sushi
Guideto Japan
Culture
If you’re looking for a no-hassle way to have a Japanese-style party, temaki-zushi—literally meaning “hand-rolled sushi”—could be the answer. The only cooking involved is preparing sushi rice, which is just fresh-cooked rice flavored here with sushi vinegar, regular vinegar, and salt. Although raw fish is commonly used, there are no hard-and-fast rules about what can or can’t go in the sushi; practically anything will work, from avocado to ground beef. Give your creativity free rein and mix and match different fillings as you enjoy the company of your favorite people.
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Ingredients (serves 4)
- Sashimi cuts of your choice (pictured below are red sea bream, boiled octopus, yellowtail, tuna, olive flounder, and scallops)
- Nori (dried seaweed sheets), as needed
- Green shiso, to taste
- Soy sauce, to taste
- Sushi rice:
- 500 g freshly cooked rice
- 3 tbsp sushi vinegar
- 1 tbsp plain vinegar (rice vinegar, if available)
- 1/4 tsp salt
Directions
- To make sushi rice, add the sushi vinegar, plain vinegar, and salt to the cooked rice and stir.
- Slice the sashimi cuts into thin slivers.
- Serve the rice in a large bowl, arrange the sashimi on a platter, and set on the table for everyone to share.
To eat, take a sheet of nori in your hand, place a small portion of rice on it, top with sashimi of your choice, and roll it all up. Dip in soy sauce before eating.
Cooking Tips
- There is more to the sushi universe than the all-famous nigiri variety, where sashimi slices rest atop bite-size mounds of hand-shaped rice. With temaki-zushi, you can casually enjoy this iconic Japanese food in the comfort of your own home. It’s particularly suited to home parties with a decent-sized group.
- Temaki-zushi is as simple to prepare as it is festive to behold. Assembling your own sushi roll adds fun and action to the meal. This is a dish that will equally delight children and adults.
- Sushi rice is traditionally made by adding seasonings to white rice, but these days ready-made sushi vinegar is sold in supermarkets. I added some plain vinegar here because I find store-bought sushi vinegar to be too sweet.
- Sashimi cuts may not be easy to come by in some areas, but if raw fish is sold at the seafood section of a local supermarket, try asking a store clerk whether it is suitable for raw consumption. If the answer is yes, you can have it cut into thin slices.
- Temaki-zushi need not be made with fish. Tamagoyaki—sweet or savory rolled omelets—are commonly used in Japan, while avocado is a popular sushi ingredient overseas. Get adventurous and use whatever you feel like using—your favorite vegetable, or even minced beef. As a rule of thumb, anything that goes with pasta will taste good in temaki-zushi.
- If you can’t find nori, you can use lettuce instead, like Korean lettuce wraps. Think outside the box, and have fun!
