What is sushi?
This question is usually conveyed by those who are still unfamiliar with this Japanese food.
Basically, sushi is a small roll of rice which is served together with side dishes.
So, do you want to know more about this delicious food?
Check out our list of 11 popular types of sushi below.
1. Nigirizushi
It is one of the most popular types of sushi found in many Japanese restaurants.
Actually, this type of sushi is almost the same as sashimi. However, nigirizushi has oval-shaped rice with the side dish placed on top.
The term nigiri itself has the meaning of being pressed by hand. The definition refers to how to make this sushi.
So, after the rice is formed in an oval shape, the fish or shrimp slices are placed on top and pressed slightly.
To make this kind of sushi, you don’t always have to use raw dishes to accompany rice. You can also put an omelet or grilled eel on this sushi.
2. Makizushi
How to make sushi?
It surely depends on the type of sushi you want to make. For makizushi, for example, this type of sushi has side dishes such as cucumber, eel or salmon.
After the side dish was neatly arranged on top of the rice, it was rolled with rectangular bamboo webbing called makisu.
Makizushi also has been divided into several versions, namely hosomaki, futomaki, temakizushi, and uramaki.
Each version usually has a difference in terms of size or side dishes.
3. Chirashizushi
It is also one of the best types of sushi. Chirashizushi is a home cooking menu that is very popular in Japan.
Also, this type of sushi is often served at special ceremonies such as Hinamatsuri (Doll’s Festival) celebrated every March 3.
In Japanese, the term chirashizushi itself means messy sushi. From that meaning, you certainly know that it is not a sushi roll.
As for chirashizushi, rice is only placed in a bowl or small plate, and then side dishes such as seafood, mushrooms, and vegetables are arranged on top.
4. Sashimi
What’s the difference between sushi and sashimi?
Sushi is a piece of fish arranged with rice. Meanwhile, sashimi is just a piece of fish. Sashimi also only refers to pieces of fish or meat ingredients.
It may look simple, but there is a separate cutting technique in serving sashimi.
Even reportedly, it took years for a chef to master the sashimi cutting technique.
Nigiri vs sashimi, which ones have higher calories?
The calorie content in both, of course, depends on the type of fish used. One piece of nigiri sushi can contain 40 calories if it’s using clams or squid.
As for sashimi, the calories can be up to 50 when using salmon or yellowtail.
5. Uramaki
Uramaki is one of the top types of sushi rolls. This sushi rolling process in contrast to the sushi rolls in general.
As for an uramaki, nori or seaweed placed on the inside, while the rice on the outside.
This sushi is also an alternative for those who do not like nori. Moreover, some uramaki is not even given nori at all.
Then for its filling, it depends on taste, but generally, this sushi roll uses crabs, cucumbers, tuna, salmons, eels or eggs.
6. Temaki
Temaki is often called hand-rolled sushi. For its contents, it can be adjusted to your taste. However, this sushi usually uses fish eggs, vegetables, and seafood.
After all the filling is neatly arranged on top of the nori, sushi is just rolled by hand.
Temaki has the shape of an ice cream cone and served with wasabi or shoyu sauce. Further, the top of temaki is usually given pickles and squid.
7. Narezushi
Unlike common sushi rolls, narezushi is a fermented fish that is preserved with rice.
Also referred to as classical or most primitive sushi, it is said that narezushi has been known in Japan since the 8th century.
Although this type of sushi is quite popular in Japan, narezushi has a very strong smell.
For those of you who are just learning to eat sushi, the aroma of narezushi might be disturbing.
To make this sushi, the fish will be preserved with salt for at least several months. A
fter the fish dries, it is mixed with rice and then fermented again. This type of sushi has a fairly strong sour taste as well.
8. Temari sushi
This simple sushi is known for its cute decor. The shape of Temari is also unique. Unlike a sushi roll, it is shaped like a ball.
To make this sushi, rice is shaped into balls, and then its top is decorated with your favorite side dishes, such as salmon, shrimp, cucumber, fish eggs, and so on.
Apart from being a home dish, this kind of sushi is often served at special ceremonies as well.
9. Oshizushi
Oshizushi has a cute shape. Having a box shape, this type of sushi is made using a special mold.
When finish molded, the sushi is cut into bite-sized pieces to make it easier to eat.
Further, oshizushi is one of the Kansai specialties. There is also an oshizushi, which is wrapped in bamboo leaves and pressed for some time, between several hours to one night.
10. Sasazushi
In Japanese terms, sasa means bamboo leaves. This type of sushi is made by arranging rice with Japanese special toppings and herbs on bamboo leaves.
For the choice of toppings, this sushi usually uses warabi (a snack made from vegetable starch), bamboo shoots, and other ingredients such as Japanese radish soaked with miso, carrots or sakura denbu (a kind of soft shredded fish that has a sweet taste and beautiful color).
The origin of this sushi goes back to the provincial war era when bamboo leaves were used as a plate.
11. Inarizushi
Inarizushi is also one of the most popular sushi names in Japan. This sushi has a unique taste, which is sweet. Though, sushi is generally offered savory and salty flavors.
To make this sushi, rice is put in a bag made from tofu, which in Japanese is called Inari.
After reading our list about types of sushi, now you certainly have many references to this popular Japanese food.
However, is sushi healthy? It also depends on the choice of the topping or fills you prefer.
But in general, sushi is classified as healthy food. That is because sushi often uses toppings or fillings that are high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids from fish, shrimp, crabs, vegetables, and nori.
