How to make homemade sushi

I lived in Japan for 3 years. While there, I tried to take advantage of every cultural experience.

I spent a lot of time with my neighbours. The mother, Reiko, taught me how to cook a lot of Japanese food, including sushi!

People get confused by the word sushi. They think it means raw fish.

It doesn’t.
It means a vinegared rice.

When I make sushi, I NEVER use raw fish (except for canned tuna).

These recipes are with vegetables.

To make the sushi rice:

1. Start with Sticky rice. You cannot use regular long-grained rice. It must be sticky rice. This can be found in many local grocery stores. It will say “sticky rice” or “Japanese rice” or “sushi rice” on it.

Locally, I buy mine at the Superstore or Save Easy. It’s a PC brand that works wonderfully.

2. Cook the rice. I use a rice cooker, but you can cook it on a pot on the stove. You’ll have to work out how much to cook – depending on how much your family will eat. I usually plan on about 1Cup of cooked rice per person.

3. Make the vinegar solution. In a small bowl, mix 2:1 vinegar to white sugar. 2Tbsp vinegar to 1 Tbsp of white sugar. If you are making a large batch of rice, double this.

4. Heat the solution in the microwave for about 1minute until the sugar is dissolved.

5. When the rice is cooked, pour the solution over the cooked rice.

6. DO NOT STIR. Instead, take a wooden spoon (or a rice paddle if you have one) and cut the rice into strips both vertically and horizontally until it looks like a checker board.

7. While you are cutting the rice, fan it. Use a Japanese fan if you have one, or if not, a book is just fine! This cools the rice. Besides, it’s what Reiko taught me to do!

Fillings

Now you are ready to make your toppings. These are the ones that I typically make.

Sweet Egg
Scramble 3 eggs in a frying pan with 2Tbsp of sugar

Corn-Mayo
This is my favourite. Apparently, it is known as a “child’s sushi”. When you go to a revolving sushi restaurant in Japan, they rarely have it on the conveyor belt. So, you have to ask for it, and they smirk, as it is usually for children. But it is so good!

Cook frozen corn (I do so in the microwave).
Add mayonnaise to make a nice mixture.

Tuna
Open a can of tuna and add mayonnaise to it

Cucumber and avocado
Slice these into long julienne strips

How to Assemble Sushi

There are 2 ways to assemble sushi.

1. Te-Maki: this means hand rolled.
I put all the above mentioned ingredients in separate bowls on the table, and cut the norii (seaweed sheets) into squares.

These seaweed sheets are available locally at the Superstore, Sobeys, and Eos in Wolfville. You can also find them in Asian grocers.

When you are ready to eat, put a square of norii (seaweed) in your hand. Scoop some rice on top, add some ingredients, and then roll and pop it into your mouth!

This is the easiest way to make sushi, as everyone gets the fillings they want. My boys love this! The norii is often an acquired taste, so some people make sushi on their plate without using the seaweed.

2. Rolling Sushi
Place a full sheet of seaweed on a sushi rolling mat. These are available locally at Eos and Absolutely Fabulous Bed Bath & Linen. Otherwise, try your local grocer or Asian market.

Cover the sushi rolling mat in saran wrap. This makes for much easier cleaning!

Cover the seaweed with rice, leaving 1” from the top.

Put your toppings along the bottom edge of the seaweed.

Using the mat, roll and tuck the sushi to create a roll.
Watch this video. I will show you exactly how it is done.

You can also make a “reverse” sushi.
Cover the seaweed in rice and then sprinkle it with sesame seeds.

Flip the seaweed over.
Make the same was as above rolling and tucking as you go.
Watch this video to learn more.

**If you keep your hands wet, it will make it easier when handling the rice. It won’t be so sticky!**

Serving

Serve your sushi with a bit of soya sauce for dipping.
You may also want some wasabi on the side and some pink pickled ginger.
We always eat our sushi with Japanese soy beans (edamame) boiled and then sprinkled with sea salt.

Eta daki masu! Let the feast begin!

Let me know if you have any questions!
Gambare masu! Good Luck!