Sushi for Beginners
Know your Sashimi, Nigiri, Wasabi, Maki, Gari and more
How to order at a Japanese restaurant and sound like a pro.
Contrary to popular belief, sushi is not just raw fish. According to Miyako Sushi Group, a popular sushi restaurant group based in Spartanburg, SC, sushi is “the use of vinegar rice in the dish, which may or may not include raw fish.”
The misunderstanding of “sushi” keeps most people from enjoying a delicious and healthy dish at the ever growing sushi bars.
A typical serving of sushi consists of 8 to 10 pieces, which is around 350 to 400 calories. The fish used in sushi, especially salmon, is very high in protein and Omega 3 Fatty acids. The seaweed and rice used is very rich in iodine and complex carbs. For years, pregnant women were led to believe that they could not enjoy sushi. But in careful moderation, sushi can be a healthy addition to the pregnant diet. Caution must be used in cases of tuna and mackerel which are fish that are known to be high in mercury.
Here’s a short outline to what to order at a sushi bar. Sushi is wonderfully accompanied by cold sake (rice wine).
Sashimi: Raw fish fillets served without sushi rice. It is usually sold in sets of three slices per order.
Nigiri: A roll of sushi rice topped by a piece of fish or vegetable. To topping can be raw, cooked or marinated. And it is all held together by a small band of seaweed, or nori, wrapped around the rice and fish. To add extra flavor, some sushi bars add a bit of wasabi beneath the fish.
Gari or Pickled Ginger: Pickled ginger used to garnish and accompany sushi. When eaten between rolls, it cleanses the pallete. It also has a very fragrant flavor.
Wasabi: known as "Japanese Horseradish" and is known for it's spice that is felt mostly in the nasal passage and it's green color.
Maki: Japanese for “roll”
Some sushi bars prefer to list fish and other ingredients by their traditional or Japanese names. Here’s a list of translations of basic fish used in most sushi bars:
TUNA – MAGURO
SALMON – SHAKE
YELLOW TAIL – HAMACHI
MACKEREL – SABA
WHITE FISH – SHIROMI
SHRIMP – EBI
BBQ EEL - UNAGI
OCTOPUS – TAKO
SURF CLAM – HOKKI GAI
SALMON CAVIAR – IKURA
FLYING FISH CAVIAR – TOBIKO
WHITE TUNA - BINCHO MAGURO
CRAB STICK - KANI
EGG/OMELET - TAMAGO
SWEET TOFU -INARI
SWEET SHRIMP (SERVED WITH TAIL SHELL) – AMAEBI
BABY OCTOPUS – II TAKO
SQUID - IKA
Other popular menu items include:
SCALLOP SALAD – scallop, tobiko, scallion, and hot mayo
LANGOSTINO SALAD – langostino tail meat, tobiko, and mayo
CRAWFISH SALAD – crawfish tail meat, tobiko, and mayo
WASABE TOBIKO – flying fish caviar marinated in wasabi
This brief guide will help those unfamiliar with sushi order it confidently. Be sure to experiment different tastes and textures. Before too long, you’ll discover your favorites and be able to order like a pro.
