Contents:
- What is Sushi Rice?
- Tips For Perfect Sushi Rice
- Let’s Cook Sushi Rice at Home!
- Easy Breezy Sushi Rice Seasonings
What is Sushi Rice?
Sushi rice comes with all sushi dishes such as nigiri, maki sushi (sushi rolls), and chirashi sushi, but it is not just steamed rice. Did you notice that rice used in a sushi restaurant has a specific texture and a slight sweetness to it? The perfect balance between texture and sweetness brings out the flavor of the neta, which is the item placed on the top of the rice. Don’t be scared, making sushi rice is not too much of a hassle, just add a little seasoning and there you go, you have the perfect sushi rice!
Tips For Perfect Sushi Rice by Sushi Chef Institute
Balance of Rice and Water
Sushi rice is made with medium/short-grain and short-grain variety of rice.
Depends on a kind of rice and power, we need to change ratio of rice to water like below.
Ratio of rice to water for 10 cups SUSHI rice
| Sushi Rice | Gas | Electric |
|---|---|---|
| New Crop | 9 1/2 cups (95%) | 10 1/2 cups (105%) |
| Old Crop | 10 cups (100%) | 10 3/4 cups (107.5%) |
Ratio of rice to water for 10 cups BASIC rice
| Sushi Rice | Gas | Electric |
|---|---|---|
| New Crop | 10 cups (100%) | 10 3/4 cups (107.5%) |
| Old Crop | 10 1/2 cups (105%) | 11 cups (110%) |
Preparing Sushi-zu (Sushi Vinegar)
– Rice vinegar: 6 Tbsp. (90 ml)
– Sugar: 3 Tbsp (22 g)
– Natural salt: 1 1/2 tsp. (9 g)
*Ratio of rice to sushi-zu is 10-15%
Mixing Sushi-zu and Rice
- Mixing sushi-zu and the rice is done in a hangiri (wooden mixing tub) using a miyajima (mixing paddle). Always dampen the hangiri with water before putting the rice inside to prevent sticking. Pour the sushi-zu over the rice distributing evenly. Mix the rice and sushi-zu in about two minutes.
- The miyajima is used in a rapid slicing motion to mix the sushi-zu into the rice. Spread the rice to a depth of about 2 inches and let cool for 5 minutes. Then flip the rice over and let cool for 5 more minutes.
Let’s Cook Sushi Rice at Home!
Basic Sushi Rice Recipe
You can use sushi rice for every sushi menu!
Prep time:
Coock time:
Total time:
Ingredients (Serves 4)
- 2-2/5 cups rice
- 2-2/5 cups water
- 3 Tbsp. sake (cooking sake)
- 3 x 2 inches kombu (dried kelp)
Vinegar mixture
- 5 Tbsp. vinegar
- 4 Tbsp. sugar
- 2 tsp. salt
Cooking Directions
- Wash the rice and soak in a pot in the specified amount of water for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Roughly wipe the surface of the kombu and add it, together with sake, to the pot containing the rice and water. Heat the pot and, just before the water starts to boil, remove the kombu. Continue cooking the rice as usual.
- Combine the ingredients for the vinegar mixture in a small bowl.
- When the rice is done, let sit for about 5 minutes, and then transfer the rice into a large container. Pour vinegar mixture over the rice.
- Use a rice scoop (shamoji) to mix the rice well. When the vinegar is mixed evenly into the rice, cool the rice by fanning it with a Japanese fan (uchiwa).
- Mix the rice gently by moving the scoop in a folding motion so that air contacts with the rice grains. Cool until rice no longer emits steam.
Tips
- If you don’t proceed to the sushi rice recipes immediately, cover the rice with a wet towel to keep it from drying.
- Sushi rice is best eaten around 2 hours after it’s made.
- For greater convenience, use an electric fan to cool the rice.
Easy Breezy Sushi Rice Seasonings
What if you don’t have rice vinegar to make sushi rice? Does apple cider or balsamic vinegar work? Unfortunately, no. Balsamic vinegar and other vinegars have a much stronger flavor and will overpower the sushi. Here is what you need to perfectly season your sushi rice.
Mizkan Sushi Seasoning
Mizkan is the leading vinegar and seasoning company in Japan and Mizkan Sushi Seasoning is type of rice vinegar needed for sushi. Rice vinegar has a sweeter and more delicate flavor which makes it perfect sushi rice. It can also be used for salad dressings or for pickling vegetables.
Product Info & Photo Credit: http://www.mizkan.com/
Mizkan Sushi Seasoning – Non MSG
This product is great for making rice just like it is served in sushi restaurants! Mizkan’s rice vinegar contains no MSG. MSG, the umami flavor, has been used in Asia for hundreds of years, but is a somewhat controversial seasoning in the West. MSG occurs naturally in many foods such as dairy products, vegetables, fruits, and seaweed, but for those who still prefer no MSG, this product is for you.
Product Info & Photo Credit: http://www.mizkan.com/
Marukan Sushi Rice Vinegar
Marukan, another top vinegar brand in Japan, has been a purveyor of vinegar for the Japanese Royal Imperial household for over a hundred years. You can make this vinegar part of your household too because Marukan rice vinegar is sold in your local Asian supermarket and most likely in your regular supermarket!
Product Info & Photo Credit: https://www.marukan-usa.com/
Tamanoi Sushinoko (Sushi Seasoning Powder)
Worried that you might add too much rice vinegar and then your rice will get soggy? We have the perfect solution for you! Get a pack of sushi rice seasoning powder! Just mix it into cooked rice and voila, you’re done! The flavoring is not too sweet and not too sour, it’s just right! Make sure you mix it into the rice when it is just finished cooking and is still steaming! This item is available in most Asian supermarkets and on amazon.com.
Product Info & Photo Credit: http://www.tamanoi.co.jp/
