Not Just Raw Fish
Other Delicious Foods Too!
Surprising Sushi
Mention the word, “sushi” and many Americans will respond, “Yuck! Raw fish!” Many believe that sushi is raw fish, but in reality, raw fish in Japan is called “sashimi,” not sushi. Authentic sushi can be very expensive, and is often considered a delicacy. You may be surprised to learn that some sushi doesn’t contain fish at all! While fish is a popular and prevalent ingredient, sushi can also be made with just vegetables, or with cheese, beef, or other ingredients.
Sushi was actually first invented in China, and then introduced to Japan in the 7th Century. Before refrigeration was available, the fish and meats were salted or cured with sea salts and stored in rice. The acid and harsh salts would ferment and preserve the fish, “cooking it” without heat or flame. The rice would absorb the excess moisture. Japanese and Chinese people today are more apt to eat sushi as their ancestors did, instead of rolls, which are popular in the US, they just eat a small pile of rice, topped with fish and held together with seaweed.
Sushi, as served in the US, is usually a slightly sweet, sticky rice (made with sweet vinegar). Vegetables, fish and other ingredients are placed in the center of the rice, and then the mixture is rolled into a cylinder, wrapped with seaweed (called “nori), and sliced into circles.
In America, the California roll was invented in the mid 1970’s. Americans didn’t like the idea of eating raw fish, and our government has strict rules regarding serving raw proteins, making the typical Japanese sushi incapable of meeting federal guidelines for food safety. California rolls are composed of rice, nori, cucumber, avocado and imitation or real crab meat. Many Americanized versions of sushi also use cooked or steamed fish to comply with federal guidelines. If you can find an authentic Japanese restaurant, where the chef is experienced with handling and preparing raw fish that conforms to government guidelines, you may be pleasantly surprised at the difference.
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