Sushi: 10 facts that will surprise you

Sushi is a dish that is very popular in many countries around the world. Do you know how this dish appeared and how to eat it correctly? In this article, we will reveal 10 interesting facts about sushi that will help you better understand this ancient delicious dish.

Sushi is not raw fish
Many people think that sushi is just raw fish wrapped in rice. Actually this is not true. The word “sushi” means “sour” and refers to rice seasoned with vinegar and sugar. Fish is just one of the possible ingredients for filling or topping. In addition to fish, seafood, vegetables, fruits, eggs, cheese and even meat are used to prepare sushi. The main thing is that the products are fresh and go well with rice.

Sushi was invented for preservation
Sushi is not only tasty, but also healthy. It is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. But did you know that sushi was originally used to preserve food? The fact is that about two thousand years ago in Southeast Asia, people learned to preserve fish using rice and salt. The fish was cut into pieces, mixed with rice https://greenelly.com/ and marinated under pressure. After this, the fish could be stored for a whole year without losing its taste. Later, this method of preservation began to be used in China and Japan, where it turned into a real culinary art.

Sushi is fast food
Today you can taste sushi in almost any city in the world. This dish is served in restaurants, cafes, bars and even sold on the street. But did you know that sushi is essentially fast food? In Japan, the dish gained popularity in the 19th century thanks to a cook named Hanaya Yohei. He came up with a recipe that involved serving raw fish on rice without marinating or pressing. Such sushi could be eaten on the go or taken with you. They were cheap, tasty and quickly filled the body. Since then, the dish has become one of the most favorite dishes of the Japanese and not only.

How many years does it take to learn how to make sushi?
Sushi is not just food, but a real work of art. To become a sushi chef, you need to go through a long and difficult training. In Japan, they believe that in order to learn how to cook sushi, you need to master the craft for at least 10 years in practice. The sous chef must be able to select fresh and high-quality products, cut fish into thin and even slices, cook rice with the correct ratio of vinegar and sugar, and carefully and beautifully form rolls or nigiri. In addition, the sous chef must know how to serve sushi, how to combine it with sauces and seasonings, and how to take into account the tastes and wishes of clients.

Sushi is not just rolls
When we talk about sushi, we often think of rolls – rice with a filling, wrapped in nori (dried seaweed leaves). But did you know that there are many other types of sushi? For example, nigiri is rice with a piece of fish or other food on top. Sashimi is simply chopped raw fish without rice. Temaki are cone-shaped rolls that can be eaten with your hands. Inyari-zushi is rice in fried tofu bags. Oniri-zushi – rice in balls or triangles with filling inside. And these are not all the types of sushi that are prepared.

We eat sushi correctly
Sushi is a delicious dish, you need to eat it following the rules of etiquette. In Japan, there are many rules and traditions associated with eating this dish. For example, sushi should be eaten with your hands or chopsticks. Rolls and temaki should be eaten with your hands, and nigiri and sashimi should be eaten with chopsticks. Sushi should be eaten in one or two bites, without breaking into pieces. Soy sauce should be used sparingly; the rice should be soaked in it, but only the top part with the filling. Wasabi should be added a little at a time to sauce or fish, not to rice. Ginger should be eaten separately from sushi to freshen your breath and cleanse your taste buds.

Sushi is not only a Japanese dish
Sushi is one of the symbols of Japanese culture and cuisine. But did you know that today there are many varieties of sushi that are adapted to different countries and peoples? For example, in the USA, so-called “California” rolls are popular, which differ from Japanese ones in that the rice is on the outside and the nori is on the inside. In addition, they often use avocado, crab meat and mayonnaise. In Canada, “British Columbia” is a roll that contains fried salmon skin. In Brazil – “temaquinho”, which is similar to temaki, but smaller in size. In France, a “sushi burger”, which consists of two rice cakes filled with fish, vegetables and sauce. In India – “sushi dosa”, which is a rice pancake stuffed with curry and chutney (a large group of various Indian sauces).

Sushi is not only a dish, but also a name
Sushi is not only the name of the dish, but also the name. In Japan, there is a female name, Sushi, which is written with characters meaning “long life” and “beautiful.” This is a fairly rare name, but it still occurs. A famous bearer of this name, Sushi Kaneko, is a Japanese writer and journalist.

Sushi is not just food, it’s art
Sushi is not only food, it is also art. Some people use the dish as a material to create amazing works. There is such a direction as “sushi art”, its essence lies in the fact that paintings, sculptures, mosaics and even jewelry are made from sushi. “Sushi cakes” – cakes of different shapes and sizes are made from sushi.

Sushi is not only tasty, but also healthy food
Sushi is not only tasty, but also healthy. It contains many beneficial substances such as protein, omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, calcium, iron, zinc and antioxidants. Sushi helps strengthen the immune system, improve heart and brain function, prevent anemia and osteoporosis, reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, and cleanse the blood and liver. In addition, sushi promotes weight loss, as it is low in calories and quickly saturates the body.

Sushi is an amazing dish that has a long history, many varieties and traditions. Sushi is not just a Japanese dish, it is a world heritage. The world of sushi is waiting for you – join us!