A comprehensive guide to understanding Japanese Food

In recent years, the demand for a Japanese restaurant has grown exponentially in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and the rest of the country.

This is mainly due to its signature dish; the sushi that has managed to cross borders and conquer the palates of many Europeans.

However, its origins come from China. Although it is true that the Japanese were the ones who created the recipe as we know it now, the origins of sushi were born on the banks of the Mekong River in the 4th century BC as a way of preserving fish so that it could be consumed without needing to be fresh.

Although Chinese culture rejected rice because of its sour taste, their Japanese neighbors began to consume it along with fish. This is due to its nutritional values ​​until in the 19th century a Japanese chef decided to present it in his restaurant with freshly boiled and unfermented rice.

This dish became a specialty of Japanese cuisine, becoming the fast food of the 20th century. Its fame has reached such a magnitude that 45% of Spaniards have claimed to eat sushi at least once a month.

Importance of Japanese gastronomy

For the Japanese, their gastronomy is a national pride, taking care of both its presentation and its flavor and nutritional values.

However, one of its main characteristics is the nature and simplicity that distinguish it. If we think about it, sushi is simply made up of rice, some vegetables and/or fish.

Japanese food is mainly made up of four ingredients that form specific dishes for each season of the year. These are rice, wheat, oats and beans.

However, it is a very rich and abundant gastronomy with peculiarities in each of its regions. It also integrates foods such as seaweed, bamboo, tuna, salmon, duck, beef …

It stands out for having a cooking method that enhances and enhances the original flavors of foods using steam, a griddle known as a Teppanyaki griddle, and pots to make soups. Furthermore, the presentation of the dishes is very important since the harmony between colors and ingredients is taken into account.

Japanese gastronomy has experienced many phases and has grown with each demographic and sociocultural accident of the Japanese country until it developed as we know it today.

Japanese food has always been linked to China, this is because in the 5th and 6th centuries, through Korea, the Chinese arrived in Japan introducing aspects such as religion, calligraphy and gastronomy.

The latter was affected by Buddhism since meat consumption was reduced and foods such as miso or tofu were introduced.

Later, the Portuguese would arrive in the country, integrating pork or chicken back into the original Japanese recipes and allowing it to introduce aspects of Western cuisine.

All these changes have allowed Japanese cuisine to be one of the most recognized and special in the world. This has made Tokyo the city with the most Michelin star restaurants for 8 consecutive years.

If you want to visit our Japanese restaurant, we will wait for you at the Sizzling Shihai in Shree Balaji Agora Mall. 

Types of Sushi

If you are just now entering the world of sushi, it is important to know that various types of sushi differ not only by the ingredients with which it is prepared but also by how are made.

Among the most notable we find the nigiri, one of the most typical and popular, which consists of a ball of rice in which a piece of fish or seafood is placed on top. 

Another type is maki, which is wrapped in a little seaweed, has rice inside, and an ingredient such as fish or vegetables is placed in the centre. 

Futomaki , hosomaki and uramaki are also widely consumed on a typical sushi table. These varieties are similar to each other, although they differ in their size and the ingredients they use for their preparation. 

Regarding uramaki , the difference is that the rice is on the outside and the seaweed is on the inside. Another very popular type of sushi is gunkan, which resembles nigiri but has a piece of seaweed around it and a little tartar or roe inside. Temaki , sashimi and chirashi are also very popular and offered in restaurants.

Tricks and tips

Making sushi at home will be a simple task and fantastic results will be obtained if you take a few tips and tricks into account. For example, it’s key to have moist hands while preparing sushi rice, this way the rice won’t stick to your fingers, especially when you place it on the bamboo mat and roll it. 

On the other hand, the correct proportions must be maintained to achieve good sushi. When preparing the filling, you should always think that “less is more”, to achieve quality and fine sushi.

To cut the sushi rolls, if you have prepared some makis , you should wet the blade of the knife before each cut, and in this way, you will avoid destroying the pieces. 

On the other hand, it is always important to use wooden products to make sushi, not only to respect its tradition but also to avoid altering the original flavor of the preparation.

Finally, a great trick for using the mat to roll sushi will be to cover it with plastic wrap, this way it will be much easier to roll it with all its ingredients.

Homemade Sushi Ingredients

The fundamental ingredients to make sushi will be rice, seaweed, cuts of fish, shellfish and some vegetables. Of course, the filling ingredients will vary depending on the recipe you prefer to follow and, of course, depending on the type of sushi you want to prepare. 

Some ingredients that you can choose as complementary ingredients are wasabi paste and soy sauce, both of which are classics to accompany sushi. Also some salmon loin, nori seaweed sheets, avocado, cucumber, ginger, shrimp and prawns. 

The fundamental element that applies to any type of sushi that you want to prepare will be the rice, and for this, it is very important to have the specific type of rice for sushi, which can be found in stores specializing in Japanese or Asian products, as well as also in many supermarkets.

PS: If you are planning to visit Ahmedabad, Gujarat, then you will surprisely find 100% veg sushi.