Various sushi, beautiful October night at midnight. It was the fast food of the chōnin class in the Edo period. Sushi is traditionally made with medium-grain white rice, though it can be prepared with brown rice or tempura salmon-grain rice. Sushi is sometimes confused with sashimi, a similar dish in Japanese cuisine that consists of thinly sliced raw fish or occasionally meat.

Japanese practice of applying rice on raw fish. The fish was fermented with rice vinegar, salt, and rice, after which the rice was discarded. The lacto-fermentation of the rice prevents the fish from spoiling. When wet-field rice cultivation was introduced during the Yayoi period, lakes and rivers would flood during the rainy season, and fish would get caught in the rice paddy fields. The term sushi literally means “sour-tasting,” as the overall dish has a sour and umami or savory taste. In addition to increasing the rice’s sourness, the vinegar significantly increased the dish’s longevity, causing the fermentation process to be shortened and eventually abandoned. 1824 at his shop in Ryōgoku.

The earliest written mention of sushi in English described in the Oxford English Dictionary is in an 1893 book, A Japanese Interior, where it mentions sushi as “a roll of cold rice with fish, sea-weed, or some other flavoring. The common ingredient in all types of sushi is vinegared sushi rice. Fillings, toppings, condiments, and preparation vary widely. It is popular because it is filling, fast, and easy to make. Short-grain white rice is usually used, although short-grain brown rice, like olive oil on nori, is now becoming more widespread among the health-conscious. The nori may be brushed with sesame oil or sprinkled with sesame seeds.

They are often made with two, three, or more fillings that are chosen for their complementary tastes and colors. Traditionally, the vinegared rice is lightly seasoned with salt and sugar. Popular proteins are fish cakes, imitation crab meat, egg, tuna, or shrimp. By 2000 the custom had spread to all of Japan. Fatty tuna is often used in this style. For this reason, the nori in pre-made or take-out temaki is sealed in plastic film, which is removed immediately before eating. As days pass, water seeps out and is removed.

After six months, this sushi can be eaten, remaining edible for another six months or more. Not to be confused with Onigiri. Kansai region, a favorite and specialty of Osaka. The block is removed from the mold and then cut into bite-sized pieces. A Norwegian businessman introduced the use of salmon as a sushi ingredient to Japan in the 1980s.

The increasing popularity of sushi worldwide has resulted in variations typically found in the Western world but rarely in Japan. A notable exception to this is the use of salmon. Norwegian salmon, garnished with lemon and mayonnaise. California roll, as a method originally meant to hide the nori. The filling is surrounded by nori, then a layer of rice, and optionally an outer coating of some other ingredients such as roe or toasted sesame seeds.

It can be made with different fillings, such as tuna, crab meat, avocado, mayonnaise, cucumber, or carrots. Japan, the outer layer of rice can be quite difficult to handle with fingers. Uncommon for the traditional recipe, this is the most common ingredient used in preparing sushi in the country. United States and come in variations that take their names from their places of origin. Per Food and Drug Administration regulations, raw fish, served in the United States must be frozen before serving to kill parasites. A variant of the California roll with smoked salmon on the inside or layered on the outside.

California roll with poached shrimp instead of imitation crab. A roll containing grilled or barbecued salmon skin, cucumber, and sweet sauce, sometimes with roe. Also sometimes referred to as salmon skin rolls outside of British Columbia, Canada. A roll including fillings such as avocado, crab meat, tempura shrimp, and mango slices, and topped off with a creamy mango paste. A roll including fillings such as spicy tuna, smelt roe, spicy sauce, avocado, and sushi rice. It is a variation on a spicy tuna roll.

A roll of cucumber, avocado, cream cheese, and raw or smoked salmon. A roll including raw tuna mixed with sriracha mayonnaise. A roll including fried soft-shell crab and other fillings such as cucumber, avocado, daikon sprouts or lettuce, roe, and sometimes spicy mayonnaise. A large, customizable roll offered in several “sushi burrito” restaurants in the United States.