Sushi is a Japanese dish that typically consists of vinegared rice served with some combination of raw fish, vegetables, and sometimes tropical fruits. The word "sushi" itself refers specifically to the vinegared rice, which is the key component of the dish. The raw fish, vegetables, and fruits are known as "neta," and they are added to the sushi rice to create various types of sushi.
There are many different types of sushi, but the most common is nigiri sushi, which consists of a small ball of sushi rice topped with a piece of raw fish or other ingredients. This type of sushi is typically made by forming the sushi rice into small, oval-shaped balls and topping them with a piece of neta using the fingers or a small mold. The neta is typically placed on top of the rice so that it covers most of the rice, but some of the rice is still visible around the edges.
Another common type of sushi is maki sushi, which consists of sushi rice and neta rolled up in seaweed (known as nori in Japanese) and cut into bite-sized pieces. This type of sushi is typically made using a bamboo mat, known as a makisu, to shape the rice and neta into a cylinder shape before rolling it up in the seaweed. The resulting rolls are then cut into pieces and served.
In addition to nigiri and maki sushi, there are many other types of sushi, such as chirashi sushi (a bowl of sushi rice topped with various ingredients), oshi sushi (sushi that is pressed into a square shape using a mold), and inari sushi (sushi rice stuffed into a pouch of fried tofu).
The key to making good sushi is in the preparation of the rice. The rice used for sushi is short-grain Japanese rice, which has a sticky consistency that allows it to be molded into shape easily. Before it is used for sushi, the rice is typically washed and then cooked in a mixture of water and rice vinegar, which gives the rice its characteristic flavor and helps to preserve it. Once the rice is cooked, it is allowed to cool to room temperature, at which point it is ready to be used for making sushi.
When making sushi, it is important to handle the rice carefully to avoid crushing the grains. This means using gentle pressure when shaping the rice and avoiding the use of utensils that could damage the rice. The neta, or toppings, are also typically sliced carefully to create attractive pieces that will complement the sushi rice.
Once the sushi is assembled, it is typically served with a variety of condiments, such as soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger. The soy sauce is used as a dipping sauce for the sushi, while the wasabi and pickled ginger are added to the sushi itself to add flavor.
In conclusion, sushi is a popular Japanese dish that consists of vinegared rice served with a variety of raw fish, vegetables, and sometimes fruits. There are many different types of sushi, but the most common are nigiri sushi (sushi rice topped with neta) and maki sushi (sushi rice and neta rolled up in seaweed). Making good sushi requires careful preparation of the rice and attention to detail when assembling the dish.