For Valentines this year Cheyn got me a Sushi making kit and recipe book. I've been thinking about trying to make sushi rolls for a while and drew inspiration from a friend who tried it last year. This morning I realized it was time to get in touch with my Japanese side and try it myself. I went to the Asian market down the street and stocked up. I got rice, rice vinegar, seaweed, ginger, imitation wasabi, some miso soup mix and a dish to put soy sauce in. I then headed off to the grocery store and picked up green onions, chives, soy sauce, cream cheese, and salmon and an avocado.
I never realized that rice vinegar was used in the process. Vinegar is used as a dressing for the rice with a little salt and sugar added. You also use the vinegar as a lubricant so that the rice doesn't stick to your hands or the knife when laying out the rice and cutting the roll. I think the hardest part of the whole process was rolling it. The first and third roll looked good. I wanted to use my hands but should have relied more on the bamboo roller on the second roll. I tried the seaweed on the outside on the first two rolls and on the inside on the third.
I ended up making a plain salmon roll, a salmon avacado roll with chives, and a Philadelphia roll. Cheyn helped and it did end up tasting just like the restaurants. For sure when we go out to sushi next time we will be watching and eating with a more technical mind. I think it took about 50 bucks to completely set up for making rolls at home. Hereafter I bet I can now make a meal for two to four for about ten bucks. I'll have to get adventuresome after this and use tuna, eel, yellow tail, or soft shell crab. I also want to add the fish eggs but wonder where to get them.
Domo Arigato for the present Cheyn!
