About Nigiri sushi

Nigiri is a kind of sushi made with vinegared sushi rice (shari), and a slices of fish, seafood, or vegetable. Nigiri sushi is easier to make than maki, or uramaki sushi, and some would say even easier to consume.

It is customary to present nigiri sushi pieces in couples, as a sign of peace and harmony.

How to Make nigiri sushi

1."Shape the rice"

With your hand wet, grab about 20 grams of shari rice, and shape it to a long, oval from. The rice is going to be the base for the fish to lay on, so the bottom should be flat, and the top could be more rounded. The sides should definitely be a bit rounded.

  

2. "Cut a Slice"

As already mentioned, nigiri sushi topping can vary, but the basic form is "plain" salmon nigiri. So if it is salmon or tuna fish nigiri sushi you are making, the following measurements should be just fine.

Take a slice of fish, about 1 cm thick, 5 cm long and 3 cm wide. If the piece of fish you are cutting from is smaller, and does not allow you to cut such a slice, try slicing it at 45 degrees, it will allow you maximum "fish surface".

Take a pea-sized portion of wasabi, and smear it along the middle of the fish slice. The wasabi will help the slice glue to the piece of rice, to form a steady nigiri sushi.


3. "Sushitrons - form a nigiri sushi!"

Now it's time to place the slice of fish, with the wasabi side facing down, on the rice. Lay it gently on the rice, and then press it firmly to stick with the rice. You might want to use the other hand to hold the nigiri sushi from the sides while pressing it from above, to avoid "rice loss".

"So, how can I start...?"

Well, the best thing is to get sushi equipment and ingredients to start with. Check out our sushi e-Store, for sushi kits and more.

Enjoy!

 

Comments  

 
0 #70 dana 2010-06-19 22:32
Quoting MegaMaz:
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This sounds so easy! But I wonder where I can get Wasabi and Shari rice..?

you can get it at a Japanese or health food market

Check your local grocery store, look in the Asian or the international isle. Look for sushi rice. It's a bit expensive but a little goes a long way. Wasabi is a bit overrated. Most wasabi is actually just horseradish with green food coloring. MOst grocery stores now a days have a sushi counter you can find small containers of ginger, wasabi and soy sauce. why get large quantities how often do you really plan on making sushi.
Finding fresh fish to use, just ask your local grocery store most grocery stores have a fish department. Ask what is fresh let them know you are going to eat it raw. They will make sure it's fresh enough to eat that way. If you plan on eating Salmon, wild is always better than farm raised.
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0 #69 Show 2010-06-16 18:14
There is no true definition for "sashimi grade". I would recommend using Atlantic salmon from a reputable source. Parasites such as ringworm can be easily removed as said above. Some even suggest deep freezing whilst fresh will disable the fungi. Using UV lighting to remove affected portions of the meat is also handy but all of said precautions do not affect spores. As for bacteria and viruses, they are hardly compatible to survive in us.

An extra precaution I take is using rice wine (roughly 70% alcohol) mixed with wasabi. I'll marinate thinly sliced cuts of salmon in the solution for roughly 10 seconds -> dip them in soy sauce to rinse that alcohol and wasabi taste off -> rinse with water. This should leave your fish with an extremely mild sensation of rice wine (which can be quite pleasant), almost no trace of wasabi and some remnants of soy sauce.
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0 #68 sarahmissbonita 2010-06-08 19:46
if your soooooooooo not going with raw fish but still want fish and are too lazy to cook fish.....try smoked fish....salmon or mackarel... :) be creative...
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0 #67 adrre 2010-04-26 10:07
crazy!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!
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0 #66 wasabisucks 2010-04-18 14:51
Quoting Tasha:
Where to buy fish: buy frozen fish labeled as sushi grade fish. Probably find it at an Asian Market. Don't worry, even though it is frozen, it will be very fresh and delicious tasting.


what do you mean buy. sushi grade.
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0 #65 MegaMaz 2010-04-11 01:31
Quote:
This sounds so easy! But I wonder where I can get Wasabi and Shari rice..?

you can get it at a Japanese or health food market
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0 #64 Emily 2010-03-19 12:08
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whats the differance between actual raw fish and the fish u use for this? how do you prepare the fish, or cook it? 


All fish has parasites which is why you need to not eat it raw...unless it's labeled "sushi grade". With sushi grade fish, it is placed on a backlighted table where the visible parasites are manually pulled out. Sick, I know, but the process is very precise and the fish has to be approved to be sushi grade so we don't get sick.

However, you are more than welcome to use cooked fish. Sushi is entirely customizable to the consumer.

Roundworms are the most "common" risk with raw fish, although that is still rare. Freezing fish overnight will kill these parasites and if quickly frozen, will retain its fresh flavor. The freezing process does NOT kill bacteria as a previous poster said. Most bacteria doesn't care how cold it is and some bacteria, such as psychrotrophic bacteria, actually love the cold.
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0 #63 Pear 2010-03-15 07:47
How do you know how to make a sushi first time?
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0 #62 um 2010-03-13 23:05
Can we use something other then wasabi? because I don't like it
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0 #61 marie 2010-02-14 20:54
if i bought tuna grade sushi, but frozen, how do i defrost it?
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+3 #60 Tasha 2010-01-05 17:14
Seriously people, it's not a moral sin to eat cooked fish on sushi. I for one prefer raw for its delicious cold fresh taste, but then its pretty expensive. Sometimes I just skip the fish and use vegetables and eggs XD
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0 #59 Tasha 2010-01-05 17:09
Where to buy fish: buy frozen fish labeled as sushi grade fish. Probably find it at an Asian Market. Don't worry, even though it is frozen, it will be very fresh and delicious tasting.
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0 #58 2009-11-30 01:17
Quoting wad:
but how to prepare the fish? you can't just go to safeway and buy some fish and eat it raw, right?


LOL, go to a reputable fishmonger buy the fish raw, if you have any concerns about hygeine freeze it thaw it then eat it. This kills bacteria as an alternative to cooking. DO NOT COOK it though for this type of sushi. Enjoy.
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0 #57 2009-10-25 18:46
This recipe sounds delicious.
I love sushi!!
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+6 #56 2009-10-07 23:54
but how to prepare the fish? you can't just go to safeway and buy some fish and eat it raw, right?
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0 #55 2009-09-30 17:02
you dont have to take offense to that. just like eating raw fish might NOT be in her culture.
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+2 #54 2009-08-13 16:34
This sounds so easy! But I wonder where I can get Wasabi and Shari rice..?
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0 #53 2009-07-14 02:55
Good question about the vinegar; I'd be interested in knowing that too.
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0 #52 2009-06-10 04:12

I will try!!!! ^^.
I love sushi!!!!
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0 #51 2009-06-02 03:25

this and inside out sushi is amazing
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0 #50 2009-05-22 09:43

whats the differance between actual raw fish and the fish u use for this? how do you prepare the fish, or cook it? 
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0 #49 2009-05-16 02:47

Hi im a total fan of sushi i love sushy
 
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-6 #48 2009-05-07 16:19

WILDLOS: your question is indeed stupid. If you cook the salmon you will be serving cooked salmon with rice...
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-2 #47 2009-04-28 03:46

some people actually like sashimi(raw fish) so its kind of inconsiderate of you to say ew because you might hurt someones feelings. someone like me, because it comes from my culture.
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+2 #46 2009-04-26 22:24

tuna sashimi rules! *highfives* :D
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