Who invented sushi: history of origin, types, methods of preparation

Sushi is a dish of traditional Japanese cuisine, as well as a favorite treat of every modern person. It has an interesting and long history. Many do not suspect that the homeland of Japanese sushi is another country. It is time to open the curtain that hides this secret. Finally, the light will know who invented sushi. Enjoy reading the article!

Sushi origin story

It is generally accepted that sushi and rolls are purely Japanese dishes. However, this is completely wrong. Who invented sushi? The original homeland of this dish is in South Asia. In ancient China, the future of a traditional Japanese dish was born. Initially, the Chinese caught fish in the sea, and then they cleaned it and cut it into thin plates, which they laid on top of each other. Huge and heavy stones were placed on top of the fish in order to create pressure. In this form, the sushi should have been lying for about two to three weeks. Then, instead of stones, thin copper sheets were already used. This whole process was necessary for the fish to ferment. And after a couple of months, the dish was considered ready.

Sushi came to Japan only at the end of the 19th century. The Chinese dish immediately fell in love with the Japanese. Japanese chef Yuhei is the one who invented sushi. He proposed to present sea fish in raw form. After some time, merchants came up with a new combination of different fish with rice and curd cheese. The dish began to gain popularity. In the mid-20th century, it became a favorite treat in many countries around the world. In history, it is generally accepted that the Chinese are the ones who invented sushi.

The difference between sushi and rolls

We have no idea how these two dishes differ. In Japan, chefs cook traditional rolls and sushi from round rice and fish or seafood. Their main difference lies in the method of preparation. On top of boiled rice lay a slice of red salmon, tuna or shrimp. Sushi is not wrapped in fish or seaweed, and rolls are the other way around. Hence their name came from the English word roll, which translates as "wrap". Rice is placed on the seaweed, then fish, avocado and cottage cheese. All this is rolled up and cut.

Who invented the rolls?

What you learn further may surprise you very much. The homeland of rolls is the United States of America, and not Japan, as many believe. In the early 70s of the twentieth century, the first Japanese restaurants began to open in the United States. However, not many Americans liked the traditional sushi of Japan. Then the chefs decided to come up with a new way to cook them. They began to roll rice with fish into compressed algae called nori. For example, the world-famous California roll was invented by American chef Ichiro Masita in Los Angeles in 1973. Then Ichiro did not suspect that after many years, “California” will become one of the favorite types of rolls. What types of sushi are there? Let's find out together.

Classification

There are many types of sushi and rolls in the world. We will talk about the most famous:

1. Makizushi are rolls that have a cylindrical shape. Japanese cooks cook them from rice and various fillings, folding them into a nori leaf.
2. Uramaki are square sushi rolls. Their peculiarity lies in the fact that nori are inside, and rice is outside. Also, most often they are wrapped in red fish.
3. Hosomaki are small rolls of rice, cream cheese and avocado wrapped in a sheet of seaweed.
4. Oshizushi. Such sushi are pressed using a special bar made of wood, which is usually called "osibako". They consist of several layers: rice, fish, cream cheese and rice again. On top you can still put a slice of salmon or seafood.
5. Temaki are huge roles that the Japanese do manually. Typically, they do not spare the fillings, so the more rice, cheese, fish, the better.
6. Inarizushi is a hot bag made from Tofu cheese and filled with rice and seafood. Quite an unusual kind of sushi, right?
7. Tiradsidzushi is a classic type of sushi. Raw fish and avocado are placed on top of boiled rice.
8. Futomaki are rolls that can contain several types of filling.

"California"

This roll is considered to be classic. It is made from tender crab meat and cream cheese. For it you will need the following ingredients:

1. Special round rice - 600 grams.
2. Crab meat or sticks - 200 grams.
3. Nori seaweed - 10 pieces.
4. Ripe avocado.
5. Fine-grained salt.
6. Sugar - 30 grams.
7. Cream cheese.
8. Special rice vinegar.

Cooking

Let's cook delicious crab meat rolls together. We provide a step by step recipe for you:

1. First of all, it is necessary to rinse the rice well under cold water.
2. Next, lay the foil on the bottom of the pan, pour round rice there.
3. Then you need to pour so much water that it completely covers the rice. Then it is worth putting it to cook. When it boils, you need to let it brew for 10 minutes, and then drain the water.
4. After you need to prepare a dressing for rolls. It is necessary to add fine-grained salt and granulated sugar to rice vinegar and mix well until the grains are completely dissolved.
5. Then you need to pour the vinegar to the boiled rice and mix.
6. Next, you need to take a bamboo mat, cover it with cling film. Then put a sheet of pressed seaweed on it.
7. Distribute the finished rice evenly over the surface of the nori, leaving 1.5 cm from the free edge.
8. On top of the rice you need to lay out the red caviar, which is called "tobiko". The sheet must be turned so that the boiled rice is on the outside.
9. The surface of the nori should be covered with a thick layer of cream cheese.
10. Avocados must be washed, peeled and pitted, and then cut into slices. It should be laid on top of cottage cheese.
11. Next, you need to cut the crab meat, put on top of the avocado.
12. You can start the formation of "California". You need to twist the roll into a roll by clicking on it. Then cut and serve with ginger, wasabi and soy sauce.

California is ready! Bon Appetit!

"Philadelphia"

This roll is similar in preparation to "California". However, the crab meat in it is replaced by salmon or trout. For him you need to stock up on such products:

• round rice - 500 grams;
• special sushi vinegar;
• salmon or trout (you can also salmon) - 250 grams;
• Nori sheets - 8-10 pieces;
• ripe avocado (it can also be replaced with fresh cucumber);
• fine salt;
• a little sugar;
• creamy or curd cheese.

Recipe

Everyone can cook the Philadelphia roll effortlessly at home. Beginners are advised to buy a set for making sushi. It contains a bamboo mat, nori sheets, round rice, special vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, wasabi and learning sticks.

We provide a detailed recipe for cooking:

1. First you need to cook rice. We wrote above about how to do this.
2. Next, you need to pour rice vinegar into a deep container, add sugar and fine-grained salt to it. Vinegar should be slightly warmed up.
3. Then you need to pour rice vinegar into rice, let it soak.
4. Then you should peel the cucumber or avocado and cut it into thin slices.
5. First you need to prepare a bamboo mat, covering it with a film.
6. Next, take a sheet of nori, put the finished rice on it, and then turn it over.
7. Now you need to carefully grease the sheet of pressed seaweed with cottage cheese, and then lay out the avocado or cucumber.
8. The last step is to roll the roll well and cut it. Slices of salmon or salmon can be placed on top. It will be very tasty.

Chef Tips

Learning to skillfully cook delicious rolls is quite difficult, but realistically. Some will need a couple of weeks to do this, while others will learn this business for years. Experts shared several recommendations that will make perfect sushi:

1. The most difficult part about making rolls is to cook round rice properly. Sometimes 15 minutes is not enough for this. It should not be raw or, conversely, sticky. Experts advise covering the pan with a lid so that steam does not escape from under it. Then you get the correct consistency of rice. Some chefs recommend covering rice when cooking with a cotton towel.
2. Before cooking, you should put the fish in the refrigerator for 20 minutes, so that it is cold.
3. The knife should be sharp. In order for nothing to stick to it, you can periodically moisten it in rice vinegar.
4. For rolls and sushi, it is best to choose red fish. For example, salmon, salmon, trout or tuna. It is not recommended to purchase frozen fish. Better to buy fresh.
5. Before boiling rice, it is worth a little salt water.
6. Fish must be cleaned of small stones.
7. In no case should cream cheese be replaced with cream cheese, since the taste of the rolls will be very different from the real ones. Best to buy Philadelphia or Almette. You can also choose "Fetu" as the most budget option.

Hot rolls

For those who want to try making hot rolls, we have prepared a simple recipe. Ingredients:

• round rice - 450 grams;
• fresh salmon or salmon - 200 grams;
• salt, sugar;
• vinegar;
• Red caviar;
• egg;
• olive oil;
• breadcrumbs;
• cream cheese;
• ripe avocado.

Such rolls can also be baked in the oven. It will also be very tasty if you replace red fish with crab or squid meat.

Recipe:

1. You need to cook rice, and then pour vinegar into it, add salt and sugar.
2. On a sheet of nori, it is necessary to distribute boiled rice, on top - cream cheese.
3. Next, put salmon fillet or crab meat, slices of avocado.
4. Roll need to roll up.
5. Then you need to moisten it in the egg, sprinkle breadcrumbs on all sides.
6. Roll should be fried in olive oil over low heat, and then cut and garnish with red caviar.

You can add anything to sushi. It all depends on your individual tastes and preferences. The main thing is to show your imagination. And we, in turn, wish you to enjoy the process of preparing a traditional Japanese dish.