SUSHI @ HOME

 by bmelton1
Featured
IMG_20120113_173621.jpg
IMG_20120113_173645.jpg
I made the horrible error of introducing my wife to the greatness of sushi one day. There was a sushi bar down the road from her apartment in Fort Worth TX. We were dropping up to $70 dollars each dinner for sushi. I decided one night to try and make it myself. We hit up the local Asian market and bought some essentials. A knife, sushi mat. nori( seaweed sheets), you know. STUFF! 

Here is what you need for sushi.

Sushi grade rice. Not minute rice but whole grain rice.
Nori
Sushi grade tuna steak $8.99 per pound at most
Smoked or raw salmon 
Avocado
Cream cheese
Scallions
Mango
Cucumber
Crab like substance (preferably leg type pieces)
Vinegar
Sriacha sauce
Soy sauce
Sesame seeds
Oyster sauce
Wasabi
Sushi mat
Knife
Cutting surface
Wood bowl
Hand fan (Asian or like in church in the south)
Glass or pitcher of ice water as tall as your knife blade

I know it sounds complicated but it really is not hard at all. Most of the odd items only need to be bought once and can be found in an Asian grocery store. 
 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: THE RICE

Rice prep is quite possibly the single most important step to good sushi.
I wash my rice at least three times before I cook it. 
Measure out the rice to be cooked and put it in your cooking vessel. add cold water to cover the rice completely. swirl it around with your hand or rice tool. Pour out the water being careful to not lose rice. Repeat this process until the water runs clear from the vessel.
Your rice is ready to cook. Follow the cooking directions on the package.

After the rice is cooked IMMEDIATELY remove it from the cooking vessel. Put it into your wooden bowl. At this point it is a good idea to turn on your fan and point it at the bowl of rice. Now comes the vinegar. I make 2 cups of rice and that needs about 4 tablespoons of vinegar. ANY vinegar will work for this process. If you wish to do so you may pick up some rice vinegar but I found that this imparts a vinegar flavor to the rice. I use standard white vinegar and it adds ZERO flavor to the rice. 
Add the vinegar to the rice and turn it over with a spatula or rice tool a few times to evenly coat the rice but do not break the rice in doing so. Gently is best. The fan will cool the rice and give it a nice sheen at the same time.

A wood bowl is used because with the addition of vinegar, a metal bowl would flavor the rice a metallic flavor. Wood also absorb excess water from the rice.

Set the rice to the side and turn occasionally to allow it to cool.

BAMotumbo says: Jan 13, 2012. 10:16 PM
This is simply the best way to make sushi.

Melton taught me this method one evening, and i've been hooked ever since.

And one night he even brought me some to work.

I <3 Melton.
Moerdith says: Mar 6, 2013. 1:37 AM
There's actually a really easy way to slice mangos. Here's a video I found that shows you how to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvLdPjpELyU
bmelton1 (author) in reply to MoerdithMar 6, 2013. 8:58 PM
SWEET. THX
KathyTackettPhoto says: Nov 14, 2012. 4:20 PM
favorite food ever! must try this.
bmelton1 (author) in reply to KathyTackettPhotoNov 15, 2012. 11:41 AM
Yes you must.
BAMotumbo says: Oct 30, 2012. 5:46 PM
This is still simply the best way to make sushi.
Daniel Zf says: Oct 23, 2012. 8:04 AM
Remember sushi rice is named calrose, and ussualy is a short grain rice.
You must wash it till water comes clean to remove all glutten on it to make it sticky not gooey.
Daniel Zf in reply to Daniel ZfOct 23, 2012. 8:05 AM
That and the best sushi rice is ate at corporal temp even if it went on the fryer.
jdwaynes1980 says: Jul 3, 2012. 1:56 PM
Great Ible! I've been making sushi at home for several years, and I too started because I was tired of spending so much money on it. My two favorites are Salmon Nigiri, and Crab/Cream Cheese/Avacado Maki.

Just seeing your instructable makes me want to go make some right now!
im3733 says: Feb 16, 2012. 5:28 AM
you sir, have made my day...and it's only 8:30 AM!

This has to be one of the easiest to follow sushi recipe i've seen.

I do have one question, is there a visual difference between tuna and salmon? (I apologize if this is an obvious question, I'm partially colorblind, so I can't tell if there's a color difference)
bmelton1 (author) in reply to im3733Feb 16, 2012. 11:16 AM
Salmon does tend to have stripes in it. They would appear as white to a color sighted person. Naturally Salmon is orange and Tuna would be a bright Red or Magenta. Hope that helps.
aramanthe says: Feb 16, 2012. 4:29 AM
Next time my best friend and I feel like some sushi, I will definitely be doing this instead of dropping $50 at the local sushi bar.

Thanks for writing a clear, concise and easy-to-follow instructable!
pjd0149 says: Feb 7, 2012. 6:21 AM
Good...
but That's not the Sushi...
That's Kimbob...
FlatLinerMEDIC says: Feb 2, 2012. 8:30 PM
Thanks for the instructable.
bmelton1 (author) in reply to FlatLinerMEDICFeb 3, 2012. 6:50 PM
Thank you for reading it!
lmnopeas says: Jan 19, 2012. 1:29 PM
Nice job! I love making my own sushi too. Asian markets have a powder you can buy, to flavor the rice after it has been cooked. I always add the powder and a little bit of rice vinegar.

Also, I like to cover my rolling mat with plastic wrap. I find it easier to roll the sushi and less clean up. Especially with inside out rolls.
fluffydragon says: Jan 18, 2012. 3:46 PM
Nice tutorial :) I've made it at home a few times, and the vinegar thing is a great suggestion.

Added ideas: I like rolling sticky-side out sushi in black or regular sesame seeds -great with the tuna.

I like the frozen fish idea too - I'll keep that in mind the next time I don't want to run to the expensive store and search for fresh sashimi grade tuna and just keep it stocked in the freezer for when I have a hankering.

BTW - imitation crab stick is not crab legs-just sayin :) I hate the stuff though, so I'm biased.
bmelton1 (author) in reply to fluffydragonJan 19, 2012. 7:37 AM
That is why it is listed as crab like substance in the list of ingredients.
Servelan says: Jan 15, 2012. 1:57 AM
Inside out style is actually with the rice on the outside; it's called uramaki.
bmelton1 (author) in reply to ServelanJan 15, 2012. 7:33 AM
After reading your comment and googling "inside out sushi", I have edited my ible. Thank you for letting me know I was making it in the more traditional way.
Servelan in reply to bmelton1Jan 15, 2012. 4:24 PM
I like it better with the nori on the outside, myself; rice on the outside = sticky fingers. Now, 'scuz me, I have to go and download your 'ibble. You have all the directions I need to avoid my own $70 sushi restaurant tab. : )
Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

PDF Downloads
As a Pro member, you will gain access to download any Instructable in the PDF format. You also have the ability to customize your PDF download.

Upgrade to Pro today!