Sushi Healthy Eating Have The Japanese Got It Right?

It is claimed by many nutritionists that Sushi is one of the main reasons why Japanese people have the lowest incidence of obesity and heart disease. Now finally more and more are taking up Sushi as an alternative to junk foods.

Sushi has become increasingly popular a delicious but simple combination of rice soaked in rice wine and raw fish has become a massive favorite amongst American and European dinners a like. After all who can resist it enticing and delicate flavor which for some reason just isn't the same with out firery wasabi paste.

The taste of wasabi or wasabe paste as many know it has may be more than just a basic accompaniment to the sushi. It is said that the wasabe kills the bacteria in fish even if the fish is not exceptionally fresh.

Dinning on Sushi is not for the dinner or health food fanatic with small pockets. Sushi is not cheap for a number of reasons not least the essentail ingredient of fresh fish (deemed to be of sushi grade quailty) and the amount of work that is involved to create good sushi. Some sushi fish suppliers will debone the fish for a additional fee.

Otherwise, you will have to do the knife-processing yourself, which can take hours especially if you are dealing with a big fish. This step also requires that you use a very sharp knife. There are many good sushi books in the bookstores which can illustrate the correct way of cutting and deboning the fish.

Get this, the trick is not in the fish, it's in the art of cutting it. Although fresh fish is absolutely required to start with, there is only way to do it the sushi way. Experiment with doing it your way and see what happens to the fish. The fish slices will look soggy and grainy--it seems the fish has been abused.

You can't cheat with the rice, too. It's got to be authentic Japanese rice, preferably cooked rice-cooker-style. As a final word, never confuse sushi with its "cousin," the sashimi. The basic difference is the rice! Sashimi doesn't come with rice, you have to order it separately, unless you intend to it as it is (with wasabe, of course).

There are dozens of types of sushi all served with rice. The hand made sushi or nigiri are typically ordered in pairs. Another popular type of sushi are sushi rolls or maki, these are made of sheets of seaweed (nori) and served as six slices. There are many variations of these. In addition you'll find pressed sushi or oshi (small squares) and bean curd rolls or inarizushi.

Chirashizushi or scattered sushi consists of rice spread in a box or bowl with nine different types of fish scattered on top is just another type of sushi. Others include Chankinzushi which is prepared sushi rice omelet wrapper shaped and tied like a ladies drawstring purse (slightly similar to chinese dim sum). Some times a solitary shrimp or pea decorates the ruffled part of the wrapper. We can't ignore the amazing sushi art of Saikuzushi or festival sushi where rice is colored and then created in to sushi rolls with intricate designs and patterns

Makezushi consist of sushi rice combined with vegetables, and seafood that has been molded into special bowls of square tins and covered with pieces of sliced omelet, shrimp and vegetables. Another variation on this theme is Fukusazushi where where the molded rice is wrapped in a sheet of omelet and then turned over to hide the joins and garnished with a ribbon of seaweed (nori) and ginger.

Finally we have Temarizushi which are rice balls wrapped in thinly sliced marinated fish. Itadakimasu! (enjoy eating)

About the Author, Graham Foster:

Before you begin any diet or weight loss plan online, make sure you check Graham Fosters' excellent free report on how he lost 22.5lbs in weight in only 5 short weeks without any diet pills, fad diets or exercising like a Navy Seal! Glyconutrients.