How to prepare the rice?

How to make sushi rice - the full recipe.

Preparing the sushi rice might look complicated and pedantic at first, but as you go along with it you might notice that it's just like making ordinary rice, only with rice vinegar added to it, and a bit of Japanese methodology.I've de-complicated the requirements into five simple steps:


1: Choosing right
Wouldn't you say that the Japanese have already thought of everything? Well, they did. They even made a special rice for sushi, they call it "shari", some folks simply call it "sushi rice". And they even took the time and effort to make it round, so that you can find it easily in the supermarket.

2: Measuring and preparing the rice

First you got to clear the rice from all sorts of impurities just lying there waiting for you to cook them in your sushi rice. But you wouldn't do that, right? Right. Wash the rice (1 cup = 3 rolls) with running water for 1-2 minutes until there is no more starch coming out of it. After you are done washing, take the rice and place it gently in a pot, add a little bit more water than rice ( the ratio is about 1.15:1 in favor of the water). Don't put too much water, or you'll get dough instead of rice.

3: Cooking the rice

The rice should be cooked on high heat at first, stir every minute or two, until the water boils. Then, lower the heat to minimum and cover the pot. Stop stirring, the rice will handle itself from now. Why? That is just the Japanese way...
After 6-8 min, check the water level. If there is no more water, only bigger grains of rice in the pot, that means the rice is ready. If not, check back every minute, making sure not to burn the rice at the bottom.

4: Taking out the rice

You think I'm kidding right? Well I'm not. There are a few important issues to keep in mind while taking the rice out of the pot. First, use only a wooden spoon to handle the cooked rice. A metal spoon will damage it severely.

Second, don't scrape the rice out from the bottom of the pot. If it comes out easily, good, if not - leave it be. The rice at the bottom is dry and burned, it won't taste so good.

5: Seasoning the rice

In order for the rice to taste like sushi rice should (and not like an ordinary rice), you need to add rice vinegar to it right after you take it out of the pot.

1. 
   

   How is this done?

   1. For 3 cups of rice, use ½ cup of rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 teaspoons of salt.
   2. Mix together in small pot, on medium heat until all solids are mixed in.
   3. Pour mixture on rice and stir well.
   4. Let rice cool down for a few minutes until it is within the room temperature.
Enjoy... And good luck on trying make 1 :P

Inside out sushi :)

Inside out sushi

So you want to know how to make inside out sushi?
Good. Then you are in the right place.
The inside out sushi roll, also known as Uramaki, is more common in the U.S.A. than in Japan and is very popular in western sushi bars. What makes the inside out roll unique is the fact that rice is in the outside and the nori is on the inside, wrapping the filling. Therefore it is called the inside out roll.

how to make inside out sushi

1. "Wrapping the rolling mat"

Hoping you are using the "one side round and one side flat" rolling mat, and not the cheap kind with both sides round. Cover the rolling mat with a plastic wrap starting with the round side, and ending with it. Make about 2-3 full rounds of wrapping. After you are done wrapping, roll the mat to squeeze out all the air locked inside the wrapping. If needed - poke it with a toothpick to let the air out.

2. "Break point"

Take a nori sheet, and break it down the middle. If it doesn't break easily, it's either old, or not such a good brand of nori to work with. Place the nori sheet on the rolling mat abut 5 cm from the edge, with the rough side of the nori facing upwards.

3. "The turn over"

Get both your hands wet and make a ball of rice, using about a handful of rice (you can always add more rice later, but drawing out rice is a bit complicated once you've put it on the nori). Place the ball of rice in the middle of the nori and start spreading the rice, pressing it down gently, until it is equally spread along the nori sheet. You should now have a 1cm high, equal layer of rice on top of the nori. If needed, add some more rice - just remember to keep it even. Flip the nori over so that the rice is facing the mat and the smooth side of the nori is facing upwards.

4. "Can you fill this?"

Now it's time to place a slice of fish (preferably no more than one) on the edge of the nori, along with 1-3 pre-cut slices of vegetables (carrot, cucumber, green onion, asparagus, and so on.. allow yourself to get wild on this matter)..

5."Commence the rolling sequence"

Using the closer edge of the rolling mat, close on the filling with the nori making a rectangular shaped hill and tighten it from above.

6."Continue the rolling sequence"

Move forward, continue rolling in the rectangular hill steps, keeping it tight with every move until you reach the end of the nori. Put pressure on the roll from all three sides at all time, especially on stops to allow it to roll tightly.

7. "And....cut!"

Use a wet, sharp knife to cut the roll in to little sushi units. 6-8 units per roll - that's your call.

About sushi making

So you want to know how to make sushi?
Good. You're in the right place.

In order to make a fine japanese sushi roll (or nigiri) you don't need to go through five years of fish cutting studies in Japan, neither you need anyone telling you that your first time ever sushi looks more like a sea cucumber in rush hour out of the water.
What you do need is some goodwill and of course a good guide to help you through those rough times.

How to make sushi maki

1. "The rough side of the nori"

Feel the nori sheet from both sides and you will find one side to be a bit smooth and the other a little rough. The nori should lay on the rolling mat with the rough side facing upwards.

2."Getting busy with rice"

Get your hands wet, and make about a handful of rice to a ball of rice. It's important to keep your hands wet while working with sushi rice because it is sticky. When you work with the nori though, you should keep them as dry as you.

3. "The spread"

Gently put the rice ball in the middle of the nori sheet, and start spreading it equally on the nori, creating a layer of rice covering almost the entire sheet except the upper margin of about 2 cm that should be kept uncovered. Later on, the margins need to be empty of rice in order to close to sushi roll properly.

4."Can you fill this?"

Now it's time to place a slice of fish (preferably no more than one) on the edge of the nori, along with 1-3 pre-cut slices of vegetables (carrot, cucumber, green onion, asparagus, and so on... allow yourself to get wild on this matter).

5."Commence the rolling sequence"

Using the closer edge of the rolling mat, close on the filling with the nori making a rectangular shaped hill and tighten it from above.

6."continue the rolling sequence"

Move forward, continue rolling in the rectangular hill steps, keeping it tight with every move until you reach the end of the nori. Put pressure on the roll from all three sides at all time, especially on stops to allow it to roll tightly.

7."And....cut!"

Use a wet, sharp knife to cut the roll in to little sushi units. 6-8 units per roll - that's your call.

8."Tada...serve!"

Chunky French Fries :D

Just simple Ingredients :

• 2 1/4 lbs potatoes (scrubbed or peeled)
• sea salt and black pepper (I just used kosher salt)
• 5 garlic cloves (unpeeled)
• few thyme sprigs
• few rosemary sprigs (leaves only)
• Olive Oil

Cooking Instructions :

Pre-heat the oven to 425 with a roasting pan inside.

Cut the potatoes into 1/2 inch thick French fires. Parboil in a pan of salted water for about 5-7 minutes until just tender. Drain and pat dry.

Put a single layer of potatoes on the roasting pan and scatter the garlic and herbs over them. Drizzle generously with olive oil (this step is important if you want crispy fries) and sprinkly with salt and pepper.. Use a pair of tongs to toss the potatoes and coat well with your seasoning mixture and the olive oil.

Bake for 10-15 minutes until the fries are golden brown and crisp, turning a few times during the baking. Drain on paper towels and serve! These go really well with Burger :D