A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO SUSHI
Sushi Counter is the hippest and freshest sushi joint you can find in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Riyadh. Their mission is to consistently provide quality sushi to their patrons and to encourage (or tempt!) those who haven’t tasted one to try it right away. Sushi Counter doesn’t just serve Sushi, they live it. The philosophy and art of preparing the freshest, most wholesome ingredients and presenting them in the most modern attractive and appetising way, is what makes them different from any other sushi restaurants in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh.
Ask any sushi lover what they like about it and you’re likely to get all sorts of expressive answers. While some will tell you that it’s not much about the food but more of the experience, others will express how much they love their sushi – the combination of flavours and textures. People who “hate” sushi are usually those who have had a bad first experience with it and will no longer dare to try again. Sushi can be intimidating to the novice, so we’ve put together all our sushi tips to come up with this ultimate sushi guide.
So, you’ve never had sushi before but now you’re ready to try the world’s most popular Japanese food? We’re going to tell you what you’ve been missing and how you should start to navigate the world of this versatile cuisine. Sushi is a way of preparing food that can go from a street-corner cart to the most exclusive establishment. Sushi is a famous Japanese method of cooking and serving food, based on rice, vegetables, egg, and seafood. Sushi is often thought of as simply raw fish and rice, but there are many varieties of sushi nowadays, some don’t even fish at all!
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What do you need to know about eating sushi?
1. If you like fish (generally), you are going to love sushi.
2. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you can explore more options with cool refreshing veggie based rolls.
3. If you are health conscious or closely watching your diet, sushi is a great meal choice.
2. A Brief History of Sushi
The origins of Sushi are shrouded in the mists of time. It is thought to have originated in ancient China, where people used cooked rice to start a fermentation process to preserve fish. Moving to Japan, this method of preserving and serving fish in rice became popular in the 9th century alongside the adoption of Buddhism, as Buddhists abandoned eating meat and consumed rice, vegetable and small amounts of fish instead. Through the centuries, people adapted and changed the methods of preparing and serving sushi, speeding up the process of fermentation and finally beginning to serve fresh rather than preserved fish. Sushi was also once a food reserved for the elite because of the labour and expense involved in preparing it.
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Finally, in the early 19th century, a modern form of sushi was invented by street stall vendor, Hanaya Yoehi in what is now modern-day Tokyo. Rather than fermenting fish in packed salted rice, Yoehi developed a new style of tasty street food by adding vinegar and salt to just cooked rice served with slices of raw fresh fish. Soon, hundreds of other street food vendors began copying Yoehi’s innovation and this style of sushi spread throughout Japan.
In the 1960s, Japanese businessmen living in California imported their favourite food. The first restaurant serving sushi opened in 1966 in Little Tokyo area. For the first time, Americans were able to try sushi and the little Japanese cuisine became widely known. Soon, American-based chefs began to innovate - creating the first Sushi “rolls” and adding untraditional ingredients like avocado and cream cheese. From America, sushi restaurants started to pop up all around the world, eventually becoming one of the most popular and recognizable global cuisines.
3. Health Benefits of Sushi (and Warning!)
Sushi is packed with nutrients because it relies on fish and vegetables as the main ingredients. Fish provides a lean source of low-calorie, high-quality protein. It's also low in saturated fats and cholesterol, making it a heart-healthy food choice. A healthy diet should incorporate fish at least twice a week, according to the American Heart Association. This is because fish contains high amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential to the healthy functioning of the brain. Omega-3 fatty acids are helpful for neurological disorders and may help to fight depression, ADHD, Alzheimer’s, dementia and diabetes. Fish also contains other healthy vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin D.
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The seaweed wrapping of sushi rolls, Nori, is packed with nutrients. It is low in calories and contains vitamins A, B-6, and C. It also has a healthy serving of Iodine, which is essential for hormone function. Recent studies indicate that seaweed proteins may reduce blood pressure and improve heart health.
Sushi, however healthy it is, is not always a low-calorie option. Because the portions are small, it can be very easy to load up, taking in more calories than necessary, especially if other ingredients and condiments are added like cream cheese and mayonnaise. So, if you start to crave for more sushi after your first order, try other delicious yet lighter options such as the vegan varieties.
Eating Sushi for the First Time
A sushi menu may seem complicated to the newbie, but there are basically four kinds of Sushi.
Nigiri Sushi – It is a small serving of cold molded rice with a slice of raw fish on top. The first type of sushi was developed in Japan and considered the most traditional of all the sushi types.
Maki is a combination of rice, vegetables and fish rolled up in tightly in thin sheets of flattened dried seaweed, called “Nori”. Maki is served sliced into six or eight pieces. Sometimes, the rolls (uramaki) are served inside out with the rice on the outside, while the nori and fish or vegetables in the middle. Maki can also be served as a kind of seaweed cone (temaki) filled with rice, fish and/or veggies.
Chirashi is a bowl of vinegared rice with a piece of fish on top.
Sashimi is a thin slice of raw fish. In some cases, the rice is served on the side, though it is not really necessary.
Sushi can be a disorienting experience if you are not used to it especially when they are served and eaten cold. Many restaurants, like Sushi Counter, will also have other cooked and hot items on the menu like soups, and noodles alongside other Asian inspired hot main dishes, like curries, so there is no need to worry if you really don’t like cold food.
If you are having sushi for the first time, it is a good idea to be with friends who are already sushi enthusiasts. Another option is to ask the sushi chef for guidance on what and how much to order. As a beginner, it’s best to go slow and ease your way into the wonderful world of sushi. Sushi is prepared with only a handful of ingredients, but the combination of flavours, textures, and tastes is amazing. Since sushi has evolved through its long history, restaurants of today are constantly innovating and adding new combinations, which are just as authentic as traditional sushi. This is part of what makes this cuisine so interesting.
Start slowly by choosing items that are more familiar or those with ingredients that you are more comfortable with until you become accustomed to the textures and flavours unique to sushi. It’s also good to prepare yourself mentally. If you encounter something you don’t like, don’t force yourself. Sushi should be a fun learning experience. Leave it and try something else. Below are some other tips that may be helpful for your first take on sushi.
