What types of vegetables do sushi chefs use in Tokyo when making sushi rolls?

Japanese sushi chefs in Tokyo use different kinds of vegetables when making sushi rolls.

In Japan, local vegetables are often used when making sushi rolls.
There are some vegetables that are more popular than others. They are part of Japanese culture and have a very special meaning for the people.

Shiitake mushrooms and pickled Japanese plums are often used in sushi rolls.

Shiitake mushrooms are marinated before being used for sushi. In sushi restaurants in Tokyo, they are used in large sushi rolls also called futomaki.

Pickled plums with a slightly salty taste are a delicacy in Japan. It adds unique flavors and aromas to food. Pickled plums are also used in sushi rolls. In sushi restaurants in Tokyo, they are used in the smallest sushi roll also called hosomaki.

Read more about Sushi course for beginners

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Which countries produce sushi rice?

There are several countries in the world that produce sushi rice. Japan of course and China, Korea and the United States do also produce sushi rice.

There is quite a big difference between the sushi rice produced in the different countries. The rice grain itself can vary in size and, of course, it has an influence on cooking the rice.

However, I have most experience with using sushi rice which is either produced in Japan or also in the USA. Since these types of sushi rice varieties I learned to cook to perfection when I was trained for Japanese sushi chef.

Read more about Sushi course for beginners

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Zoë has held sushi courses and cooking classes for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

How many different kinds of tuna do sushi restaurants have in Japan?


In Japan, sushi restaurants have several different kinds of tuna on the menu. In Japan, fish is the main source of protein and fish oil. During a week, the Japanese eat a lot of fish. They eat as much fish as meat is eaten in Europe.

Like so many others, the Japanese are happy to be able to choose from several different fish. One of the fish that stands out is the tuna. The meat on the tuna tastes very different depending on where it sits on the fish. Tuna from the stomach is called toro, it is fat light pink tuna and, is an exclusive eat.
Low-fat tuna which is bright red in color is called Akami, it sits at the spine. That piece is used for sashimi and nigiri pieces. That way, the meat pieces can be prepared and eaten in different ways.

The reason why sushi restaurants in Japan have several different pieces of tuna to choose from is that most of the tuna in the world lands at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo, which is the largest in the world.

Read more about Sushi course for beginners

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

What is the purpose of pickled ginger for sushi?


Most people enjoy pickled ginger when eating sushi. It is a regular accompaniment on the sushi plate.

In Japan, ginger is a staple in the Japanese kitchen, much like salt and pepper in Danish cuisine.

Thousands of years ago, the Japanese began pickling ginger. At that time, refrigerators did not exist, and pickling was the best way to preserve vitamins and extend shelf life.

The purpose of pickled ginger with sushi is to cleanse the palate between pieces. This happens naturally when eating ginger. Its strong and spicy flavor stimulates the senses and leaves the mouth ready to enjoy the next piece of sushi.

However, it is not a must to eat ginger between sushi pieces.

Read more about Sushi course for beginners

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Can fish from the supermarket be used for sushi?

No, fish from the supermarket should not be used for sushi.
Sushi is a dish where the fish is eaten raw. It is very important that fish is as fresh as possible to prevent you from getting sick.

The problem with fish from a supermarket is that they have to meet a number of criteria before they can be used for sushi.

You do not know where in the world the fish have been caught.
You also do not know if the fish meets the criteria required for it to be used for sushi.
You also do not know when the fish was caught.
You also do not know how long the fish has been on its way to a supermarket.
You also do not know how long fish has been stored at a supermarket before it is filleted.
Fish from a supermarket is packed in such a way that it is only suitable to be prepared for a warm meal.

Read more about Sushi course for beginners

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Do seaweed for sushi taste different?


Yes, there is a difference in the taste of seaweed for sushi.
There are 3 countries that produce seaweed for sushi and that is Japan, Korea and China. Within sushi seaweed, there are several different types it affects the taste, the structure of the sushi seaweed and the way the seaweed behaves when it is used for sushi.

I have tasted seaweed for sushi from Japan, Korea and China and it tastes different.

Some seaweed sheets taste part of the sea, so it may seem surprising if you are not used to it.
Some seaweed sheets are completely neutral in taste it has an advantage over sushi because it does not affect the taste of the sushi pieces.
Some seaweed can be a little rubbery in consistency when sushi rolls are made and when eating the pieces. It gives a different feeling when biting through the sheet.

Seaweed is very healthy, and you should finally eat loose of it when you have the opportunity.

Read more about Sushi course for beginners

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Can all types of vegetables be used for sushi?

Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher
Not all types of vegetables can be used for sushi.
A vegetable like eggplant is not suitable for sushi at all. There are several reasons why

If you cut an eggplant into slices, then it is not firm in consistency. And once it is cooked on a pan or in the oven, it is very soft and falls apart easily.

Eggplant is also a vegetable that in itself does not have much flavor. It requires the use of some other ingredients that can provide an extra flavor dimension.

Onions are also not a raw material that is optimal to use for sushi.
No matter what type of onion is used, onions have a rather strong taste. Raw onions can also bother the stomach and, not everyone wants to smell of onions the rest of the evening.

At Sushi course for beginners, you learn step by step, to prepare and slice ingredients and make tasty sushi according to the Danish Food Administration’s rules.

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

What type of soy sauce uses exclusive Japanese sushi restaurants in Tokyo?

Exclusive Japanese sushi restaurants differ from other restaurants. In Europe, most people are using the Michelin guide as a yardstick that is not the case in Japan.

In Japan there are many exceptional restaurants that never find their way to the Michelin guide. In these types of restaurants the sushi chefs use a unique soy sauce for the sushi pieces that cannot be bought in shops.

It is a soy sauce that the sushi chefs have often developed themselves but it does happens that it is a recipe that has been passed on for generations. Unfortunately, the soy sauce is secret.

Read more about Sushi course for beginners

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

How many different kinds of tuna cuts are there?


There are several tuna cuts.

An adult tuna weighs 225-250 kilos. Just like on other animals, the quality of the meat is different depending on where on the animal it sits.

Tuna meat from the stomach is called toro. It is fatter than meat from other places on the animal. In Japan, toro is an exclusive and expensive piece, which is full of flavor and umami. The meat is pink in color it is a piece used to make nigiri sushi.

Along the backbone of the tuna sits lean tuna, which is called Akama. The flesh is very red in color and the taste is similar to beef. In Japan, it is used for both nigiri and sashimi.

Then of course there are many other cuts where the fat content and taste are different. No two tuna are alike, so the quality and taste will vary from fish to fish.

In Europe, the selection of tuna cuts is not that big. The fishmongers sell one type of tuna cut that is often suitable both for sushi and for a delicious steak to be on the grill.

At the Sushi course for beginners, you will learn more fish for sushi.

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

What kind of fish can be eaten raw?


Basically, all fish can be eaten raw. However, there is a big BUT.

Not all types of fish are suitable for eating raw. There are several reasons for this.

  1. In some fish species, the structure of the fish meat is of a quality that makes them unsuitable for being eaten raw. It requires you to be a Japanese trained sushi chef to be able to see that.
  2. The place where fish has been caught plays an important factor. There are some places where the world’s oceans are having a hard time due to local pollution. Fish caught in those places should never be eaten raw.
  3. Fish sold at fish auctions is divided into quality grades. Everything that is eaten raw must be of the best quality to avoid getting sick. It requires you to be a Japanese trained sushi chef to be able to see that too.

Read more about Sushi course for beginners

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.