sushi course for beginners

Do You Need a Rice Cooker for Sushi Rice?

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You don’t need to buy a rice cooker to make sushi rice.

A rice cooker is a great tool for cooking all types of rice. However, it’s not essential to buy one if you’re only making sushi rice for 2–4 people.

You can easily make delicious sushi rice in a regular pot. You’ll just need to keep a closer eye on the rice than you would when using a rice cooker.

One downside of using a rice cooker is that the rice can sometimes burn at the bottom, and the inner pot can be difficult to clean.

A rice cooker really comes into its own when making sushi in a sushi restaurant. Most sushi restaurants in Denmark cook around 10 kilos of rice a day. When cooking such large quantities of rice, it’s important that the heat is distributed evenly throughout the pot. This is where a rice cooker can be a great help, making it easier to achieve consistent results.

Learn more about our 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.

Why is the standard of sushi so high in Japan?

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Sushi chef & sake sommerlier Zoë Escher

Japan has many more sushi styles and levels of quality than we are used to in Denmark. The variety is enormous. It ranges from simple everyday sushi to exclusive dining experiences at the very highest level.

At the top, you will find some of Japan’s most exclusive sushi restaurants. Some are so sought-after and private that they are not listed in the Michelin Guide. Others have been recognised with Michelin stars.

There are also many other levels of sushi restaurants in Japan. What they have in common is a generally high standard. Even everyday sushi in Japan can be of a quality that we would consider exclusive in Denmark.

There is a natural reason for this. Sushi originated in Japan and is deeply rooted in Japanese food culture. There are many sushi restaurants, and competition is strong. As a result, there are high expectations when it comes to ingredients, craftsmanship, flavour and precision.

Sushi that is often considered gourmet in Denmark may therefore be seen as everyday sushi in Japan.

In our Sushi Course for Beginners, you will learn step by step how to use some of the fundamental techniques used by Japanese gourmet sushi chefs. You will gain an insight into the art of Japanese sushi making. You will also learn how technique, quality ingredients and precision can take your sushi to a higher level.

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

How do the Japanese view soy sauce?

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White soya sauce plate with sushi

In Japan, soy sauce is regarded primarily as a seasoning. It is used to enhance and balance the flavors of a dish rather than simply adding saltiness. There are almost as many different varieties of soy sauce as there are types of cheese in a Danish supermarket.

But that’s not all. In traditional Japanese cuisine, it is perfectly normal to use several different types of soy sauce in the same dish. This is because soy sauce is brewed and aged in different ways, depending on its intended purpose.

That is why it matters which soy sauce you choose for sushi or for a traditional Japanese noodle soup. These two dishes require different flavor profiles, and the right soy sauce can complement the ingredients and add the perfect finishing touch without overpowering their natural taste.

In our Sushi Course for Beginners, you will learn which type of soy sauce is best suited for sushi and how to use it to enhance the flavors instead of dominating them.

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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 sushi rice be used the next day?

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There are many people who store cooked rice for the next day. It’s a really bad idea to save sushi rice for the next day.

Sushi differs from other rice dishes such as the dish meatballs and Curry.
Sushi is not a dish that is cooked on a pan or in the oven and, this means that the quality of the ingredients used for sushi should be as good as possible.
If sushi rice is more than 1 day old or that vegetables have become a bit slack, then it can be tasted when used for sushi. You will make sushi of a poorer quality.

What happens to sushi rice when stored for the next day is that they become drier and looser in consistency while the rice kernel itself becomes harder.
Besides the fact that it is harder to make sushi with day-old sushi rice, it can also be tasted if the sushi rice is not freshly made.
This is not necessarily the case with day-old rice which is used for Meatball and Curry, as it is the sauce that hides the rice and its taste.

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 kind of sushi do the Japanese prefer to order as take-away?

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Well, both nigiri sushi and the large futomaki sushi rolls are popular among the Japanese. When it comes to take-away, many choose sushi rolls. However, it is not just any sushi roll.

There are many people who buy the large futomaki rolls. In the large rolls, there is room for several different types of filling. With just a few futomaki rolls you embrace the entire food pyramid.
Due to the size of the pieces, they are also easy to transport, they do not tip over so easily.

Nirigi sushi is very popular among the Japanese who are interested in eating several different fish during a meal.
Most often, nigiri sushi boxes are sold with 8 pieces of sushi.
3 of the pieces will be with 3 different kinds of fish. One will be with squid.
The last 2 will most often be vegetarian; it can be Japanese omelet and tofu.
A mixed Japanese nigiri box ensures that proteins come from several different sources without compromising on the healthy fish oil.

On the Sushi Course for Beginners, you learn step by step how to make tasty sushi that can be enjoyed on a daily basis and on special occasions.

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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 long can soy sauce last?

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Soy sauce is fermented soybeans.

In Japan, there are as many different types of soy sauce as there is cheese in a Danish supermarket.
Yep, that’s true.

There are different types of soy sauces for the many styles in Japanese cuisine. For sushi, a specific Japanese soy sauce is used, a soy sauce that is not used for Japanese noodle soups.

All bottles naturally display a recommended expiration date indicating when the soy sauce should be used.
Since soy sauce is made from fermented soybeans, it has a very long shelf life and can usually be consumed even after the expiration date. If you’re unsure, you can always taste it to check the quality.

I store soy sauce outside the fridge too even though the bottle is open, I have always done that. So do Japanese sushi restaurants in Tokyo.

In the Sushi course for beginners, I talk more about which soy sauce is best suited 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.

Is there a big difference in rice for sushi?

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There is a big difference in sushi rice.

There are many countries that grow sushi rice. Japan, the United States, China and Korea grow large quantities of sushi rice every single year.

Within each country there are many different types of sushi rice. It can be compared to if you buy a bottle of white wine from France. In France, there is not just one who produces white wines. No, there are many different types of grape and wineries that produce white wines.

Like grapes for white wines, there are also types of sushi rice that are complex, ie. very difficult to cook and that has an impact on sushi restaurants, but also for you at home who want to make cook quality sushi rice.

In the Sushi course for beginners, you learn step by step how to cook sushi rice, so that the rice you cook at home is of a quality that is suitable for sushi.

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 best to drink to sushi?

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What is best to drink for sushi depends on where in the world you are.

Denmark is a country where wonderful wines are enjoyed all year round. Wines that go well with heavier dishes with meat or fish and seafood dishes that is lighter.

On a warm summer evening, I would suggest that you drink cold white wine that goes well with seafood. There are several different white wines and, I would recommend that you look past a wine merchant, they will be able to make the perfect match.

Champagne is also a very delicious wine to drink for sushi. The fine bubbles go really well with sushi. In Denmark, bubbles are most often drunk at special events. White wine and/or champagne are good choices for sushi.

In Japan, sushi restaurants most often serve cold beer for sushi. At the exclusive restaurants such as Michelin restaurants, you as a guest are offered sake. Sake is not just sake. Of course, it is important to sake wine that goes well with sushi.

When it comes to sushi, the selection of drinks is huge.

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 all restaurants in Japan use the real Japanese wasabi?

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I have been traveling to Japan since 2004 to broaden my horizons and, learning new things from my Japanese teacher. Under normal circumstances, I travel to the Japan every year and on my many trips, I have had many gastronomic experiences ranging from everyday sushi to 2 star Michelin restaurants.

Real wasabi is widespread in Japan. However, not all restaurants use the real wasabi, even in Japan. Usually only Michelin sushi restaurants use the real wasabi.

I have tasted the real wasabi several times in Japan and, I cannot taste the difference. The strong taste disappears a little faster when it comes to the real wasabi.

Wasabi is a horseradish that grows in Japan. It has difficulty growing outside of Japan and therefore artificial wasabi is used. In Denmark, artificial wasabi is widespread it is only a few restaurants that import wasabi from abroad.

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?

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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.