Is porridge suitable for sushi?

Sushi chef & sake sommerlier Zoë Escher

There are many different types of rice, and pudding rice is just one of them.
A question I am frequently asked is whether pudding rice can be used for sushi. My immediate answer is no even though pudding rice also falls into the category of short-grain rice.

That said, I should mention that I have not personally tried making sushi with pudding rice. However, I have made rice pudding many times, and the texture of cooked pudding rice is noticeably different from that of properly cooked sushi rice.

While it might not be something most people think about, the texture of the rice has a significant impact on the overall taste experience. If the sushi rice does not have the right consistency, it can affect the entire dish. Sushi rice plays a key role in the quality of sushi. It should be tender yet firm, never undercooked in the center, and certainly not overcooked. Achieving this requires a specific type of short-grain rice that is cultivated especially for sushi.

In our beginner sushi course, you will learn which types of rice are best suited for sushi and how to cook them properly to achieve sushi rice of the highest quality.

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 Scandinavian fish do the Japanese love?


Yep, it’s good enough.
There is a fish species in Scandinavia which is imported to Japan. It is the fish that most people in Denmark like, namely salmon.

In Scandinavia, the selection of high quality salmon is very large freshly caught salmon from the Faroe Islands and Norway land daily in Denmark and wild salmon from Iceland on a regular basis.
The salmon is of such a good quality that Japanese fish importers have visited Scandinavia to take a closer look at the fish.

Salmon is a fish that is not found in the wild in Japan. It is a tropical climate in the latitudes where completely different fish species thrive and which are not available in Denmark.

The Scandinavian salmon is very popular in Japan and, found in the refrigerated counter at supermarkets throughout the country.

At the Sushi course for beginners, you learn how to make delicious and tasty sushi with the coveted Faroese salmon. Of course, it is not just any Faroese salmon it is the best 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.

Sushi Course for Beginners – Learn Sushi Like Japanese Sushi Chefs in Tokyo

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Do you want to learn how to make sushi using the same techniques mastered by sushi chefs in Tokyo?
Then this course is for you!

At Denmark’s only sushi course taught by a Japanese-trained sushi chef, you will be taught by Zoë Escher, who was trained by a Japanese sushi master from Tokyo. She brings the authentic Japanese sushi tradition directly to your kitchen in Copenhagen.

You won’t just learn how to roll sushi, you’ll learn to understand the ingredients, techniques, and philosophy behind sushi, exactly as sushi chefs in Tokyo do.

On the course, you will learn, among other things:

  • How to prepare sushi rice so it has the perfect consistency and flavor.
  • How to use Japanese ingredients that give sushi its authentic aroma.
  • How to choose fish and shellfish using the same criteria sushi experts look for.
  • The most important cutting techniques and ingredient preparations.
  • How to make three classic types of rolls:
    • Hosomaki (small rolls)
    • Uramaki (inside-out rolls)
    • Futomaki (large rolls)

… and much more.

The course takes place in Copenhagen, where you’ll enjoy a cozy and educational afternoon – and of course, plenty of sushi to enjoy afterwards.

Please read more about the cooking class  Sushi 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.

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


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?


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.

What kind of fish is used for sushi in Japan?


In Japan, many different kinds of fish are used for sushi.
The selection of fish is very very large. Each season offers many different tasty fish.

In Japan, fish is something very special. It is so for several reasons.

Fish in Japan is very fresh. The fish is so fresh that it has only been dead a few hours before it ends up on the dinner table in Japanese homes or sushi restaurants.

The quality of raw materials means extremely much to the Japanese. It should be as fresh as possible.
Some restaurants choose to have a large pool of fish as part of the restaurant. Once guests have placed their order, fish is caught and, prepared for sushi or another tasty dish.

It gives a completely different food experience, as the fish has a completely different consistency. It can be compared to live lobsters, which are first killed just before being placed in a pot of boiling water.

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 Japanese sushi restaurants use topping on the food?

Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher
In Denmark, most sushi restaurants use topping on the food. It is typically sushi rolls such as insite-out which are topped with various ingredients such as roe, seaweed salad, chili mayonnaise, pickled onions and crushed wasabi peas. Sushi rolls are often topped in many different ways.

In Japan, topping is not used in the same way as in Denmark.
The Japanese are very fond of fish of very high quality. They eat as much fish as we eat meat.
So that’s why Japanese customers and Japanese sushi chefs have a slightly different approach to sushi. The sushi pieces should preferably be as simple as possible, ie. with rice and fish are in the center so they are allowed to shine.

Sushi topping is used in Japan. It can be lemon, an herb or a specific type of salt, which is used to highlight fish unique flavors and aromas.

At the Sushi course for beginners, you will learn how to make tasty sushi like Japanese sushi chefs in Tokyo.

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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 seafood be used for sushi?

For that I have to say both Yes and No.

It depends a lot on how it is used in sushi.
You have to think that seafood has a completely different texture than fish. Most fish fillets are quite firm in the meat.

If you look entirely at seafood they remind you most about a bag of mixed candy. Seafood comes in many different sizes, tastes and texture. It is the raw material that is the hardest to use for sushi.

Some seafood used in sushi restaurants outside Europe are very difficult to prepare for sushi, it requires you as a sushi chef to use many different Japanese cooking techniques.

The consistency of seafood is also very different. Some shellfish have a very hard surface while others are very soft. In order for this type of raw material to become a gastronomic experience, you need to know which Japanese cooking techniques are best suited to it.

At the Sushi course for beginners the attendance learns to prepare the most sought after raw materials for sushi.

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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 long can Sushi last if stored in a refrigerator?

Sushi is a dish that is different from other dishes in Japanese cuisine. It is a dish where the shelf life is very short.

Sushi should be eaten the same day it was purchased and there are several reasons.

Raw fish included in sushi together have shelf life as beef Tatar. Since there will be more bacteria in the food the next day.

Avocado is a raw material that quickly turns brown and dull. Most people know what half an avocado looks like the next day if it is not stored in the “right” way.

The individual rice grains also change in taste. The next day, the individual rice grains will be harder to chew.

At the Sushi course for beginners you will learn how to make tasty sushi that you can enjoy for lunch and dinner.

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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.

Sushi is the easiest way to get more vegetables eaten!

Sushi chef & sake sommerlier Zoë Escher

Did you know that sushi can be one of the easiest ways to eat more vegetables without getting tired of your food?

One of the main ingredients in sushi is seaweed. This type of seaweed is cultivated on the seabed in countries such as Japan, Korea, and China, in much the same way as we grow oats and wheat here at home. The flavor varies depending on where it is grown, and in Japan it is typically harvested in the autumn.

After harvesting, the seaweed goes through a thorough process, it is washed, cleaned, dried, pressed, and cut to the right size. In Japan, you can find both everyday seaweed and exclusive quality seaweed for gourmet sushi.

Sushi seaweed is actually the vegetable in the world that contains the most vitamins and minerals. You therefore don’t need to eat much before covering a large part of your body’s needs.

Would you like to learn how to make delicious sushi at home in your own kitchen?

At our Sushi course for beginners, you will be guided step by step through all the techniques.

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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.