Can whole grain rice be used for sushi?

Futomaki
In Denmark and the rest of the world, sushi is made with white short-grain sushi rice.

I do get questions about brown rice and whether it can be used to make tasty sushi.

White rice

In Denmark, sushi is most often made with white sushi rice. There are several advantages to making sushi with white sushi rice.

The advantages of using white sushi rice are that the individual grains of rice have a smooth surface, which in terms of taste fits perfectly with silky slices of fish. Once the rice is  cooked, it is mixed with the vinegar marinade, which makes the individual grains of rice stick to each other.  That is crucial when making sushi by hand.

Whole grain rice

In Denmark, there are a few sushi restaurants that have experimented with whole grain rice. There are some advantages to making sushi with whole grain rice.

The advantages of using whole grain rice are that they are healthier. They contain more vitamins and minerals than white sushi rice.
Whole grain rice is far more difficult to cook to perfection. The cooked rice is a harder and looser texture, they do not stick together like white sushi rice. This makes it more difficult to make different kinds of sushi, because the individual pieces of sushi tend to fall apart.

Whole grain rice has a slightly dominant nutty taste, which can drown the taste of, for example, salmon or cucumber.
There are advantages and disadvantages to using whole grain rice.  I know for sure that I will continue to make sushi with white sushi rice.

On the Sushi course for beginners, you will learn the secret behind perfectly cooked white sushi rice. You will learn step by step how to make tasty sushi with the most popular fish 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.

What characterizes Nigiri sushi hand technique?

Nigiri
Nigiri sushi is a popular form of sushi which is known for its simplicity and elegance. Technique is used to make small hand rolled pieces of sushi consisting of a rice ball topped with fresh seafood.

It is important to use sushi rice to make nigiri sushi.

A nigiri rice ball is shaped by hand in a special way. To get a specific shape, the experienced sushi chef creates a small air bubble inside the rice ball. The sushi chef makes sure that the texture of the rice is firm enough to hold its shape. It should still soft enough to be edible and not too compact.

The sushi chef adds a small amount of wasabi directly onto a slice of fish. The slices of fish must have the correct size before placing it on the rice ball. With a few fingers and pressure the fish and rice are combined into a piece of tasty nigiri sushi.

Nigiri sushi hand technique requires care and skill to achieve the best result. An experienced sushi chef can create nigiri sushi that melts in your mouth. The perfect balance between the texture of the rice, the freshness of the fish and the taste of wasabi and soy sauce.

Read more about Sushi Chef & Sake Sommelier Zoë Escher

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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 pieces of sushi does a sushi meal contain?

Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher
If you’ve ever wondered how many pieces of sushi make up a full meal, you’re not alone.

Generally speaking, a typical sushi meal can consist of around 10-20 pieces of sushi. This can include a combination of sashimi, a selection and nigiri and several different sushi rolls.

It is important to note that it is not only about the number of pieces of sushi, but also about the quality and variety of the different types of sushi served. A well-balanced sushi meal will have different flavors, textures and ingredients to create a harmonious dining experience.

If you visit a traditional high-end sushi restaurant in Japan, an omakase menu is served where the chef selects a variety of sushi of his choice based on freshness, season and taste.

This can be a great way to experience different types of sushi in a composite meal.

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.

Did you know that there is a right way to use soy sauce for sushi?

White soya sauce plate with sushi
The correct way to use soy sauce for sushi is to consider soy sauce as a condiment. Soy sauce can be equated with salt and pepper, it is a way of flavoring the food.

Most people are aware that when you sprinkle too much salt and pepper on your food, you might find it difficult enjoy the food. It can be almost inedible. The same can apply with soy sauce.

It can be difficult to dose the amount of soy sauce when you dip a piece of sushi into the soy bowl. Some prefer to leave a piece of sushi in the soy sauce for a few seconds before eating it.
I can’t recommend doing that, especially if you’ve spent money on good quality sushi. It will be more difficult to taste the fish and the different vegetables. The soy sauce will cover the natural taste of sushi.

The best way to eat sushi is to dip the individual pieces of sushi quite lightly in the soy sauce. That way you can enjoy the taste of the individual pieces of sushi and get the most flavor for the money.

On the Sushi course for beginners you learn, step by step, how to make sushi with the most flavor possible.

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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.

The reason why your kitchen knives should Always be sharp!


In the last 10 years, I have seen several thousand kitchen knives that are used in private homes. Many of these knives are not quite as sharp as they should be for you to get the full enjoyment.

I can give an example.

If you imagine that you have prepared a roast in the oven. The roast has now been sitting in your kitchen counter for 20 minutes to rest.
In the meantime, you have found your best knife to cut the meat. With the knife you cut the roast into slices, but it is not that easy. The knife you have used is not quite as sharp as when you bought it.
When you have finished, you look at the slices and see that some of the slices are a little uneven and that the meat has also pulled a little. Most people do not think about it, because the roast is enjoyed with side dishes and a delicious sauce.

In Japanese cuisine, it is very important to use a very sharp knife. It is very important that the functionality of the kitchen utensils is as good as possible, as this affects the quality of the food.

The picture shows a tuna steak, which has an even and smooth surface due to the sharpness of the knife.

On the Sushi course for beginners, you learn step by step how to make tasty sushi with kitchen tools that are already in your kitchen.

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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 fresh can seafood be?


Seafood can be so fresh that it is still at body temperature when eaten.

Japan is a country surrounded by sea. Fresh fish and rice have been the most important raw materials in Japanese cuisine for centuries.

Japanese food culture is still based on raw materials being as fresh as possible. There are several reasons for this.

The Japanese population has grown up with shellfish being no more than a day old before it is cooked into tasty dishes. This applies to both fish bought from a fishmonger or in a supermarket.

Japanese cuisine has several iconic dishes where fish and shellfish are eaten raw, such as sushi.

The Japanese have the opportunity to buy raw materials that are either caught or harvested the same day.

The Japanese are very focused on eating healthy and fresh ingredients of the highest quality. It gives joy in life, but also healthy health. It is no coincidence that the Japanese are the population in the world that live the longest.

On the Sushi Course for Beginners, you learn to make tasty sushi step by step with a focus on how to get the most value without compromising on quality.

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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 difference between a Danish Sushi Chef and a Japanese Sushi Chef?


The biggest difference between a Danish and a Japanese Sushi Chef is the food. Yep, I said the food.

Sushi prepared by a Danish Sushi Chef tastes completely different from Sushi prepared by a Japanese Sushi Chef. There are several reasons for this.

Danish Sushi Chefs have a completely different professional background than Japanese sushi chefs. In Japan, different requirements are placed on the skills of Sushi Chefs.

Danish Sushi Chefs use different ingredients in the preparation of sushi than Japanese Sushi Chefs. Japanese chefs use ingredients that highlight the flavor of exactly the fish used for sushi. The taste is highlighted in a way that creates a unique gastronomic experience.

Danish Sushi Chefs use other cooking techniques in making sushi. It ranges from cooking sushi, filleting fish and not least the hand techniques for making the sushi pieces.

On the Sushi Course for Beginners, you learn, step by step, how to make sushi like Japanese Sushi Chefs. You do this because Japanese sushi have the best tastes. You also get the best tips about, which ingredients are best suited for and how to handle fish the best way.

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.

In Japan, what ingredients do sushi chefs use to make sushi rolls?


Sushi chefs in Japan have their very own definition of sushi. Sushi is vinegar-marinated rice with added local ingredients.
In Japan, you will often find Japanese sushi chefs that uses different types of fish and vegetables when they make sushi, and this applies to both nigiri and sushi rolls.

Japan is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and you find many tropical fish in the area. Tropical fish that never reach European latitudes. Some of these fish are also used for sushi. There are types of fish that are best suited for nigiri, while others are used for both nigiri and sushi rolls.

In Japan, the selection of vegetables is large, there are many types of vegetables that cannot be found in Europe.
In Tokyo, Japanese sushi chefs make sushi rolls with either shiitake mushroom or pickled plum. These are not the only vegetables that sushi chefs use when they make sushi rolls.

If you travel to Japan, you should not be surprised if you are served a roll that contains raw materials that are not so common outside of Japan.
On the Sushi course for beginners, you learn step by step how to make tasty sushi from scratch with raw materials that are most in demand for sushi in Denmark.

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.

Why does Japanese sushi taste different than in Denmark?

Sushi chef & sake sommerlier Zoë Escher
In Japan, sushi tastes in a completely different way than in Denmark.
I often meet people who ask what the reason for this could be.

There are several reasons for this.

In Japan, other fish, vegetables and ingredients are used to make sushi.
The Japanese sushi chefs use some other cooking techniques to cook sushi rice.
The Japanese sushi chefs use completely different cutting and hand techniques in the preparation of sushi.

Last but not least, Japanese sushi chefs have up to 35 years of experience in making sushi. You can of course wonder why it takes so many years to be trained as a Japanese sushi chef.

Japanese restaurant guests have very high demands on their food. The rice must be cooked to perfection and the fish, cut into silky slices that melt on the tongue.

In Japan, many sushi restaurants make minimalist sushi, where it’s basically just rice and fish. It makes great demands on the sushi chef’s skills, as you, as a guest, can taste everything.

At the Sushi course for beginners, you learn step by step how to make tasty sushi that you can enjoy with your loved ones.

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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 often does salmon come to Copenhagen?


Salmon is a fish that has become very popular outside of Scandinavia in recent years. In recent years, Asia has become aware of how good the quality of salmon in Scandinavia is and part of the Scandinavian salmon ends up in, among other things Japan.

Denmark is the perfect spot when it comes to fresh salmon, which is suitable for cooking on a pan or eaten raw. Salmon arrives daily from Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands.
A few years ago, Faroese salmon that was farmed out in the sea only came to Denmark twice a week. That type of salmon is the most expensive and initially the demand was not that big. Since then, things have gone strong and Faroese salmon of high quality arrives in Denmark every single day.

On the Sushi course for beginners you learn more about which type of fish is best suited 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.