Can all types of sushi mats be used to make sushi?

Unfortunately not.

The selection of sushi mats is large in Denmark. There are many different types ranging from silicone mats to Japanese sushi mats and not all of them are suitable for sushi.

Kitchen utensils made of silicone are popular and the selection is getting bigger and bigger. Within the last few years, more and more kitchenware shops have started selling sushi mats made of silicone.

Occasionally, I meet attendances who show up on my sushi class with a silicone mat under the arm for which they have paid DKK 250-300. Unfortunately, I will have to disappoint them every time.
Silicone mats are definitely unsuitable for sushi even though they are easy to clean. Silicone is a very smooth material it is very difficult to make nice sushi rolls. In addition, they do not have the same flexibility as sushi mats made of wood. It also makes it difficult to make nice and firm rolls.

At the Sushi course for beginners I tell you more about the type of sushi-eating Japanese sushi chefs. It is a sushi mat that I also sell in my web shop.

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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 is the first thing to check when making sushi?

The first thing I check when I about preparing different raw materials for sushi is the weather.
Humidity and temperature play a major role from handling raw materials to the finished sushi pieces.

The temperature affects the boiling of sushi rice. Temperatures such as minus degrees and hot summer days affect the various steps that lead to perfect cooked sushi rice.

But raw materials such as fish and vegetables are also affected by temperature and humidity. The more moisture is in the weather the more focus you have to have on the different techniques as it does not take a long time before the effects can be seen.

At Sushi course for beginners you will learn more about the cooking techniques used to handle the different steps.

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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.

Can all types of soy sauce be used for sushi?

Most people are not aware of how important the choice of soy sauce has on the entire sushi dinner.
The right soy sauce can enhance the dining experience by 40% it is very important that you use the right soy sauce when you eat sushi.

Sushi should have a fine and delicate taste and it is important to select a soy sauce that is not too strong in flavor or contain too much salt.
If you use a soy sauce that is too strong in flavor it will create an imbalance and you miss the full dining experience. If you use a soy sauce with too much salt the salty taste will cover the whole dining experience.

There is only one soy sauce suitable for sushi which you cannot buy it in supermarkets but only in special stores. At Sushi course for beginners I talk more about where to buy the soy sauce.

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.

Gem

Gem

Gem

Is there a difference between Japanese knives?

Yes, there is a huge difference between Japanese knives.

In Denmark most Japanese knives are made of stainless steel. These knives are of good quality that do not need much maintenance. But, they will never be as sharp as Japanese knives which are made in a different type of steel.

The knife blade of Japanese knives has a special design and they can become very sharp if sharpened the right way. The steel used for that type of knives affects the various raw materials. By using various cutting techniques you can emphasize the aromas, taste and quality of the raw materials for sushi.

At Sushi course for beginners you will learn how to apply the basic Japanese cutting techniques.

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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.

Do you know how use Japanese knife techniques?

The level of gastronomy in Japan is very high one reason for that is that Japanese chefs spend several years learning how to use different cutting techniques.
In Japan the quality of the dishes depends on your ability to prepare raw materials by using different cutting techniques.

If you do not know how to use your knife you will find it difficult to make a extraordinaire tasty dishes.
You will not be able to bring out the unique flavors of the ingredients and create unique dishes.

Using a knife the right way is just as important when making sushi as in making traditional Japanese dishes.

Read more about Traditional Japanese cooking class 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.

What characterizes Japanese cuisine?

Traditional Japanese everyday dishesI do not think there exist a country with such a wide and varied cuisine as Japan.

The Japanese cuisine in itself is very large with many local specialties and regional dishes. You can also find restaurants from the near surrounding countries such as China and Korea.

Europe is slowly making their entry into the Japanese market. You see several restaurants that make classic dishes from European cuisine.
Raw materials from Europe are also found on Japanese shelves in the supermarket.

It’s hard to describe how large and diverse the Japanese cuisine is as it cannot be compared with any other country. With 20 million residents just in Tokyo you can tell that restaurants is very important in the city.

Please read more about the Traditional cooking class 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.

Gem

Gem

Authentic Japanese Teriyaki sauce which you can eat with a spoon

Teriyaki sauce has become a popular sauce which is often used on Japanese dishes. Most people in Europe know only the one which can be bought in most supermarkets and Asian shops.

Teriyaki sauce made from scratch taste completely different. It is a sauce that is so nice and has so much taste that the one who taste it for the first time will eat it directly from the pot with a spoon.

On the course Traditional Japanese cooking class for beginners the attendants learn how to make teriyaki salmon from scratch. It is a dish that highlights the salmon’s unique aromas and the teriyaki sauce gives the dish an extra dimension.

Read more about Traditional Japanese cooking class 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.

What is Japanese chef’s view of classic Japanese dishes?

In Europe and the rest of the world sushi has become a very popular dish.
The Japanese are fond of sushi, but the Japanese cuisine has many other delicate styles to offer.

What most people are not aware of is that the rest of the Japanese kitchen is very neutral in its expression. This is due to the fact that in Japanese cuisine Japanese chefs focus on using hand techniques. I am not only thinking about the hand techniques to use when you mold buns to be baked in an oven.

I am thinking of hand techniques where it takes 20 years of masters. Techniques where you exercise refined your movements so that the gastronomic experience gets better year after year.

On the course “Traditional Japanese cooking class for beginners” who learn as a course student to use different techniques in the preparation of tasty dishes.

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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 is the biggest challenge as a beginner?

There are many challenges if you’ve never made sushi before.

There is of course a big difference if the sushi is made at home or in in a restaurant.

There is a few challenging such as,

Selecting the Japanese ingredients and raw materials used for sushi.
To cook tasty and perfect rice.
To fillet and cut fish in the right quality for sushi.
To prepare various raw materials for sushi
Create tasty sushi so the raw materials are in harmony and becomes a unique dinning experience.

My most important task at the different sushi classes  that I give is to teach my attendants the Japanese tools to make tasty sushi in a quality that you can delight family and friends with homemade tasty sushi.

Please 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.

Gem

What is Japan’s preferred fast food?

The Japanese prefer the fast food dish ramen soup. There are several reasons for that.

It is a dish that is suitable for a busy everyday life. The Japanese live a life as busy as so many others consisting of work, family and various activities.

Ramen soup is a healthy and low fat dish. In Tokyo it is often made of fish stock.
It is a very popular dish in Tokyo which takes a noodle bar less than 5 minutes to cook.
It is a dish that most Japanese eat in less than 10 minutes with chopsticks.
Ramen soup is a dish that is made in many different versions from noodle bar to noodle bar. Yes, every noodle bar has their very own version.

On the Noodle Soup course for beginners you will learn how to make ramen soup as it is served in Tokyo.

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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.