wasabi for sushi

What is the purpose of pickled ginger for sushi?

by


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

_
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 has wasabi become part of a Japanese sushi meal?

by


Wasabi became part of a sushi meal several thousand years ago.

Japanese sushi is originally a poor man’s dish. Japan is originally a fishing community.

Many years ago (8th century), many poor fishing families lived along the coasts of Japan. At that time, people did not earn much as a fisherman and it was difficult to feed the family. Most meals consisted of rice and fish.

At that time, the Japanese fishermen did not have a refrigerator either. To ensure that a few of the fish caught in the early morning hours for the family could also stick to be eaten in the evening, wasabi was smeared on the fish slices just before it was to be eaten. Wasabi was smeared on the fish slices to take some of the smell and to kill bacteria.

Since then, the meal has been refined to what we know today. Today, wasabi is used as a kind of spice on sushi pieces. It’s a way for sushi restaurants in Japan season a meal.

Read more about Sushi course for beginners

_
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.