When it comes to variety, flavor, and accommodating allergies, no food is quite as versatile or as healthy as sushi. However, if you’ve never tried it before, sushi might seem a little confusing and intimidating. How do you hold it? Is the fish always raw? What are the best rolls for beginners? If you’re curious about everything on a sushi menu, there’s never been a better time to try!
What is Sushi?
Although sushi might seem like a fad food, given its increasing popularity, it actually has an incredibly long history, dating back to the ninth century in Japan. As part of their religious restrictions, which prohibited eating meat, Buddhists turned to a combination of fish and rice as dietary staples.
Sushi dishes have come a long way since their start, but are still akin to their simple beginnings. They are formed by wrapping ingredients like fish, krab, lobster, meat, vegetables, and other delicious foods in vinegar-flavored rice to make a uniform roll that can be cut into separate pieces. Along with your sushi, you will typically receive some specific side dishes for your Asian cuisine. A dollop of wasabi (used to clear out sinuses to enhance flavor reception) and a few strips of pickled ginger (to clear out your palate between rolls) are two such accompaniments that are often served with sushi.
The traditional way to eat sushi is by using chopsticks, but no one will blame you for using a fork or even your hands to get a bite of this heavenly food.
Health Benefits
Sushi cuisine is also popular among athletes and health-conscious eaters because each roll is packed with wholesome, fresh ingredients. Seafood offers an incredible amount of proteins and healthy fats, which can help build muscle. The vegetables found in sushi are also beneficial, giving you your daily dose of vitamins in a tasty serving. Last, but not least, the rice is packed with fiber, which can help lower blood sugar levels and reduce cholesterol.
Fan Favorites
For first-time eaters, the following are a few tried and true options sure to make your taste buds sing:
- California Roll – Krab and avocado
- Philadelphia Roll – Salmon, avocado, and cream cheese
- Spicy Tuna Roll – Tuna and spicy mayo
- Shrimp Tempura Crunch – Shrimp tempura, krab, avocado, and crunch
If the thought of eating uncooked fish makes you queasy, check out options with the word tempura attached. Tempura-style rolls start with ingredients that are already seared, then the roll is dipped in a bread batter and fried to crispy perfection. When you’re first starting out with sushi, it’s best to stick with foods and flavors you already know you enjoy, like a yellowtail sushi roll. After that, you can branch out as time goes on. Feeling adventurous, but not sure what an ingredient is? Just ask your server! They’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have and help you find your perfect roll.
Vegetarian Options
Sushi is endlessly customizable, which means you can visit a restaurant and find something for everyone at your table. Whether you have allergies, restrictions, or just simply don’t like an ingredient, you can ask to have your order altered. Each roll is made by hand and every ingredient is added upon the request of the customer, so you can get exactly what you want. Vegans and vegetarians will also enjoy this cuisine’s offerings, with great options like edamame, avocado rolls, seaweed salad, and cucumber rolls.
Whether you’re a novice or an expert, sushi is for everyone. At RB Sushi, our world-class chefs craft each roll using only the finest ingredients to deliver an unforgettable dining experience.
