Sushi, the beloved Japanese delicacy, is not just about raw fish and rice. In culinary exploration, sushi offers a fascinating amalgamation of flavors, textures, and cultures. The enchanting union of Japanese tradition with the vibrant spirit of Latin cuisine has given birth to the remarkable fusion of 26 Sushi & Tapas. Prepare your taste buds for a delicious adventure where sushi embraces a splash of Latin zest.
Sushi is perhaps the most famous Japanese food in the world. Sushi is defined as any dish made with vinegared sushi rice. Although you can make sushi without using any fish or raw fish, many kinds of seafood are used in sushi dishes.
With Japan surrounded by the ocean, seafood has always been widely consumed — as well as rice. Originally, sushi was fermented fish with rice preserved in salt, and this was a staple dish in Japan for a thousand years until the Edo Period (1603 to 1868) when contemporary sushi was developed. The word “sushi” means “it’s sour,” which reflects sushi’s origins of being preserved in salt. Contemporary sushi was developed to be a type of fast food and remains so to this day.
Sushi vs. Sashimi 101
Is it sushi or sashimi, or are they the same? Some people use the terms interchangeably, while they are two distinct and separate items.
Sashimi means “pierced body,” where Sashi = (pierced, stuck) and mi = (body, meat). Who knew?! Generally, sashimi can be identified or defined as a piece of meat, not necessarily only seafood and not necessarily raw, typically draped over a garnish like a daikon (Asian white radish shredded into long strands) and possibly accompanied by one perilla leaf per slice.
Types: The Basics
Nigiri-Zushi
The most well-known sushi is the oval-shaped sushi called nigiri-zushi, which means hand-pressed sushi. Nigiri-zushi can be made with various toppings and is commonly served in sushi restaurants. Sushi chefs in Japan go through extensive training to learn to make nigiri sushi.
Nigiri-zushi or “hand-pressed sushi” involves a slice of raw fish atop an oblong, compacted oval-shaped mound of rice. Nigiri is generally served in pairs, with a little dab of wasabi between the rice and the fish and sometimes with a small strip of nori (seaweed) belting it all together.
Indulge in the exquisite flavors of 26’s nigiri and sashimi— a perfect fusion of Asian and Latin tastes that will leave you craving more.
Gunkan-Maki
Gunkan-maki is oval-shaped sushi wrapped with a strip of nori seaweed and topped with various ingredients.
Makizushi
Makizushi, or “rolled sushi,” involves strips of fish and vegetables laid in rice and rolled inside nori to make a long cylinder. It’s then typically served cut into six to eight pieces.
Temaki
Temaki, which translates literally as “hand roll”. Temaki involves a nori cone that holds the fish, rice, and other ingredients inside. It’s a fun menu for a home party.
Chirashi-Zushi
Chirashi-zushi or “scattered sushi” is simply a bowl of sushi rice with fish and other ingredients mixed into it.
Uramaki
Uramaki is the “inside-out” roll with fish in the center, then nori, and the sushi rice as the outer layer. These are, like the regular maki, created as long cylinders and then sliced.
Our Yuzu Sweet is unforgettable – Nori outside, salmon, wahoo, and scallion roll, topped with tempura crumbs, yuzu glaze, and rocoto ponzu.
Inari-Zushi
Inari-zushi is encased in a pouch of fried tofu, and typically has no fish, only sushi rice.
Oshizushi
Oshizushi means “pressed sushi.” It is also known as hako-sushi which means “box sushi.” A wooden mold called an oshibako is used to make this form of sushi. Vinegared rice and ingredients are shaped into a block with this mold and then cut into bite-sized pieces and eaten with chopsticks.
Narezushi
Narezushi closely resembles the original form of sushi and is fermented fish with rice and salt, which is preserved for a few months before being eaten. The rice is discarded after the fermentation process; only the fish is eaten.
Zushi or Sushi?
The word sushi, when given a prefix, undergoes consonant mutation to become zushi, which you can look at as just a different way of “voicing” the s. Consonant mutation happens in many languages, and in Japanese, this particular phenomenon is termed rendaku.
Join us for the best Kosher Sushi & Latin fusion food at 26 Sushi & Tapas. Treat yourself to a delicious sushi cocktail bar and experience the perfect blend of sushi, tapas, and happiness. Visit our IG @26SushiTapas and our website 26SushiTapas.com to see our fantastic menus.
Enjoy Happy Hour with us on Sunday (5:30 PM – 8:00 PM) and Monday through Thursday (4:00 PM – 7:00 PM). Order online or make reservations at 305-570-2626. Visit @26sushi_tapas for more details.
