Friday, November 13, 2009

Daring Cooks' Sushi 寿司 Challenge

Daring Cooks' November Challenge – Sushi 寿司 Challenge

(The first sushi is for my fav blogger Faery's Kitchen
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Blog checking line
The November 2009 Daring Cooks challenge was brought to you by Audax of Audax Artifex and Rose of The Bite Me Kitchen. They chose sushi as the challenge.

I have to thank Rose of The Bite Me Kitchen who was the co-host for this month's challenge. She was such a huge boon she really used the simple-stick on me which resulted in the challenge recipe being so simple and clear. She really has the gift of making the difficult easy to understand.

Sushi (寿司 or 鮨 or 鮓) is much appreciated for its delicate taste and exquisite appearance. Sushi actually means vinegared rice, which is the essential ingredient in every sushi recipe. Sushi is simple and cheap to make at home, needs no special equipment and is an excellent way to use left overs.

Although sushi in various forms has been around for fourteen centuries, the modern version was invented in Japan in the 1800’s where a 'hand-formed' sliced fresh fish and vinegared rice ball was eaten as a snack food. Nowadays, sushi is made with various seafood, meats and vegetables, raw and cooked.

The challenge is in four parts:-
Part 1: Making proper sushi rice – you will wash, rinse, drain, soak, cook, dress, and cool short grain rice until each grain is sticky enough to hold toppings or bind ingredients. Then you will use the cooked rice to form three types of sushi:
Part 2: Dragon sushi roll – an avocado covered inside-out rice roll with a tasty surprise filling
Part 3: Decorative sushi – a nori-coated rice roll which reveals a decorative pattern when cut
Part 4: Nigiri sushi – hand-shaped rice rolls with toppings

Below each section we have listed tips, notes, substitutes and suggestions. Don’t worry vegans, gluten-free, vegetarians, those who dislike fish, have allergies, we’ve got something for everyone! For this challenge, we have left a lot of room open for culinary and dietary creativity.

We are allowing a lot of variety in the ingredients, but we do ask that you make all three types of sushi and the sushi rice in the traditional way as described below. This challenge is all about learning how to make restaurant-grade sushi rice plus the techniques for making creative sushi!

The one thing I have learnt is that sushi is very versatile - cheese and vegemite, cheese and pickels where some of the surprise winners for me, I have had over 18 requests to make these for BBQs. Don't be afraid of sushi too many people think 'raw fish' when you say sushi in fact sushi means "vinegared rice". Think of it as the Asian sandwich any filling or toppping you can have on a sandwich you can have with sushi. I'm staggered at the range of creativity shown by the Daring Cooks'. And it seems that the sushi rice recipe seems to give excellent results for most of thte Daring Cooks'.

I was stunned and delighted by the efforts shown in the forums.

Below are some of my sushi efforts over the month.

Nigiri #1
Salmon wrapped nigiri with a scallop cap and topped with three kinds of flying fish roe. I lightly seared the salmon on one side with a portable flamer.
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I made eight they cost 60cents each. I think they would cost about retail $4 each if you could found them in the first place!

Nigiri #2
Top of picture of nigiri going clockwise – Cheese and vegemite, red toasted capsicum (bell pepper), tuna jerky, asparagus spear with beef strip, squid, squid and tuna jerky, shiitake mushroooms.
Centre nigiri- intimation crab stick, lotus root and red toasted capsicum (bell pepper)




Vegemite is superb on sushi - the cheese and vegemite was excellent. If you have vegemite at home do try it it really goes well with sushi - vegemite tastes a little llike soy sauce and is a black paste for non-Aussies.

Spiral Roll #1


Nigiri rolls #3
Crab claws/soy sauce sesame, lotus root and red capsicum, spicy sausage/bamboo charcoal sesame, asparagus/garlic sesame, imitation crab/wasabi sesame.




The local Japanese store had a sale on flavoured sesame seeds they were only 90c for 100grams, they are delicious especially the wasabi sesame flavour.

Green wasabi sesame, black bamboo charcoal sesame, 'red' soy sauce sesame and brown garlic sesame.


Nigiri #4
Going from L to R - crab sticks with soy sesame seeds, quail eggs with flying fish roe, cheese and vegemite, sardine with wasabi sesame seeds, sardine with BBQ bamboo sesame, flying fish roe.
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Decorative Roll #2
There are a lot of decorative rolls this pattern is called Coin (Whirlpool) sushi it is based on the design of the old Japanese coin that had a hole in the centre. The difficulty is 2/5 on the sushi design scale.
See here for details on how to make this decorative roll. It is fairly simple but you do need a very very sharp knife.

Coin (Whirlpool) Sushi



Nigiri #5 - some hot dog and cheese nigiri rolls



A set of dragon rolls I made for a Melbourne Cup BBQ I had today "Shocking" won. The red dragon is roasted red capsicum (bell pepper).





Two-Flower decorative roll


Ham and corn dragon roll
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Two-flower sushi rolls

Ingredients
2 cups of white sushi rice
1/5 cup yellow sushi rice (or a filling of your choice fish, meat, vegetables, cream cheese)
1/5 cup pink sushi rice (or a filling of your choice fish, meat, vegetables, cream cheese)
2 sheets nori
a small amount of boiled green vegetable, such as spinach or chopped snow peas
Method
1. Lightly toast the nori. Place it on a bamboo mat. Spread the white sushi rice over the nori, leaving about ¼ inch of nori free on the near and far edges.
2. Make a ridge of white sushi rice running vertically across the middle of the nori (Fig 1), then make two more ridges, one on each side, for a total of three. (Fig 2)
3. Place the second sheet of nori lightly over these three ridges, and using a long cooking chopstick, press the nori down into the valleys between the ridges. (Fig 3)
4. Fill one of these valleys with yellow rice and the other with pink rice. Place a line of the boiled greens along the outside of the two outermost ridges (Fig 4), lift the mat, and roll from both sides.
5. Slice into eight with a very sharp wet knife, wiping the blade clean with a damp towel, after each cut.
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RECIPES

PART 1 : SUSHI RICE (makes about 7 cups of cooked sushi rice)

Preparation time: 1¾ hours consisting of :-
Rinsing and draining rice: 35 minutes
Soaking rice: 30 minutes (includes 5 minutes making the vinegar dressing)
Cooking and steaming time: 25 minutes
Finishing the rice: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
  • 2½ cups uncooked short grain rice
  • 2½ cups water
  • For superior results use equal volumes of rice and water
Optional Ingredients
  • 3 inch (75mm or 15 grams) square dashi konbu (or kombu) (dried kelp seaweed) wipe with a damp cloth to remove white powder & cut a few slits in the sides of the kelp to help release its flavours
  • 2½ teaspoons (12.5 mls) of sake (Japanese rice wine)

Sushi vinegar dressing
  • 5 Tablespoons (75 mls) rice vinegar
  • 5 Teaspoons (25 mls or 21 grams) sugar
  • 1¼ Teaspoons (6.25 mls or 4.5 grams) salt
DIRECTIONS:
Rinsing and draining the rice
  1. Swirl rice gently in a bowl of water, drain, repeat 3-4 times until water is nearly clear. Don't crush the rice in your hands or against the side of the bowl since dry rice is very brittle.
  2. Gently place rice into a strainer and drain well for 30 minutes.
Soaking the rice
  1. Gently place the rice into a heavy medium pot with a tight fitting lid (if you have a loose fitting lid use a piece of aluminium foil to make the seal tight).
  2. Add 2½ cups of water and the dashi konbu.
  3. Set the rice aside to soak for 30 minutes, during this time prepare the sushi rice dressing.
Preparing the Rice Vinegar Dressing
  1. Combine the rice vinegar, sugar and salt in a small bowl.
  2. Heat on low setting.
  3. Stir until the mixture goes clear and the sugar and salt have dissolved.
  4. Set aside at room temperature until the rice is cooked.
Cooking the rice
  1. After 30 minutes of soaking add sake (if using) to the rice.
  2. Bring rinsed and soaked rice to the boil.
  3. Reduce heat to the lowest setting and simmer, covered, until all the water is absorbed, 12-15 minutes. Do not remove the lid during this process. Turn off heat.
  4. Let stand with the lid on, 10-15 minutes. Do not peek inside the pot or remove the lid. During this time the rice is steaming which completes the cooking process.
Finishing the rice
  • Turning out the ric
  1. Moisten lightly a flat thin wooden spatula or spoon and a large shallow flat-bottomed non-metallic (plastic, glass or wood) bowl. Do not use metallic objects since the vinegar will react with it and produce sour and bitter sushi rice.
  2. Remove the dashi konbu (kelp) from the cooked rice.
  3. Use the spatula to loosen gently the rice and invert the rice pot over the bowl, gently causing the cooked rice to fall into the bowl in one central heap. Do this gently so as not to cause the rice grains to become damaged.
  • Dressing the rice with vinegar
  1. Slowly pour the cooled sushi vinegar over the spatula onto the hot rice.
  2. Using the spatula gently spread the rice into a thin, even layer using a 45° cutting action to break up any lumps and to separate the rice. Don't stir or mash rice.
  3. After the rice is spread out, start turning it over gently, in small portions, using a cutting action, allowing steam to escape, for about a minute
  • Fanning & Tossing the rice
  1. Continue turning over the rice, but now start fanning (using a piece of stiff cardboard) the rice vigorously as you do so. Don't flip the rice into the air but continue to gently slice, lift and turn the rice occasionally, for 10 minutes. Cooling the rice using a fan gives good flavour, texture and a high-gloss sheen to the rice. The vinegar dressing will be absorbed by the hot rice. Using a small electric fan on the lowest speed setting is highly recommended.
  2. Stop fanning when there's no more visible steam, and all the vinegar dressing has been adsorbed and the rice is shiny. Your sushi rice is ready to be used.
  • Keeping the rice moist
  1. Cover with a damp, lint free cloth to prevent the rice from drying out while preparing your sushi meal. Do not store sushi rice in the refrigerator leave on the counter covered at room temperature. Sushi rice is best used when it is at room temperature.
* Tip: To make sushi rice: for each cup of rice use 1 cup of water, 2 Tbs rice vinegar, 2 tsp sugar, ½ tsp salt and 1 tsp sake. For superior results use equal volumes of rice and water when cooking the sushi rice since the weight of rice can vary. Weight of 2½ cups of uncooked rice is about 525 grams or 18½ ounces.
* Tip: While the rice is draining, soaking and cooking prepare your rice vinegar dressing, sushi fillings and toppings.
* Tip: Photo series on How to Cook Rice with a Pot
http://www.sushiencyclopedia.com/how_to_make_sushi/how_to_cook_rice_with_a_pot.html
* Tip: Photo series on How to Make Sushi Rice with Tools You Already Own
http://www.sushiencyclopedia.com/how_to_make_sushi/how_to_make_sushi_rice_with_tools_you_already_own.html

NOTES:
Sushi Rice – choose a short or medium grain rice. Do not use Arborio, long-grain, or parboiled white rice. Medium-grained calrose is a suitable rice. Rice expands (about 3 times) when cooked so make sure your pot is large enough. Washing the rice removes the rice flour that coats the rice and gives a fresh flavour and scent to the cooked rice. Look for rice that is labelled 'sushi' rice. Cooked sushi rice can be placed in plastic bags and frozen for 3 months, microwave when needed. Cooked sushi rice should be sticky, shiny and the individual grains of rice can been see. Price: AUS $4/KG.

Dashi konbu – or ( dashi kombu) – dried kelp, it looks like broad, leathery, wrinkly greenish ribbon often coated with a white powder. The darker green the leaves, the better the quality of kelp. Dashi konbu adds a refreshing light ocean taste to sushi rice. Price: AUS $1.50 for ten 3”(75mm) squares.

Rice Vinegar – this gives prepared sushi rice its unique clean, crisp taste. Do not use bottled “sushi vinegar” as it is too harsh and has a bitter after-taste. Look carefully at the label of the rice vinegar it should have NO SALT and NO SUGAR in the product. Apple cider vinegar is a good substitute if rice vinegar is not available. You can use mild white wine vinegar or mild red wine vinegar if you cannot find rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar. DO NOT USE NORMAL WHITE VINEGAR it is too harsh. Price: AUS $4 /500ml bottle.

Sake – Japanese rice wine. Do not use cooking sake or Chinese cooking rice wine, look for a reasonably priced drinkable sake. Refrigerate opened sake & use within two months. You can use vodka or a mild tasting gin if sake is not available. Price: AUS $10/500ml bottle.

Sugar – you can use mild honey or any other vegan substitute to give the equivalent sweetness.


PART 2 : Dragon Rolls (also called Caterpillar Rolls)

Preparation time: 30 minutes, plus 1¾ hours to make the sushi rice
Cooking time: about 5 minutes (grilling the eel)

Yield: 2 inside-out (uramaki) sushi rolls

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 sheet 7”x8” (17.5cmx20cm) of toasted nori (dried seaweed sheets), cut into halves
  • 1/2 Japanese cucumber
  • 2 cups of prepared sushi rice
  • Glazed Barbecued Eel (ungai) (about 3½ ounces or 100 grams)
  • 1 Avocado
  • Vinegared Water – ½ cup of water combined with a dash of rice vinegar
  • Various small amounts of sauces to use as the flames of the dragon (or legs of a caterpillar)

Optional
  • 2 tablespoons (25 grams or 1 oz) Fish Roe (Fish eggs)

DIRECTIONS:
1.Cut cucumber into strips ¼ inch (6mm) x 7” (175mm) long, then salt, rinse & dry the strips.
2.Grill (broil) the eel for about 2-5 minutes until bubbling. Cut into two lengthwise strips.
3.Halve, pit and peel the avocado. Cut the avocado halves into thin even 1/8 inch (3 mm) slices. Fan out the cut avocado into a 7 inch (175 mm) overlapping pattern.
4.Cover bamboo mat with plastic wrap. Place a sheet of nori shiny side down, lengthwise, on the edge the mat.
5.Moisten lightly your hands in the bowl of vinegared water.
6.Place one cup of rice on the nori and gently rake your fingertips across grains to spread rice evenly. Do not mash or squash the rice onto the nori, the rice should appear loosely packed and be evenly distributed over the entire sheet, you should be able to see the nori sheet in a few places.
7.Flip the rice-covered nori over (so the bare nori is now on top) and place on the edge of the mat closest to you.
8.Arrange one of the eel strips across the length of the nori, not quite centred on it but a little closer to you. Place half the cucumber sticks next to the eel.
9.Lift the edge of the mat closest to you with both hands, keeping your fingertips over the fillings, and roll the mat and its contents until the edge of the mat touches straight down on the nori, enclosing the fillings completely. Lift up the edge of the mat you're holding, and continue rolling the inside-out roll away from you until it's sealed. Tug at the mat to tighten the seal. If the rice doesn't quite close the roll add more rice in the gap and re-roll using the mat to completely cover the inside-out roll. Place the roll on a damp, clean smooth surface.
10.Spread about 1 tablespoon of the optional fish roe along the entire top of the rice-covered roll. Using the plastic covered mat gently press the fish roe so it adheres to the rice.
11.Slide a knife under one fan of avocado and transfer it onto the top of an inside-out roll. Gently spread out the avocado layer to cover the entire roll. Lay the plastic wrapped mat over the avocado-covered roll. Squeeze very gently to shape the roll.
12. Lay a sheet of plastic wrap over the roll. Slice the roll into 6-8 equal, bite-sized pieces, wiping your knife with a damp towel before each slice. Discard the plastic wrap. Repeat the above to make one more roll.
13.Arrange the cut pieces on a serving plate with the sauces so the finished dish appears as a dragon breathing fire and flames (or a caterpillar with many legs).

* Tip: The most common mistake is having too much filling the golden rule is less is more when it comes to making sushi it is easier to roll an under-filled roll than an over-filled roll.
* Tip: Dampen your knife with a moist lint-free towel before every cut – this prevents the sushi rice from sticking to your knife.
* Tip: Excellent videos on making Dragon Rolls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQZGRohVNFQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo55iBN9FQs&feature=related

NOTES:
Bamboo mat (makisu) – A 10 inch (25cm) square mat made of thin slates of bamboo tied together with string.
Substitutes: a thin magazine cut to size wrapped in plastic wrap or a few layers of parchment paper cut to size about 10 inch (25cm) square.

Nori – Sheets of seaweed (laver) processed into thin sheets about 7 inches x 8 inches (17.5cm x 20cm) in size. Always re-toast the nori sheet over a gas stove on low flame for 5 to 10 seconds, or place nori on a clean oven rack and bake it in a preheated 350F-degree (180C) oven for 30 seconds. Nori should be sealed tightly in a plastic bag and used within a few months. It can be stored in the freezer. Nori will deteriorate if left out of its sealed package so use quickly.
Substitutes: Thin cooked egg omelette cut to same size as a nori sheet (7 inches by 8 inches or 17.5cm x 20cm). Also soya bean wrappers, rice paper, tofu wrappers, dosas, crepes or an overlapping layer of thinly sliced cooked vegetables.

Glazed Freshwater Barbecued Eel (unagi) – Deliciously rich and a little like pork they are sold in packs in the freezer (and sometimes the fresh fish) section of Asian markets.
Substitutes: Teriyaki chicken, cooked crab meat, smoked fish, smoked chicken, seared beef with BBQ sauce, deep fried tofu with dark soya sauce, tinned pink or red salmon, smoked salmon, fresh cooked soy beans with a selection of dark sauces, caramelized onions, firm cream cheese, or extra avocado with BBQ sauce as the filling. Any remaining eel should be left in the package re-wrapped in plastic and returned to the freezer as quickly as possible.

Japanese Cucumber – Japanese cucumbers are thin-skinned, seedless and contain much less water than normal cucumber.
Substitutes: English or hothouse cucumbers which have been peeled, de-seeded and salted as above. If not available try matchsticks of your favourite crisp vegetable.

Avocado
Substitutes: If not available use slices of roasted capsicum (bell pepper), slices of roasted tomatoes, lightly cooked whole snap (snow) peas, slices of Japanese daikon radish or other cooked thinly sliced vegetables, or slices of 'sushi' grade fish such as tuna, yellow tail and red snapper; smoked salmon, pastrami, salami, various colours of fish roe, or various colours of sesame seeds.

Fish Roe (Fish eggs or caviar) – most roes (fish eggs) are rich so they are served in small portions. Try salmon roe (ikura), smelt roe (masago) or seasoned flying-fish roe (tobiko).
Substitutes: You can use toasted sesame seeds or black onion (nigella) seeds as a vegan choice.

PART 3 : Spiral Sushi Roll
This is easiest 'decorative' sushi roll.

Preparation time: 15 minutes, plus 1¾ hours to make the sushi rice

Yield: One Roll, cut into 8 pieces

INGREDIENTS:
  • 2½ cups prepared sushi rice
  • 2 sheets of toasted nori, each sized 7”x8” (17.5cmx20cm)
  • Six assorted fillings, each filling should be the size of a pencil (see note below)
DIRECTIONS:
1.Join 2 sheets of nori by moistening the adjacent edges and overlapping them about ½ inch (12mm).
2.Place this double sheet shiny side down on a rolling mat, part of the nori will extend beyond the mat.
3.Using moist fingers place 2½ cups of rice on the nori and gently rake your fingertips across grains to spread rice evenly, leaving ¼ inch (6mm) nori showing on the both ends of the sheet. Do not mash or squash the rice onto the nori, the rice should appear loosely packed and be evenly distributed over the entire sheet, you should be able to see the nori sheet in a few places.
4.Using your fingers form six grooves (in the same direction that you will be rolling the mat) at even intervals across the bed of rice. Make the first groove about 2 inches (50 mm) from the edge of the nori sheet. Form the grooves by pushing the rice away, do not mash or squash the rice, leave a loose one grain layer of rice in the bottom of the grooves. Level the areas between the grooves where you have pushed the rice.
5.Place your fillings in the grooves. Fill the grooves a little higher than the surrounding rice bed.
6.Then roll the sushi up from the edge closest to you, this will form a spiral pattern of nori, rice and fillings inside the roll.
7.Slice into 8 pieces with a very sharp wet knife, wiping the blade with a damp cloth after each cut.
8.Place the pieces on a platter and garnish.

NOTE:
Make each groove about a finger-width wide they will hold about 1-2 tablespoons of filling. Use fillings that compliment each other and are highly coloured. Use parboiled vegetables cut into strips, seafood, left over eel, smoked fish or chicken, whole cooked beans, edible flowers etc....

PART 4 : Nigiri Sushi
Nigiri sushi is the type of sushi most often made in sushi bars. In Japanese, nigiri means “squeeze”.

Preparation time: 30 minutes, plus 1¾ hours to make the sushi rice

Yield: 14-16 pieces of sushi

INGREDIENTS:
  • 2 cups prepared sushi rice
  • 8 pairs of assorted toppings, 200 gms/7 ozs total of fish, meat or vegetables (see note below)
  • 1 tablespoon Wasabi (paste, reconstituted powder) or any other paste to adhere topping to rice
Optional
  • Garnishes such as Ginger (pickled), chilli strips, vegetables flowers etc
  • Thin strips of nori or vegetables (for tying topping on)
DIRECTIONS:
1.When handling sushi rice, make certain your hands are very clean. To keep the rice from sticking to our hands moisten your hands with vinegared water.
2.Form nigiri sushi by scooping up a small amount (about 2 tablespoons) of rice with your forefinger and second finger of your right hand and placing it in your cupped left palm.
3.Use the fingers and thumb of your right hand to form it into a long, narrow mound (about 2 inches x 1 inch wide or 50mm x 25mm) in your cupped palm.
4.Press enough to make the rice hold firmly together. Place the nigiri on a damp cutting board flat side down. Don't let sushi touch or they'll stick to each other. At this point, you can cover the sushi with plastic wrap, and they'll keep at room temperature (not the refrigerator) for several hours.
5.Smear a thin line of wasabi on top of the rice and place the topping piece on it. You may need to press the topping down lightly with your fingers and adjust the shape of the rice accordingly to form an attractive piece of nigiri sushi. If your topping is very loose like fish roe you can place a strip of nori (higher than the rice) around the nigiri and form 'battleship' sushi. The cavity that the nori forms holds the topping so it does not fall off.
6.Garnish as desired and use strips of nori (or vegetable) to tie the topping to the nigiri if needed.
7.It is customary to make nigiri sushi in pairs, so make two of each variety.

* Tips: A great video on making nigiri sushi
http://www.howcast.com/videos/270-How-To-Make-Sushi
A great web page on slicing fish for nigiri
http://www.sushilinks.com/sushi-recipes/how-to-buy-fish/index.html

NOTES:
Seafood nigiri must use sushi grade (sashimi grade) fish. Try tuna, red sea bream (red snapper), yellowtail or salmon. Cooked shrimp, cooked crab, cooked meat can also be used! You can use any vegetable you wish try asparagus, pumpkin, carrot, avocado, cucumber, shiitake mushroom, tofu, thin sliced egg omelette, etc... Thinly slice or julienne vegetables, parboiling if necessary tie on with a thin (1/4” or 6mm) strip of nori or vegetable strip wrapped around the whole sushi if needed..

*MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE YOU MUST READ THIS* – If you are using raw fish or raw meat it must be 'sushi' grade (sashimi grade) ask your fishmonger or butcher for advice and if in doubt don't use. Find your local Japanese market and ask them where the best sushi (sashimi) fish is. Maybe you can buy sushi grade fish at your local sushi bar. Purchase flash-frozen sashimi grade fish which is guaranteed to be free of all parasites. Only salt-water fish and shellfish should be consumed raw. Crab and prawn (shrimp) should always be cooked. Sashimi grade fish should have a clean cool smell if it smells fishy it is a sign that the fish is old and cannot be used. If you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system only use cooked ingredients. There is no need to use raw fish or raw meat in sushi.

TO DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE RECIPE CLICK HERE

Resources
Written instructions on making various forms of sushi can be found here http://homepage3.nifty.com/maryy/eng/sushi_roll.htm
http://www.sushiencyclopedia.com/index.html

Photos
Dragon Roll
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Photo series for making Dragon Roll
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Nigiri Rolls
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Photo series for making Nigiri
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The way to do the six fillings for the spiral roll is as below.
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65 comments:

TaGa_Luto said...

Wow! you never cease to amaze me. These is what i call sushi bonanza. I love to learn how to make the coin sushi, they look beautiful. Well, what can i say this months challenge was wonderful. Although i'd admit, sushi is a staple at home but this challenge made me make some other ways to prepare sushi. And this challenge has demystified as to what sushi really is! Good job to both you and Rose.

Winnie said...

Yay! I can finally see your pictures!
I've yet to do my challenge- it's going to happen today so I can post tomorrow- great job as always and thanks for co-hosting this wonderful sushi challenge!

Anonymous said...

What a FANTASTIC post! I love all the pictures and detailed explanations and tips. Job SUPER well done!

Although I'm a veg, I love making sushi with different vegetable fillings and you have inspired me to try different types of roll and presentations...

Thank you so much for the inspiration!

Last but not least - a very big thank you for your wonderful comment on my blog. It just made me day!

I was born in New Caledonia... not too far from you and spent every summer in Sydney when I was a child, so I have a very soft spot for Australia... :)

vibi said...

WOW! I'm floored once again...

Okay, first I have to say I can't eat anything that comes from the sea, so I'm kinda glad not t o be part of the cooks this month, but frankly for the sheer fun of rolling sushi I regret it.

Audax, you are quite amazing... I'm sure I'm being redundant here! LOL

I especially love the sushis that have a design inside! Beautiful!

P.s.: You guessed right! LOL Tuxedos don't protect from the cigar's smoke! LOL But the automatic tanslator as you know is not perfect... so... not tuxedos but in victorian times "smoking jackets" did protect clothes, from cigar's smoke odors! LOL

Asha @ FSK said...

WOW! you do love sushi!! :)) So much variety!! beautiful...

Rose said...

Audax,

It was SUCH an honor to do this challenge with you. I cannot thank you enough for including me in the fun, unique Daring Cooks! The teamwork between us resulted in some very successful sushi. Your variety amazes me, as always!

Thank you for exploring this often misunderstood and feared dish with me. Hopefully, people will begin to see how fun & easy sushi is to make and that they can think outside of the box in terms of toppings & fillings!

My respect and admiration for you both as a cook and as a friend is always growing :)

~Rose

Begoña said...

Impresionante !!!!!
A wonderfull post!!!!!!
You have many kinds of sushi....many, many....
Un saludo, Begoña

Monkeyshines in the Kitchen said...

Wow - Your beautiful nigiri are exactly that. just breathtaking.

thanks again for co-hosting this incredible challenge! Dave and I had an absolute blast with it. I always wanted to have sushi because it's so pretty, but never found anything I could really eat or enjoy.

Now we'll make it again ourselves (and again and again)! Thanks for the coaching and the inspiration!

Isabelle Lambert said...

tu m'impressionnes Audax ! c'est absolument fantastique ce que tu as fait, et tellement professionnel!
Il y a des heures de pratique, c'est certain...
j'aime les sushis...sans les feuilles de nori.

chapeau bas pour ce challenge :)

Sue said...

WOW, WOW, WOW!!! It looks like you had a blast with all of this sushi! You could title this post "Everything you always wanted to know about sushi:)" Amazing little tasty works of art! My husband loooooves sushi and would be in heaven at your house:) Kudos to you!

P.S. I love the dragon!

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Wow, you are really skilled! Those sushi look fantastic and so beautiful! Very daring indeed!

Cheers,

Rosa

NKP said...

Gorgeous! Thanks for such a fun challenge.

Wolf said...

You ALMOST make you want to like sushi.}:P

Barbara Bakes said...

Your sushi is a work of art! Thanks for a really fun challenge and getting me to step outside my comfort zone!

Eat4Fun said...

Audax,

Thanks for hosting this month's DC Challenge! You and Rose did a great job and your variation, enthusiasm and pictures really provide a good example of sushi making as well as the spirit of being a member of the the Daring Kitchen.

Congrats! John

Wic said...

From now on I will just call you my little kitchen goddess. I hope that’s alright?
You are amazing and I adore you. Thanks for this Challenge. It was great fun.

Wic said...

oh the shame. It must be my PMS that made you a goddess, when you are a God. so please ignore me in the future. still love you.

Lauren @CoffeeMuffins said...

Wow what a lot of beautiful sushi, I particularly love the look of the whirlpool sushi! It was a great challenge, thanks!

VeganPower said...

wow !
many choices of sushi, what imagination:)
I love the one with the bunches of tomatoes, it looks like a deer, it's super cute and original!
I loved making this challenge even half, but I preferred to make sushi caterpillar that seemed more complicated than the rest.

Thank you soooo much for your feedback in my website.

Laura ;)

Lauren said...

Thank you for such a fantastic challenge! You actually got me to like sushi =D. All of your sushi is stunning - such amazing flavours in there!

Lovlie said...

I'm in awe! Wonderful! Too beautiful to eat! When you think of all the time, effort and love that goes into each sushi and you end up eating them in just one bite, less that 3 seconds! But then it's well worth it! Thanks for this challenge I really enjoyed it and I'm definitely making sushi rice the right way now, every time!

natalia said...

Dear Audax, everytime you leave me speachless !! You work so much on the challenge and achieve such wonderful results ! Bravissimo !

Simones Kitchen said...

How gorgeous does this all look Audax and it makes me sad that I haven't had time to do this challenge!! I might still make it a late entry if I manage to squeeze a little more time out of the day.. But I will for sure make it at some point as I would love to learn this!

chef_d said...

Thank you for this challenge! Im amazed at the variety of your sushi :)

Amy I. said...

Audax, your creativity astounds me! Thanks so much for hosting my favorite challenge so far.

Jenny said...

All your sushi looks beautiful and I love your flavors and toppings! The nigiri in the very first picture is absolutely stunning - it looks like something out of a glossy food magazine!
This month's challenge was wonderful. "e had so much fun with it and now home-made sushi will be a staple in our home.
You and Rose have been such wonderful hosts, encouraging and helpful. Big thanks!

Sarah said...

I am book marking this page. Your sushi is wonderful and creative. Thanks for all your help on this challenge.

Julio said...

What can I say... Astonishing. I have spent 10 minutes scrolling up and down only to look at the pictures. You really can make incredibly beautiful sushi. ¡Enhorabuena!

Lori said...

Very impressive Audax. Seems like everything you are interested in is thoroughly researched, planned and enjoyed. A truly bountiful harvest. I think you eat life Audax with much passion!

Barbara said...

I don't think I have ever seen sushi as beautiful as yours. And your photos are magazine perfect!

pattscakes said...

WOW! your sushi looks amazing! I am just starting to eat sushi and would really like to try making it. Amazing job!

Angelica said...

Thankyou Audax for co-hosting this challenge. this was something i've never would have made without this push from Daring Cooks! Once again your pictures and variations are mind-blasting! good job

Frenchie said...

I am so happy that you hosted this challenge. I am always so impressed by your dedication to DB and DC and your incredible attention to detail. What better way to show case that than with sushi. Thank you for an awesome challenge

Trish said...

I think the word is 'stunned'...I am stunned into silence. Amazing! Your photographs are absolutely incredible and after traipsing around looking at all these sushi blogs in this challenge....I am just going to stop here...wowsa!

Jenn said...

Thanks for hosting with Rose! I am in awe of all of the different sushi rolls that you made!

Tummywise said...

ohhh... to have your creativity. thanks for hosting this month's challenge, by the way. I loved making the sushi.so fun!

Just for Kicks said...

Thank you for your kind words, Audax! You made me evening. I truly did enjoy this challenge. It's always good to be pushed outside the comfort zone. I can't wait for next month's challenge. See you around. :)

BICE said...

Your sushi is perfect. Congratulations also photography is worthy of one of the best cookbooks.

marilu perez said...

Stunning post! I wanted to thank you for having propose this amazing challenge. I have enjoyed a lot!

pigpigscorner said...

You never fail to amaze me! Love all your wonderful creations! thanks for organising this month's challenge, I really enjoyed it.

Anonymous said...

I'm in awe of the variety you've done, and just how inspired some of the flavour cominations are. And I'm absolutely bowled over by the presentation. 'Gorgeous' doesn't even begin to describe it. Particularly the really pretty ones (#6, I think you labelled them) - wow.

Thank you so much for hosting this challenge, and for being such a patient and knowledgable sushi sensei!

Karine said...

Your sushis are impressive!

Iris said...

Wow, I am so impressed! And so hungry after looking at those! Thanks for the directions...I was planning on having a sushi party, so I'll bookmark this to come back to.

Claire said...

Thanks again for hosting this challenge. All I can say about yours is WOW! so many and they all look fabulous

noëlle {simmer down!} said...

Are you sure you've never moonlighted as a sushi chef? these look so professional, I especially love the very first photo, so beautiful!

When I saw your comment on my post it made me realize that in my rush I had forgotten to put in the blog checking line giving you credit for hosting. So sorry about that, it has been corrected!

Sara said...

Your photos look amazing! I love all the creative ingredients you used like CHEESE! So unorthodox but I bet soo good! Your photos are making me hungry!

Sarah said...

Audax - your sushi looks so amazing and your creativity is inspiring.

Thank you for all your coaching and your comment on my blog! I never could have had such sucess without the research you and Rose provided.

Evelyne said...

Everything looks dazzlingly delicious, wow.

Kris Ngoei said...

Audax, you are the best challenge host I have encountered. You worked the hardest and came up with the most possible variety to guide us all. Can't thank you enough for that!

Kudos to you for your successful hosting. I like to see you do it again soon in the near future.

Regards
Kris

Angela said...

Audax, what an amazing array of sushi you've created over the past month! The coin sushi are just stunning. Thanks for hosting such a great challenge!

Lisa said...

Aud, to put it simply, you are the sushi master. Your sushi is better than a ton I've seen in and around NYC. I can't stop looking at your photos and am especially taken with the coin sushi. That technique is far off for me. Also, your Dragon's are fire breathing monsters of magnifence, As always, you never cease to amaze me, and I can't stop saying that! If you lived near me, I would hire you to make the sushi for any parties or celebrations. You rock, Audaxsan!

Valérie said...

It's all so gorgeous! I love the original patterns and toppings! Audax, thank you so much for hosting this challenge and for your careful instructions!

Madeline said...

Those photos are amazing! I am blown away with the beauty and creativity of all of the sushi. Although I was nervous I am so happy you chose this as our challenge. Thanks for taking me out of my comfort zone :)

Elenaki said...

You are an Artist, not a cook! The first photo just knocked me down - you are amazing!

dollydoesdesserts said...

Omg Audax, these are beautiful! I'm adding to my favourites. I love all the tips you provide :) Nice job man!!

Loie said...

Your sushi looks amazing! Well done Audax!

Lydia Foster said...

As usual, your challenge photos are damn amazing! But what I love it your inventiveness and willingness to try every combination under the sun until you find one that you like!! :-)

Thanks for your comments, but I guess I'm my own worst critic, just because I know I can do better - you already know that perseverance makes perfect!!

CookiePie said...

What an AMAZING post!!! That sushi looks incredible - you're an artist!!

Marisa said...

Wow! You've really gone all out! Your coin sushi looks amazing and I love the idea of the hotdog sushi rolls - so cute.

Thanks for hosting the DC challenge - you've done an outstanding job.

Faery said...

OOOOOOH THANK YOU so much my dear friend Audax I am so honored for this gift, I actually jumped of happiness, they look so so beautiful. All the pictures are spectacular I LOVE all of them.
( my mom said that your sushi is perfect)
A big hug from your friend in Venezuela

Libby said...

Thank you for a wonderful challenge! Those are the loveliest sushi I've even seen, vinegared hands down! I'm glad I didn't see your pics before I tried to make my own, or I would have been too intimidated!

Elsa said...

Cool <3 <3

nikki said...

Thanks for hosting this challenge! Your sushi is absolutely stunning...

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