Homemade sushi guide for beginners

Introduction

Sushi is by far the most well-known Japanese cuisine and has become extremely popular at a global scale. What used to be available only in Japanese restaurants is now readily available in a variety of food establishments—grocery stores, school cafeterias, even gas stations. Depending on where you live, the sushi you’re familiar with could be quite different than the authentic and traditional style originated in Japan. But that’s the beauty of it. The concept of sushi has grown so multicultrally that there’s new and interesting “fusion” creations all the time. Although I respect and love the tradition of Japanese sushi, it really excites me to see people having fun and exploring new boundaries when making sushi.

Traditionally in Japan, to become a professional sushi chef would require years and years of dedication. The first years were spent meticulously learning and repetitive training on cooking rice and preparing vegetables. Not to mention the cleaning and maintenance of all supplies, equipment, and the restaurant itself. Often you wouldn’t even be able to touch the fish until a few years in. Though this tradition has faded away a bit in modern years, the culture still does exist and lives on. And thankfully so, because there’s nothing quite like a perfectly crafted piece of nigiri by a traditionally taught master sushi chef. But don’t worry, I’m not asking you to dedicate years of your life to learning and crafting your sushi skills.

Sushi is often seen as a very intimidating cuisine that scares even the best chefs. And yes, it is a very complex skill filled with traditional techniques that take years upon years to master. But don’t let that discourage you from even trying! I will guide you step-by-step through the fundamentals of sushi and teach you how to take that skill and make it your own.

My twenty-plus years of training as a sushi chef originally started from my dad, who’s owned and operated a Japanese restaurant for more than thirty-five years. He taught me all the fundamentals and guided me throughout the first part of my sushi career. I then started my own sushi catering company, which I operated for more than ten years. During this time, I have had the pleasure of working with so many amazing clients. I’ve also had countless opportunities to teach how to make sushi and I noticed there was a gap—between people who wanted to make sushi but didn’t know how to even start, scared to even. That is the reason why I decided to write this book, to share my knowledge and teach the proper fundamentals to those who are curious about making sushi. Because as intimidating as it may be, making sushi is actually quite easy to do at home.

To those who didn’t know where to start, well, you chose the right book, and I’m excited for you! This is the start line. I have compiled years of my experience and simplified it into this one single book so that it can be a gateway to your sushi journey. Whether your goal is to make your favorite sushi at home, impress your family and friends with your own sushi creations, or practice to become a professional sushi chef, this book will help you accomplish those goals.

You’ll find many of my personal recipes in this book; however, this is not just a recipe book. More so, it is a skills development book, that skill being the art of sushi. Sushi is a unique and amazing cuisine where once you have the basics down, you can let your imagination take over. Take a sushi roll, for example; I can share hundreds of recipes on all different types of rolls and make this book four-hundred-plus pages, but the fundamental techniques for each are very similar. Sure, there’s slight differences (which I do teach), but most of it just takes repetition and practice. My goal is to teach you the fundamentals of making sushi, which will allow you to confidently take that skill and dive into the art of sushi on your own. The beauty of sushi, especially making it at home, is in the endless possibilities and the fact that you can do whatever you want.

“If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.”

Yes, pun intended.