Sushi

Discover the Variety of Sushi Ingredients

To make sushi at home, you need a few basic ingredients such as sticky rice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sushi sauces, and seaweed sheets. In addition to these basics, ingredients like raw fish – e.g. tuna, salmon, sea bream, or squid – are common. It is important to use only selected and very fresh fish, as not all types are suitable for raw consumption. But sushi with meat, such as chicken, is also popular in Western countries – think crispy chicken rolls. Vegetables like cucumber, bell pepper, avocado, radish, carrot, or mango can also be freely combined. 2–3 ingredients per roll are ideal for easy rolling.
With us, you’ll find all the essential ingredients to start your own sushi journey and prepare various sushi recipes and types like nigiri, maki, sashimi, or inside-out rolls.

Sushi Rice

Traditional sticky rice is used for sushi to ensure that the rolls hold together well and don’t fall apart. The ideal sushi rice is Japanese short-grain rice (Uruchimai). It is short to medium in length, slightly translucent, and develops the typical sticky texture after cooking. Several premium Japanese rice varieties are available:

• Koshihikari: Very popular, tastes slightly sweet and aromatic, with excellent texture
• Sasanishiki: Slightly less sticky, with a delicate flavor
• Hitomebore: A balanced mix between Koshihikari and Sasanishiki
• Akitakomachi: A premium rice with a refined taste

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Rice Vinegar

Rice vinegar is an essential component for sushi preparation. This mild, slightly sweet vinegar made from fermented rice gives sushi its typical flavor and seasoning. White rice vinegar is most commonly used for sushi, though Chinese cuisine also uses a more pungent black rice vinegar. Aside from flavor, rice vinegar also helps preserve the sushi. Its antibacterial properties are important since sushi is typically made with raw fish. The vinegar also helps the rice hold its shape and last longer. The umami flavors of seaweed, fish, and soy sauce are balanced by the sweet-acidic rice vinegar.

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Nori Sheets

Nori sheets are made from seaweed. Nori is a dried and roasted sheet of edible red algae, usually of the genus Porphyra. Similar to paper production, the algae are finely chopped, spread on mats, dried, and pressed.
The finished nori sheets are thin, dark green to black, and slightly glossy. Roasted nori is ideal for sushi – the darker and glossier the sheet, the higher the quality. These sheets are used to wrap maki, uramaki, and temaki.

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Wasabi

Traditionally, real wasabi from the wasabi plant – which grows in Japan’s cool, clear mountain streams – is used for sushi. However, as it is rare and expensive, imitation wasabi is often used. This typically consists of horseradish, mustard powder, and spirulina for coloring. Wasabi is available as powder to mix or as paste and is often served alongside sushi with ginger. Wasabi substitutes are much spicier and more pungent than authentic wasabi. Mixing wasabi into soy sauce is considered impolite in Japan.

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Pickled Ginger

Pickled ginger (called Gari in Japanese) is not used inside sushi but served alongside it, just like wasabi. The ginger root is sliced thinly and pickled in a sweet-sour marinade of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. When eating sushi, the ginger cleanses the palate between bites. Its tangy, refreshing taste also aids digestion.

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Soy Sauce

Soy sauce is an essential part of the sushi experience – much more than just a dip. It enhances the natural umami flavors of raw fish, rice, and nori and balances sweetness, acidity, and fat. The salty-savory taste boosts the delicate flavors of fish and rice without overpowering them. In traditional Japanese sushi etiquette, only the fish side is dipped in soy sauce – not the rice, to prevent it from soaking and falling apart.

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Japanese Mayonnaise

While not a traditional part of sushi, Japanese mayonnaise is very popular in modern and Western-style sushi creations. It adds a creamy, slightly sweet and tangy note and enhances the umami flavor. It also plays a role in presentation, often drizzled in a decorative zigzag pattern over the rolls.

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These Sushi Tools You’ll Need

To prepare sushi, the right ingredients alone aren’t enough. You also need the right tools to work like a true sushi master. Only with proper utensils can homemade sushi truly succeed.

You’ll need:

• Bamboo sushi rolling mat
• Chopsticks
• Hangiri (round, shallow wooden tub) for preparing sushi rice
• Bamboo sushi board for serving
• Sushi molds and presses
• Various shaping tools for different sushi types

Overview of Sushi Types

The different types of sushi vary by shape, ingredients, and preparation.

The most common types of sushi are:

• Nigiri → hand-shaped rice bites topped with salmon or shrimp
• Maki → rolled sushi with nori on the outside, rice and fillings inside
• Uramaki → inside-out rolls (nori inside, rice outside), invented in the USA (California roll)
• Temaki → hand-rolled cone-shaped sushi with fillings visible at the top
• Sashimi → thinly sliced raw fish served without rice

Less common are:

• Oshizushi → pressed rectangular sushi
• Chirashi → sushi bowl with rice and colorful toppings
• Gunkan-Maki → nori wrapped around rice like a boat
• Inari Sushi → sushi rice in sweet marinated tofu pouches

Whether classic sushi rolls or more unusual creations – sushi making is a chance to be creative. Combine different fillings and ingredients like salmon, shrimp, or eel with vegetables and fruits like carrots, mango, or bell pepper. How about a vegetarian roll with avocado, cucumber, and pickled radish? Or a spicy tuna roll with sriracha mayo?

In our online shop, you’ll find everything you need for your sushi creations. We offer a wide selection of high-quality ingredients and tools to help you create perfect sushi. Try our special sushi sets, which include all the essentials to get started easily.

Why Buy Sushi Ingredients at Asia Foodstore?

• Wide Product Range: Whether sticky rice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, nori sheets, or wasabi paste – we have everything you need to make sushi.
• Top Quality: Our sushi products from renowned brands offer premium quality you can trust.
• Everything from One Source: In our shop, you’ll find not only the right ingredients but also the necessary tools like bamboo mats, chopsticks, and sushi molds.
• Expert Advice: Unsure which rice is right for sushi or which soy sauce is best? No problem – we’re happy to help.
• Excellent Shipping Service: We ship your order the next business day. Free shipping within Germany on orders over €49.

Order Your Sushi Ingredients Now at Asia Foodstore

Have you always wanted to try making sushi at home? Then go for it! You can buy all the sushi ingredients you need to create your own sushi masterpieces. From nori sheets and bamboo mats to various premium sushi rice types, rice vinegar, and dipping ingredients like Japanese mayo and wasabi paste – we have everything a sushi lover’s heart desires. Simply browse our dedicated sushi category and get inspired.

Questions about our product range, your order, or shipping? Don’t hesitate to contact us via our contact form or by email. Our customer service team is happy to help you.

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FAQs About Sushi

Do I have to use raw fish for my sushi?
No, not at all. There are great sushi varieties with cooked eel, crispy shrimp, or even chicken. Vegetarian sushi is also very popular.

Which soy sauce is best for sushi?
Japanese soy sauce (shoyu) is milder and more balanced than Chinese versions. For sushi, "sushi soy sauce" or "sashimi soy sauce" is recommended to complement, not overpower, the fish flavor.

Why do I need special sushi rice?
Sushi rice is a sticky short-grain rice seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Its sticky consistency is essential for shaping the rolls. Regular rice would fall apart.

Can I eat sushi with my hands?
Yes, especially nigiri and maki are traditionally eaten with the fingers. Temaki, the hand-rolled cones, are always eaten by hand.

Which sushi is best for beginners?
Nigiri, maki, or temaki are relatively easy to make and, with a bit of practice, ideal for beginners.