Guide to Salmon Sushi

Salmon sushi is adored across the world, with many different methods being created along the years. Something that may surprise you is that salmon sushi only became popular in Japan in the last 30 years! Before, salmon was only eaten in Japan if it was cooked or grilled. Nowadays, this delicious dish can be found in conveyor belt sushi bars and exclusive sushi restaurants.

What is Salmon Sushi?

Salmon is a saltwater fish and is commonly eaten in North America and Europe. Usually mild in flavour, this dish is rich in omega-3 acids, and it isn’t too oily in texture, making it a nutritious and delicious meal! Salmon sushi can come in many different forms, with an array of flavours and appearances, we are going to take a look at some of the varieties!

Salmon Nigiri

Perhaps the most popular form of salmon sushi, salmon nigiri is enjoyed by many across the world. Nigiri style consists of a ball of vinegar flavoured sushi rice with a slice of salmon placed on top of it. It is often enjoyed with condiments and accompaniments such as wasabi, soy sauce, salt or a bit of citrus. Furthermore, some like to enjoy additional toppings on their salmon nigiri. A traditional pairing is salmon topped with tobiko (flying fish roe). However, some want to create unique combinations, such as salmon topped with grated cheese or salmon marinated in mayonnaise with some finely sliced onion.

Salmon Temaki

Possibly the easiest way to eat salmon sushi, salmon temaki (also known as hand rolls) is essentially a sushi cone! Salmon temaki is made from a thin sheet of nori seaweed which is then topped with sushi rice, sliced salmon and some additional extras. Some additions include cucumber, lettuce and avocado.

Salmon Hosomaki

A recognisable dish, salmon hosomaki are thin sushi rolls with nori seaweed on the outside. The inside consists of rice and fish, sometimes with the addition of cream cheese and cucumber. The dish is often enjoyed with a soy sauce dip to add extra flavour.

Salmon Oshizushi

Oshizushi was created in Kansai, in the west of Japan. It is a traditional style dish and is essentially pressed sushi that is made with a wooden mould. The ingredients are straightforward as it only includes sushi rice and salmon! Once moulded into the form of a block, the dish can then be sliced into individual slices, either triangular, square or rectangular, depending on preference. The type of salmon used in Oshizushi can vary, it can be smoked, raw or aburi-broiled (cooked with a blowtorch).

Aburi Salmon Nigiri

Aburi salmon nigiri is essentially the exact same as standard salmon nigiri, but it is broiled “aburi” style with a blowtorch before serving. As salmon has an element of fattiness to it, the blowtorch creates a richly grilled surface with a creamy centre, making aburi salmon nigiri a delicious dish!

Ikura Gunkan Maki

Salmon roe is the main ingredient used in this dish. There is a natural buttery taste, but to give it some extra flavour, the salmon roe is marinated in soy sauce. A ball of sushi rice is wrapped in nori seaweed, leaving a small gap at the top for the salmon roe to be added on top. The dish is often quite appealing because of its appearance; the salmon roe is like little jewels and glisten.

California Salmon Roll

Another popular and perhaps familiar-looking dish is the California salmon roll, this is a staple on any sushi menu! Although as the name suggests, this sushi originates from America rather than Japan! The main ingredients used are nori seaweed, sushi rice, salmon, avocado and sesame seeds. Instead of having the salmon on the outside of the rice, this dish rolls it up in the centre. To form the roll, with moist hands, you create a square of rice and then place the nori seaweed on top. Next, you put on the salmon, cucumber, avocado and any extras you may wish to add. Finally, you roll it up! After it has formed its shape, you roll it in sesame seeds and then cut into sushi slices. The idea of making your own sushi can be daunting. It seems like a very tricky task and something you need to be specialised in, but that just isn’t the case! Hopefully, this has inspired you to try some different styles of sushi or to try it for the first time! If you want to try and create some of your own sushi, you can source the necessary ingredients at our Japanese supermarket so you can get rolling! To help you with the process, take a look at one of our other blog that explains how to roll sushi – it can get fiddly!