Sushi night has become somewhat of a ritual for us. Brad, the boys and I have come to love our special family dinner. We all have a job to do. Brad is head chef for the night so he purchases and slices all of the fish. As you might be able to tell from the photo Ethan and Steven put in requests for lots of salmon. They eat a lot. My job is to prepare the sushi rice and if need be any special sauce. We have a great time making our sushi to eat. It's always a fun evening with Brad and the boys and one we all look forward to.
Back to the rice...if it is not prepared right I think it's safe to say that it's a deal breaker. The special rice has to be cooked properly and seasoned properly as well. Cooking rice in a pot can be tricky so I make mine in a rice cooker. If you already have a rice cooker that's great if not you might want to consider purchasing one. I think it's a game changer. I have been using one for easily twenty years and am happy each time that I do. Mine is the ZOJIRUSHI model NSTSC18. Click HERE for more information.
Ingredients for Sushi Rice:
6 cups sushi rice, rinsed well
3/4 cup rice wine vinegar
4 1/2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
Combine the vinegar, sugar, and salt in a microwave safe cup or bowl. Heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
You will also need a couple of sheet pans. A few people have asked about which pans I use. Click HERE for more information.
Time-Saving Tip: The rice can be made a few hours before Sushi Night begins. It can be left on the counter.
Let's see what we need.
Let's make the rice.
Rinse the rice a few times. The clearer the water becomes the better. Cook the rice according to rice cooker directions. Once cooked immediately and gently transfer the rice to a large bowl. I do this with a spatula or fork. Then pour in the vinegar mixture and gently fold into the rice. Be careful not to mash up the rice. Once combined divide the rice onto the sheet pans and let cool. Make sure the rice is spread out well.
It's ready! This dinner is such a favorite one for us. Next time you’re thinking about going out to dinner at your favorite sushi restaurant give it a try at home. It is such an interactive meal so it lasts a while and is lots of fun. The best part is that it's delicious and healthy.
Enjoy!