There’s nothing more satisfying than perfectly cooked sushi rice. This feeling is amazing to me because, in the past, my sushi rice always turned out mushy. But then, one day, I met my Japanese friend’s mother, who taught me all about choosing and cooking sushi rice perfectly. Now, it’s no wonder my guests love my sushi recipe. So one of the tips my friend’s mother gave me, and I would love to share it with you here, is to know what kind of rice for sushi you should use.

To answer this query in one line, I would say Japonica rice should be your first choice to cook sushi rice. These short-grain rice comprising ordinary and glutinous grains are readily available in Asian grocery stores. You can try the Koshihikari brand for the highest quality Japonica (Japanese) rice. The next on the bucket list, according to my sushi mentor, is sushi rice- the steamed and vinegared Japanese rice; you can make them at home too.

Nevertheless, if you don’t find Japonica or sushi rice in your region, you can try other alternatives to take your sushi to the next level. Scroll down to learn all about the best sushi rice.

What Kind of Rice for Sushi Should you Use? (For Original Sushi Recipe)

There are three categories of rice depending on their grain length; short grain, medium, and long grain. For sushi, it’s best to use short-grain rice because they are rich in starch and sticky enough to hold the right shape of sushi. However, you can also use medium-grain rice in case you don’t find the short ones, but never use long-grain rice for sushi.

As I mentioned above, Japonica rice works best if you wish to get the original sushi taste and texture. These are short, round, smooth, and hard grains rich in amylopectin (starch), which hydrolyses in hot water and gives the rice a firmer yet stickier consistency. Unfortunately, the cost of these sushi rice is high, but they are worth it. You can get the highest quality Japonica rice from famous Japanese brands; I enlisted some in the next section.

The next rice variety is sushi rice. Many people confuse sushi rice with Japonica rice. However, the two are a bit different. Some brands label their short-grain Japanese or medium-grain California rice as sushi rice. Therefore, you may get medium-grain California rice when asked for sushi rice which is ok to use, but I prefer short-grain Japonica rice.

Also, you can make the original Japanese sushi rice- “sumeshi,” at home. For this purpose, you only need to steam your store-bought Japonica or California rice in a rice cooker or pot and then sprinkle salt, sugar, and vinegar to get the right umami flavor of the sushi.

Well, if it isn’t possible to obtain the original Japonica rice, you can go for Calrose rice. Calrose rice is a well-known and highly recognized variety of California rice characterized by medium grain that becomes soft and sticky after boiling.

The Popular Japanese Brands and  Sushi Rice Cultivars

Here are some famous Japanese sushi rice cultivars; some have become a brand like Koshihikari sushi rice.

Koshihikari

Koshihikar is a popular Japanese rice cultivar that offers the best sushi rice rich in aroma, delicious flavor, fine polish, and perfect sticky consistency. These rice also do not get hard after cooling, so you can choose this brand as your first choice.

Akitakomachi

The Akitakomachi cultivar has been developed from a cross between Koshihikari and Ou No. 292 rice to get the enriched flavor and texture of Koshihikari rice. This rice variety has a high water content that keeps the rice fresh and new even after hours.

Nanatsuboshi

This rice is farmed in Hokkaido with the highest yield. It steams up puffy and shiny, offering the ideal harmony of stickiness and tenderness. This sushi rice variety complements all cuisines wonderfully. Moreover, it is perfect for sushi because it is delectable when served cool.

Hitomebore

Hitomebore cultivar resulted from a crossbreed between Hatsuboshi and Koshihikari rice plants to get the subtle flavor, a blend of umaminess and sweetness, and the ideal consistency of sushi rice. However, this variety is not as fresh as Akitakomachi rice, yet perfectly balanced.

Hinohikari

It is a short-grain sushi rice variety- a well-known product of Western Japan. It is famous for its plumpy and chewy texture, subtle aroma, and lustrous polish on the grains.

Tsuyahime

Tsuyahime is a product of a cross-breed between Yamagata No.70 and Tohoko No. 154 rice plants. It is well-known for its lustrous look and delicious flavor, a blend of perfect umami, savory, and sweet taste due to its high aspartic and glutamic acid content.

What Kind of Rice for Sushi Should You Avoid?

Long grain or basmati rice is an inadequate option to make sushi because these grains lack the sufficient starch content required for the proper sticky consistency and hold. You can make the best sushi with short-grain Japonica or medium-grain California rice. Also, if you are health-conscious or are managing medical conditions like diabetes, obesity, and GI problems, you can try the above-mentioned healthy alternatives for sushi rice. Regardless of your choice, I recommend not opting for long-grain rice for sushi.

The Healthy Sushi Rice Alternatives (For People on a Diet)

Here I have mentioned some healthy alternatives for sushi rice; I tried and tested them for my friends and family- some of them are vegetarian, on a diet and a weight-loss journey, and a few have diabetes and GI issues. Therefore, the following options are equally effective for anyone with the same story.

Brown Rice

Brown rice is the least used variety of rice for sushi recipes; however, it’s the healthiest option. This highly-nutritious and gluten-free rice is rich in vitamins and minerals and best for people with diabetes or on a weight-loss journey. However, brown rice takes a bit longer to boil and has a strong flavor that not everyone likes in sushi. In a nutshell, this rice will not give you the original sushi flavor but can cut back on your calories. So the choice is yours.

Quinoa Rice

Quinoa is the best option for veg sushi lovers and those who are allergic to gluten since it is loaded with protein, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. However, quinoa takes longer to cook and is not starchy. So to roll quinoa into a sushi ball, you may add sugar while cooking it to get a sticky texture.

Broccoli Rice

You can go for a nutritious sushi roll next time with broccoli rice. Broccoli rice is rich in antioxidants, protein, and fiber. For this, finely chop the broccoli flowers and steam them as you casually do, add seasonings, and voila!

Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower rice is another healthy option to avoid gluten and extra carbs. You can easily prepare this rice at home. For this purpose, you only need to grate a fresh cauliflower to resemble the short-grain rice. Then, cook them on a low flame until tender; do not add water since they will cook in their own water. You can add olive oil and other seasonings like salt, sugar, and vinegar to dulcify and acidify the cauliflower’s bland taste.

Couscous

Couscous is not rice but a healthy alternative for sushi lovers who cannot consume sushi rice. It’s a rich source of proteins, fiber, and B vitamins and is naturally fat-free. Prepare couscous as per the package directions and add them to your favorite sushi rolls.

Also Read: How To Cook Sushi Rice Like A Michelin Star Chef

How To Cook Sushi Rice Like A Michelin Star Chef

 

Some time ago, when I tried sushi for the first time, I fell in love with this delectable Japanese delicacy. Initially, because I wasn’t familiar with this food, I used to order the wrong varieties based on my eating style and appetite at that time. This led me to research different types of sushi in Japanese restaurants, and I spent years on that.

Since then, I have become a food expert. So if you have any queries about sushi, I can provide you with the best food-friendly guides. Here I am describing maki roll vs. hand roll. So if you are curious about it, explore my article below and get the answers you need.

Maki roll vs. hand roll are the two types of sushi based on their shape, serving size, rolling method, and eating style. However, maki sushi and hand roll sushi comprise the same basic ingredients: sushi rice, nori seaweed, and filling. Based on the fillings, maki roll, and hand roll have wide varieties and flavors that you can find below.

Difference Between Maki Roll and Hand Roll

Features	Maki Roll	Hand Roll
Shape	Cylindrical cubes	Cone (temaki)
Serving Size	Bite-sized cubes (6-8)	Whole rolls (uncut)
Rolling Method	Using bamboo mat	Hand rolling
Eating Style	With chopsticks or knife and fork	Hand-picking and eating
Other Names	Makizushi, maki sushi, nori maki	Temaki, hand roll sushi

Maki Roll/ Makizushi

Makizushi is also known as maki roll, where the term maki in Japanese means to roll. In Japan, people relish maki sushi as an appetizer or a main course meal. Also, it’s a unique component of Japanese bento boxes. Typically, maki sushi is rolled in nori seaweed using a makisu (bamboo mat), and the main ingredient is sushi rice with various fillings. Rolled into a cylindrical tube, maki sushi is cut into bite-sized cubes for easy picking with chopsticks and eating.

Types of Maki Rolls

There are three main types of maki sushi rolls based on their rolling technique.

1. Inside roll
2. Inside out roll
3. Hand roll (temaki)

The inside roll comprises sushi rice and other fillings wrapped inside a toasted nori seaweed and rolled firmly into thin cubes. It can be a hosomaki (thin roll with one filling), futomaki (thick roll with several fillings), or a chumaki (medium wide roll).

In contrast, the inside-out maki roll has nori seaweed inside and sushi rice wrapped outside. It is also known as uramaki. The third type is a hand roll (temaki), cone-shaped sushi rolled with hands.

Classic Flavors of Maki Roll

Classic flavors of maki rolls are spicy tuna, dragon roll, California roll, and rainbow roll. The spicy tuna roll is one of my favorites; it has spicy tuna finely chopped and drizzled with spicy mayo, sriracha sauce, and sesame oil. The dragon roll contains grilled eels and shrimp tempura with thin avocado and cucumber slices.

Moreover, California roll has the flavors of crab meat with the added freshness of cucumber and avocado slices. Lastly, the rainbow roll contains all colors and flavors of raw fish like yellow tail, salmon, tuna, and red snapper.

Special Flavors of Maki Roll

The finest maki sushi rolls contain unique ingredients such as Philadelphia cream cheese, imari sauce, and jalapenos. You can try a Philadelphia roll if you are a huge fan of cream cheese since this maki sushi comprises salmon and avocado slices dipped in Philadelphia cream cheese with the original vinegared rice.

Another specialty maki sushi roll is the TJ roll, which comes with shrimp, jalapenos, garlic chips, and wasabi sauce to add special flavors to the classic sushi rice. If you are a spice lover, try a sake bomb roll. It comes with spicy tuna, salmon, shrimp, and avocado slices dipped in imari and hot sauce.

Visi Sanraku | Japanese Sushi Restaurant for tasty Japanese foods.

What is a Maki Hand Roll/ Temaki

A hand roll or temaki is a type of sushi hand-rolled into a cone-shaped wrap. The entire wrap is presented for hand-eating and is loosely constructed without using a bamboo mat. A hand roll’s essential ingredients are similar to that of a typical maki sushi roll.

Flavors and Fillings of Hand Roll

A hand roll comes with various fillings and flavors, such as; spicy tuna, baked salmon, red snapper, blue crab, radish sprouts, avocado slices, cucumber slices, shiso leaves, and scallions.

Also Read: What Is Maki Sushi? Delve Into The Japanese Sushi Recipes

What Is Maki Sushi? Delve Into The Japanese Sushi Recipes

My friends and I planned to visit a Japanese restaurant for a healthy breakfast on the last weekend of January 2023. We decided to have a Japanese delicacy that we had never tried before. On the menu, I found “scrambled eggs with uni.”  My curiosity was piqued when I saw the word uni and researched it to learn that this is a Japanese superfood. So we ordered this breakfast and waited while I read more reviews on Reddit and quora about this seafood.

Analyzing people’s comments, I realized that it’s a kind of meal that you either develop its taste and love or completely hate it. After breakfast, my opinion became biased; I loved its sweet, umami, and briny flavor and thought, why would anyone dislike it? Maybe some factors influence the taste of a sea urchin, like buying fresh or cutting it perfectly. Since I enjoyed a uni breakfast, I also researched it extensively to make it good at home.

So if you are still wondering, “what does sea urchin taste like?” This article has all answers you are looking for. I have also penned, “is uni good for you”? Is it nutritionally beneficial? What are its health benefits? Continue reading to make your mouth water.

What Is Sea Urchin?

Well, if you don’t know what a sea urchin is, here is what. Sea urchin is also known as uni in Japanese, becoming an increasingly popular superfood worldwide. It’s a spiny and globular sea creature that feeds on seaweed and rests on seabeds. Meaty inside, the edible part of sea urchins is its reproductive organs called gonads. These gonads are thick and buttery, resembling the shape of a tongue.

The deep ocean divers harvest sea urchins, which is a challenging task. It is why uni sea urchin is a pricey meal. Their harvesting is either annual or seasonal, depending on the state’s coastal fishing regulations. Nevertheless, you can find uni sea urchins in the market from September to May.

Moreover, there are wide varieties of this seafood that come in various colors, textures, and flavors. They come in red, black, green, pink, and purple colors, with a meaty part that can be yellow, orange, or brown, depending on the species. Each specie also varies in taste. See how?

What Does Sea Urchin Taste Like?

Sea urchins typically have a sweet, salty, and umami flavor. Nevertheless, their age, specie, sex, and diet can alter their savoriness. For example, uni harvested in Japan feeds on kombu, giving an aftertaste of kombu. Likewise, some uni varieties provide a hint of seaweed or kelp.

Some people compare the taste of uni with oyster, caviar, salmon roe, egg yolk, foie grass, and lobster. When you buy uni fresh, its taste is sweeter and a little salty due to the oceanic mineral content. But it may taste bitter and become slimy if it gets old in cold storage. Moreover, male sea urchins have a smoother texture and are sweeter than female ones, which are less soft, firmer, and saltier.

But all good and fresh sea urchins are sweet and salty and butter in consistency. I recommend you to visit a nice restaurant that regularly gets a fresh supply of sea urchins and does not store them long in storage.

Sea Urchins and Other Foods: How Do they Taste Together?

Do you know how uni tastes when combined with other foods? Do you want to cook or serve raw sea urchins with different meals and are confused about how they will go together? Let’s see in what ways you can relish uni sea urchin.

• In Japan, raw sea urchin is served on top of sushi rice complemented with fresh vegetables, making a delectable main course meal. So you can either make it at home or try uni sushi at your favorite restaurant.
• You can try sashimi prepared with sea urchin in your town’s popular Japanese restaurants since they are experts in cutting it right to bring out the best flavors.
• Raw sea urchin goes best with spicy crackers drizzled with mayo and barbeque sauce. You can also sprinkle some lemon zest or juice to add acidity to the umami flavor of uni.
• Add uni to the scrambled eggs or omelets; since uni gives an egg-yolk aftertaste, it will go best with this protein.
• You can try uni sea urchin, cooked or raw, with pasta of your choice.
• How about a sea urchin tempura? If you don’t like uni raw, coat it in a light tempura batter and deep fry it to savor the crispy outside and buttery inside uni.

How to Buy a Tasty Sea Urchin?

To get a delectable sea urchin, you must learn how to buy it right. For this purpose, you should know the season of each specie. If you like green sea urchins, purchase them in the winter season, or if you want to relish the purple ones, you can get them the whole year.

Moreover, buy sea urchins fresh; a fresh uni looks brightly yellow colored, smooth, and has no slime. Also, do not prefer the stored sea urchins unless you don’t find fresh ones at all. Another trick is to do a sniff test. If a sea urchin smells like fish, do not buy it since a  fresh and uncontaminated uni has a briny odor.

Is Sea Urchin Good for You?

Yes, sea urchin is good for you since it is an excellent source of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Also, there are many health benefits of having sea urchin meat. What’s more concerning about this superfood is the risk of contamination when consuming it raw.

According to a study, sea urchin gonads may be contaminated with norovirus and E.coli bacteria that may cause food-borne diseases. Hence, to avoid this risk, you should only eat cooked or raw sea urchins if you are confident that they were prepared by professionals and are clean.

Nutritional Value

Sea urchins are the best reservoirs of omega-3 fatty acids and proteins. They also contain vitamins C and A, beta-carotene, zinc, and other minerals. According to Nutritonix, 25 grams of sea urchin gives you the following nutrients.

 

Nutrients	Amount per serving
Total Carbohydrates	2.5 grams
Protein	4.7 grams
Total Fat	1.2 grams
Calcium	4 milligrams
Potassium	75.5 milligrams
Iron	2.3 milligrams

Health Benefits

The above data on nutritional value shows that sea urchins are packed with numerous nutrients. These nutrients are essential for the body’s healthy functioning and good metabolism. Also, these nutrients fortify our general body’s health and immune system.

• Omega-3 fatty acids in sea urchins reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and control the cholesterol levels in check, according to a study.
• Vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids are also helpful for eyesight, as reported in much scientific research.
• Zinc and omega-3 fatty acids prevent the risk of acne, heal active acne, and promote good skin health.
• Omega-3 fatty acids in sea urchins can improve the cognitive power of aging women.
• Sea urchins are natural aphrodisiacs, and many Japanese consume them to improve their sexual behavior and desire.
• Dietary fiber in sea urchins helps promote GI health and improves digestion.
• Vitamin C helps fight free radicals, boost immunity, and promotes collagen production.

Summing Up

So, are you ready to try your first uni experience? Wondering what sea urchins taste like? For me, sea urchin was the best seafood I tried, with a sweet and salty flavor and a butter consistency. You can try it to know if you will develop its taste. And to see if it’s good for you, read the above guide; it will answer your queries.