How to Tell Different Sushi Apart

There are several different kinds of food that fallthe Boston roll, but the shrimp is diced instead of
under the all-encompassing category of what wewhole. The spicy sauce is required now, and the
as Americans refer to as 'sushi'. The mostavacado is replaced with sliced scallions. The spicy
commonly known variety, that of makizushi is ashrimp roll is usually made as an outside thick roll,
long roll consisting of rice, nori and fillings that hasbut can also be rolled as a hand roll or a ship roll.
been cut into 6-8 pieces. Nigiri usually consists ofIt is on occasion topped with thinly sliced myoga.
just a piece of raw fish over a chunk of rice.Tuna roll is one of the simplest kinds of maki sushi
Sashimi is just a piece of raw fish.to prepare. In Japanese, it is referred to as
Makizushi is normally divided in two varieties.tekkimaki. It only consists of sushi rice, nori, and
Futomaki, or 'fat sushi' consists of a layer of norisashimi-grade tuna (raw tuna). The tuna roll is
on the outside, then sticky rice, then at least twotraditionally rolled up outside thick or thin,
different fillings in the middle. Hosomaki, or 'thindepending on preference.
maki' usually is consisted of just one ingredient inDynamite rolls are a different take on a traditional
the middle, usually a piece of raw fish, althoughtuna roll. In sushi fusion, dynamite refers to
vegetables and fruits may be used. If the nori issomething spicy. Dynamite rolls are tuna rolls with
rolled up inside the roll instead of showing on thespicy mayonnaise drizzled over them. The
outside, it is called uramaki, or inside-out maki. Thismayonnaise is then burned with a chef's torch.
was first done because Americans did not likeThe spicy tuna roll is a little less basic than the
seeing the green nori on the outside of the roll.regular tuna roll. It is made with tuna trimmings
Some of the most common varieties of maki rollsprepared into spicy tuna mix instead of slices of
have sprung up especially to appeal and satisfytuna. Spicy tuna is made with tuna trimmings,
Western palates and cuisine. These are notscallions, chili oil, and some Japanese mayonnaise.
technically considered to be authentic JapaneseThe chopped tuna may also have cream added
sushi, but they are very popular and can be veryto it to make the consistency silkier. It is then
tasty.combined with cucumber bits to make a traditional
The most common and 'westernized' recipe forspicy tuna roll. It is usually rolled as an outside
maki rolls is the California roll. The California roll isthick roll.
usually made inside out and holds imitation crab,The Tijuana roll is served as an outside thin roll. It
cucumber and avocado. The outside of the roll isconsists of thinly sliced yellow tail tuna and sliced
sometimes covered with tobiko, or flying fish roe.jalapeno peppers. It doesn't need any wasabi
The California roll is popular because it is seen as abecause the jalapeno is already spicy.
'no-risk' sushi, because it doesn't have any rawThe spider roll is an especially weird looking sushi
fish. It came about from a Japanese sushi chef inroll made with tempura-fried soft-shell crab rolled
Los Angeles in the 1970s who realized that theby itself. It is usually rolled as an outside thick roll
oily texture of avacodo was a perfect stand-inwith the legs sticking out.
for raw tuna, which the original recipe called for.The Michigan roll is a variation of the traditional
The California Roll is credited with spreading sushi'sspicy tuna roll that has smelt roe spicy sauce and
popularity in the United States.avocado to balance the spiciness of the tuna. It is
A common variant of the California roll is theusually rolled as an outside thick roll.
Boston roll. In the Boston roll, the imitation crabAside from maki rolls, another common kind of
meat is replaced with poached shrimp. Thesushi is nigiri sushi. Nigiri sushi doesn't always have
cucumber, avocado, rice and nori remain thenori, like the maki rolls do, and usually just consists
same. Often, spicy sauce is added to a Bostonof a piece of raw fish over a ball of sushi rice.
roll, either in the roll on on the top.Different sauces or seasonings may be used, but
A spicy shrimp roll is another variation onit is essentially just some kind of raw fish and
traditional sushi certain to appeal more tosushi rice.
Westernized palates. It uses poached shrimp, like