Becoming a sushi master is a breeze .... provided you have the proper equipment. To help you in your quest, we have listed the 7 tools you will need turn yourself into a sushi making king when it comes to home made maki, sashimi and temaki.
1. The Knife
The essential accessory to achieving beautiful sushi is undoubtedly the knife. Or even better, a set of knives! Japanese knives are only honed on one side for precision cutting. Chefsteps have a great line-up of the best Japanese knives, or if you are looking for a simple starter option try this one:
21cm Knife: $18
2. The Sharpening Stone
A high quality waterstone is an indispensable companion to your sushi knives in order to ensure maximum sharpness at all times. Again, if you want to go all out to match a professional knife set try this $184 option recommended by Chefsteps, or as a simple starter try the one below:
Sharpening Set: $35
3. A Suihanki
Another essential element of achieving good sushi is perfectly cooked rice. Most Japanese restaurants use a "suihanki", ie a rice cooker, that will help you get the best results. Again, there's a huge range to find one that will suit your budget and requirements.
Available online: $176
A Hangiri
Once the rice is cooked, you must leave it to rest as well as adding in the rice vinegar, sugar and salt. The most appropriate vessel for the mixing process is a wooden container, called a "hangiri".
Hangiri: $49
A Shamoji
Once the rice is cooked it must be mixed with a rice paddle to let excess moisure excape. There are a number of choices from plastic to wood when it comes to selecting you paddle, a true sushi master performs this step using a "shamoji" ideal for working the rice in a "hangiri ".
Rice Paddle: $8
The Makisu
The "makisu" is probably the best known utensil of fans of Japanese cuisine. This bamboo mat will help you roll beautiful maki and california rolls.
Bamboo Rice Mat: $8.95
The Presentation
Now that you have all the necessary utensils for preparing home made sushi, it's just a case of serving it authentically. For this, nothing beats a traditional Japanese service, like this one: .
Japanese serving set: $10
Or you can always check out Nobu's new porcelain range (pictured below)
Now it's time to get started! Here are 5 homemade sushi recipes to begin.
