The taste for Sushi has arrived on a tidal wave to the Western world’s culinary landscape. It is an original, light, healthy and refined food and hard to resist…
SUSHI: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
There exists an unlimited variety of sushi. The principle is simple: it is rice with vinegar topped by a sashimi (thin slices of raw fish), omelette or vegetables. It can be served rolled in a Nori leaf (Seaweed). However, to prepare Sushi to give a rich level of complex flavours, it requires years of experience. For the Japanese, food has to fulfill all the senses, so the preparation of Sushi has to harmonize flavour, colour, texture and form.
SUSHI: AN ANCESTRAL DISH
Around 2500 years ago, somewhere in the mountains of Laos and Thailand, the inhabitants learned how to preserve fish. They alternated layers of fish and rice and left them to ferment for one year. This technique of preservation was called “Sushi”.
Later, quicker fermentation methods were found that took only few days.
In the early 18 century, the inhabitants of Edo (now Tokyo, capital of Japan) modified the technique by adding vinegar to rice in order to hasten the fermentation.
Quickly, the Sushi notoriety spread all over the Japanese Islands, Asia and today worldwide.
SUSHI: THE MODERN HEALTHY FOOD
Sushi is always served fresh. Its ingredients are very meticulously selected. The modern techniques, using the ancestral recipes, now offer the western world Sushi of very high quality. Aki Sushi (Guadiaro), a restaurant we visited recently has an entirely refrigerated kitchen for preparing sushi, while the hot dishes are cooked in another kitchen with ambient temperatures.
The Sushi traditional ingredients match perfectly with the modern trend to reduce the consumption of red meat and carbohydrates for a healthier lifestyle.
So, be healthy and up to date, eat Sushi!
No Sushi ingredients contain fat content. They are rich in positive proteins and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, iron). Seaweed (Dori), for instance, is a real source of vitamins and minerals, which help to reduce the build up of cholesterol. Vinegar added to rice, ginger, and wasabi (horseradish) have antibacterial features known for guarding against infection and tiredness. For those of you who watch their figure, remember that the Sushi standard meal – 7 to 9 pieces – contain only 300 calories!
So go on, use your chopsticks!
