Sushi newbie.

[strangeseraph]

I have never had sushi before, but being that I'm becoming interested in bento culture, I might just try it.

But I have a conundrum; I don't like vinegar. And I have read everywhere on the internet that sushi means su-vinegar, shi-rice. So what does a non vinegar person like me do? I want to have traditional sushi, but I know anything without the vinegar is just considered onigiri (which I also want to try to make.)

I've also read about california rolls, another type of sushi, but I assume it uses vinegar too? Are there very sweet, non sour types of vinegar I can use in my sushi? Or maybe cut down on the quantities, mix it in with something like a seasoning sauce? Just want to be traditional, but not have an -ick- moment. (Literally; I don't eat salt and vinegar chips, or have vinegar on fries, its just too sour to me. Sadly I'm also allergic to onions. Life is sad. :( )

[nice gaijin]

hmm, the taste of sushi rice is relatively mild and sweet to me; nowhere near the sour flavors in salt and vinegar chips. I would recommend going to a sushi bar with a good reputation, and trying out sushi (there are all kinds, so as long as you're open-minded, you're bound to like something). If it turns out that you like it, you can try to make your own, and use the restaurant's stuff as a target flavor.

There are things like maguro-don and plain straight sushi without rice, which give you the raw fish but without the vinegar; it's all delicious, give it a try!

[LarsTheo]

There is very little vinegar in sushi or shari rice, and that is offset by the sugar that is added. The seasoning for approximately 2-1/2 cups of cooked rice will be 2 tbsp rice vinegar
1-1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
Rice vinegar is very mild. There are types of vinegar that are not sour, but they would not be appropriate. Black rice vinegar is less sour, but it tends to taste more like soy sauce, but without the salt. The flavors in the rice need to balance with the nori and fish.

[xerxes99]

I had been eating sushi for years before i found out there was any vinegar in it actually.:souka: It's pretty mild.

[Bucko]

I had sushi tonight and had to think hard whether the vinegar taste was strong. I think it's more sweet, like a couple of people have said.

[masaus]

Yep, mild vinegar is used for sushi. It's called "Sushi Su (Sushi vinegar)".

Why is vinegar used for Sushi rice? I heard from my grandma that it can avoid rice to go bad.

If you don't like vinegar taste, try "Onigiri (rice ball)". It's a little salty. Easy to make. Grab handful rice and make kinda ball like prism.

[bezz]

http://web-japan.org/nipponia/nipponia21/images/feature/15_6.jpg

[mico]

i never have sushi. about the sushi covered with nori, i heard from a friend who ever eat nori for the first time, she said that it taste so salty and fishy that it makes her sick. is that right, the taste??

and why sushi like so expensive (i know it from many anime)

[pipokun]

The sushi was too salty becasue she might dip too much soy sauce after she found it tasted so fishy.

[Pepe]

I'd like to point out that the sushi vinegar is nowhere near as sour as typical western vinegar. I'd suggest you try and get some sushi from a restaurant or takeaways and give it a whirl. The vinegar is added in small amounts as a preservative (as mentioned earlier), not predominantly as a flavouring.

[GodEmperorLeto]

I'd try maki rolls first, personally. I like it better than sushi, because the way the roll is made, the textures and tastes blend together a little differently. But I also use too much soy sauce, but I guess that's because I'm gaijin.

As for vinegar, I never knew it was in the sushi to begin with. So, if I didn't taste it, I don't think you will. Don't worry.

As for price, there are decent sushi places out there that aren't all that expensive. I can get a spicy tuna roll at once location for $5.50, or at another for $3.45, with very little difference. My Japanese friends prefer the less expensive one because of the cost, so if they approve, I guess I'm not going to complain.

[Gacktpause]

The vinegar in sushi is rice vinegar, not apple-cider vinegar or whatever the regular kind is that is used in the US predominately. In making sushi, the rice is mixed with a little bit of vinegar, as was mentioned before, as a preservative to keep the rice fresh. There is not enough vinegar that you should be able to taste it, and even if you don't care for it, rice vinegar is quite different than other vinegar, being much more mild.

Just try it!

Gacktpause

[Tokyofan25]

Sushi rice seems sweet tasting to me

[kombizz]

I love Sushi so much that I learnt to do it by myself at my home.
Of course my Japanese girlfriend, Yuko always supervise me.

[Gacktpause]

Yes, sushi is very easy to prepare at home, as long as you have the proper ingredients and supplies (no skipping anything!). There are some decent enough Youtube videos that show you basic California Rolls etc.

[Mothling]

I have only ever eaten sushi once and I must admit it wasn't a very nice experience, personally. But then, one of my friends made it for me and I am pretty sure she just made them all to her own liking!

I am more than willing to go to a sushi restuarant and try to professionally made sushi, I haven't lost hope! ^-^

[sushiwhore]

as my name say i am a sushi *****...
i eat sushi at least once a week..

[Sharingan]

There is vinegar in sushi ??!!