Nigiri

Nigiri are a popular form of sushi and are relatively simple to prepare. Here is a basic recipe for making nigiri sushi at home:

Ingredients

• 300g of sushi rice
• 360ml of water
• 60ml of rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• Slices of raw fish of your choice (salmon, tuna, sea bass, etc.)
• Wasabi (optional)

Preparation

1. Wash the rice under running water until the water runs clear. This is to remove excess starch and ensure that the rice has the right texture.
2. Put the washed rice and 360ml of water in a pot and let it sit for 30 minutes.
3. After resting, cook the rice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and let cook for about 15 minutes or until the water is completely absorbed.
4. While the rice is cooking, mix the rice vinegar with sugar and salt and heat slightly until the sugar is completely dissolved. Do not bring to a boil.
5. When the rice is ready, transfer it to a wide wooden bowl (if you have a hangiri, better) and season with the vinegar mixture, stirring gently with a spatula, preferably made of wood or plastic to avoid crushing the rice grains. Be careful not to stir like normal rice, but rather “cut” the rice with gentle movements. At the same time, fan the rice to cool it more quickly and to give the rice its characteristic shine.
6. While the rice is cooling, prepare the fish slices. Cut the raw fish into slices about 7cm in length and 2cm in width. Make sure the thickness is enough to taste but not so thick as to overpower the rice.
7. Take a small amount of rice (about 20g), and shape it in your hand to form a small oval shape. If you want, you can put a small amount of wasabi on top of the rice (this is optional).
8. Place a slice of fish on top of the shaped rice and press gently to adhere well.
9. Serve the nigiri immediately with some soy sauce, additional wasabi, and possibly some pickled ginger (gari) on the side.

Curiosity

Nigiri are a test of a sushi chef’s mastery, as they require not only the choice of fresh quality fish but also the ability to shape the rice into the correct form with the perfect consistency.

To honor the Italian tradition in sushi cuisine, one could experiment with typical Italian ingredients such as replacing the raw fish with lightly blanched prawns or Mediterranean tuna carpaccio. Remember that innovation must always take place with respect to the freshness and quality of the product.