Sushi Knife Set – Tips For Choosing the Best Knife
By T Stevens

With the proliferation of low quality cutlery sets in the market however, choosing the right kitchen tools has become more difficult than ever. The key to getting the perfect sushi knife set is thorough research. Here is a set of criteria that you can use in shopping a set of cutlery that will help you create sushi the right way.

Take note of the material. The best tools are made from the best materials. You should choose a sushi knife set that is made from high carbon steel which is the same kind of material that is used to produce samurai swords since the 16th Century. If the blades made from high carbon steel is good enough for the battlefield then it is good enough for the kitchen. Knives made from high quality materials are sure to last for a long time.

Just a short bit of trivia. Do you know that sushi knives are sharpened only on one side? This is done to provide a cleaner cut to the fish and other ingredients inside a sushi.

The set should include different kinds of knives. In making different kinds of sushi, different kinds of knives are also used. There is a knife specifically designed for tuna and then there is one that is designed for puffer fish. A sushi knife set, therefore, should be complete if you want to have the versatility to make different kinds of sushi. One of the most versatile knife that any set should have is the sashimi knife which also known as an all-purpose knife.

Should come with a decent price. Though price should not really be your basis of quality, you should be suspicious of sets that are priced very low. You cannot expect a $30 set to compare well with a set that cost several hundreds of dollars. Cheap knives are not as sharp and as strong as more expensive knives. If you do not have the budget to buy an expensive set, then get one that is priced st the middle of the price range.

Get a sharpening stone. It is important to include in here a section on how to sharpen sushi knives. This kind of knives have only one sharpened edge instead of two. This is the reason why you should never use a mechanical sharpener with these knives or else, you may ruin their blades. To maintain the sharpness of the knives in a sushi knife set, get a sharpening stone. Better yet, get a set that comes with its own stone.

Getting a sushi knife set is a good investment just make sure that you choose one well.

There are plenty of great sushi knives to choose from at the sushi knife set website.

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Home Recipes For Sushi Rolls – 3 Advantages to Making Sushi From Home Without Raw Fish!
By Devin Lambert

Home recipes for sushi rolls should be simple to follow, delicious and safe. I think that the best sushi rolls and recipes for home are often those that do not include raw meat or raw fish in the ingredients.

Here are 3 major advantages to making sushi rolls from home without using raw fish recipes!

1) Without uncooked meat, there is far less concern about salmanela, bacteria and disease!

2) Fresh, raw ingredients for sushi rolls is not always easy to locate. If you’ve ever sampled raw sushi that wasn’t fresh, then you’ll know just where I’m coming from!

3) Those at your dinner table will be far more likely to consume the delicous sushi you made once you’ve reassured them there was no uncooked ingredients involved!

Everyone can make sushi but most think it must be much more complex than it really is. Below is an extremely simple recipe that anyone can do!

The California Roll is one of the most famous choices for sushi. This roll has no raw meat and is a great sampler for those new to the sushi experience! Below I have included an extremely simple way to create a california roll at home.

First, the ingredients

4 cups sushi rice

4 sheets of nori (aka dried seaweed)

1 avocado

3/4 cup crab meat

2 tbsp mayonnaise

1/2 tsp salt

a. Cut the avocado in half, peel off the skin and cut the pieces into pieces. Now Mash the avocado.

b. Combine some imitation crab with the salt and mayonnaise

c. Cover a Bamboo mat with plastic wrap. Now place a sheet of the dried seaweed on top of the mat.

d. Spread sushi rice on top of the seaweed and pack down firmly till flat.

e. Sprinkle sesame seeds over the rice

f. Now flip the sushi over so the seaweed is now on top.

g. Place crab and avocado lengthwise over the seaweed.

h. Roll the bamboo mat forward while pressing the ingredients inside the cylinder shaped sushi

i. Press the bamboo mat with both hands then remove the rolled sushi.

j. Cut into the sizes/slices preferred and serve.

This is one of many great sushi recipes jam packed full of flavor that is easy and fun to make in your home. It also does not contain raw meat which is a good thing for the standard cook in the household.

For the best home recipes for sushi rolls instruction you will want to find a source that has many easy to follow recipes that are delicious yet do not require raw meat or fish.

There are so many different and popular sushi variations to choose from that do not involve raw meat. The most fun and simplistic guide I’ve found on the Internet for great sushi recipes for home without raw meat can be accessed easily at http://www.squidoo.com/home-recipes-for-sushi-rolls.

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Miso soup is commonly consumed in Japan. It is served with daily meals. Although the soybean paste is the main ingredient, each family has its own recipe. Some add daikon or seaweed while others cook with clam. Just like french fries to Americans, it is a common side dish in everyday meal for Japanese.

As I grew up eating miso soup everyday, I did not realize until recently its tremendous health benefits. Studies show that daily consumption of miso soup cuts the risk of breast cancer. Rich with antioxidants and protective fatty acids, it also contains full of vitamin E, B12, and many other minerals to boost your immune system.

Video Contributor: Koji Kagawa

Beyond Sushi – 3 Delicious But Lesser Known Japan Food Items
By Shane A Jones

If you’re a lover of Japanese food, you’re undoubtedly familiar with sushi, tempura, teriyaki, and other common Japanese food fare, but in this article I’d like to introduce you to three delicious Japan food items that you might not yet have heard of. All of these foods are both common and popular in Japan (not to mention delicious!), but have not yet found their way to the masses overseas in the same way that sushi has. Trust me, though, it’s just a matter of time before they do!

1. Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki Japanese pancake is a popular food item in Japan at restaurants, festivals and home parties. Translated literally as “cook what/as you like,” okonomiyaki is especially fun to eat at restaurants and home parties, where participants gather around a flat grill, mix up the ingredients, and have fun cooking the pancakes themselves.

The okonomiyaki pancake batter consists of flower, eggs, water, grated yam, and cabbage. Fillings include pork, assorted seafood, vegetables, kimchi, cheese, mochi, and yakisoba. Toppings and seasonings include nori seafood flakes, katsuobushi (fish flakes), pickled ginger, mayonnaise, and a Worcestershire-like sauce.

2. Takoyaki

Japanese Takoyaki is a snack of grilled octopus balls consisting of a pancake-like batter and a little piece of octopus as a filling. The dumpling batter is poured into a special pan molded into rows of little semi-circles and grilled for a few minutes on one side. Then the balls are flipped over with a toothpick or chopsticks and grilled on the other side until golden brown.

The takoyaki are then served up, usually in portions of 8 or so, in a plastic or paper container and topped with a sweet soy-based sauce and ingredients like green onion, pickled ginger, green onion, mayonnaise, and katsuobushi (dried fish shavings).

3. Onigiri Rice Balls

Onigiri rice balls are a favorite picnic and snack food in Japan. Onigiri is a popular carry out food item in Japanese convenience stores, and is a common item found in bento boxed lunches. Simple to make and delicious to eat, onigiri is a staple food item in Japan.

Popular onigiri fillings include tuna salad, salmon flakes, seafood salad, konbu (a type of sea vegatable), umeboshi (a sour bright-red pickled Japanese plum), and shrimp tempura.

If you’re planning to travel to Japan, make sure to keep an eye out for these delicious Japan food items and give them a try!

Discover more delicious and uncommon Japan food items at the http://essential-japan-guide.com

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Japanese Cooking for Your Health – Kitchen Equipment You Need
by Martin Roth

Japanese food is amongst the healthiest cuisine on earth. But most Western people eat it only in restaurants. Most Japanese dishes are considered too hard, or too exotic, to cook at home.
So it is time to be adventurous. Japanese food is not difficult to prepare, although you need the right ingredients. You also need some special equipment.

Here are six items you should have.

* Long, kitchen chopsticks – actually, you could probably make do with tongs or a long spoon, but you will find that chopsticks are so much better. They are perfect for use with delicate foods. You can hold them in just one hand. You can stir or beat food with them.

* Bamboos mats – these are used for rolling sushi. Now you might decide that sushi is something that is just too difficult. In fact, sushi is easy to prepare and delicious to eat. But you do really need a bamboo mat.

* Grinding bowl (mortar) and pestle – known as suribachi, this bowl is pretty similar to those used in some other cuisines for gridning spices.

* Skewers – these are used in numerous dishes, particularly yaki-tori (flame-grilled chicken). Bamboo skewers are best.

* Steamers – a set of round bamboo containers – similar to those used in some Chinese cooking – is placed over a pot of boiling water, and the steam cooks the food inside.

* Knives – Japanese knives are world famous for their quality. The best ones are expensive, but will last a lifetime. They come in many, many varieties and are extremely versatile.

About the Author
Martin Roth is a full-time author, with a specialty in health and nutrition. You can read more at his website Food Calorie Calculator