Jul 25 2009

Eggplant Sushi


Eggplant Sushi
By Sturat Mitchel

Sushi has been a Japanese delicacy for centuries and was originally intended to preserve fermented fish. Nowadays, sushi bars (famous for its conveyor belts) have become upscale restaurants in high-class cities. But, you don’t need to be upper crust to enjoy this simple Japanese meal. You only need to know how to make sushi.

There are many sushi-making kits out there with their own how-to books and guides. Find a book with simple recipes that a beginner can try out. You’ll be surprised to see how many simple dishes there really are.

The ingredients are not many. You only need rice (Japanese is the best bet, since they have a unique consistency can hold the sushi together), rice vinegar, sugar, salt, nori (seaweed) and toppings of your choice (eggs, cucumbers or crabsticks).

First, you will have to cook the rice. Most brands actually give instructions at the back of the packet, but in case they don’t, here are some pointers. You cook the rice the normal way by rinsing it with cold water and cook in a rice cooker. What’s important is to dissolve the vinegar, salt and sugar in a pan under low heat for a few minutes before letting it cool in a bucket of ice. Add the mixture into the cooked rice a little at a time. While doing that, you need to ‘fold’ the rice with a spatula without squishing them. It is ready when there is a shine to the grains.

The next part requires a bit of creativity. Spread the rice on a large piece of seaweed, which in turn is placed on a sushi mat. Add your toppings on the rice and start rolling! You may not get it right the first time, but that’s how you make sushi. You rarely get it right the first time.

A delicious topping for sushi is eggplant. This fruit (yes, it is actually a fruit), comes in many shapes and sizes, the most common one being purple and long. It can also be cooked in many ways, from being sautéed, char-boiled and even pickled. If you want to make it as a sushi topping, you will have to know how to cook an eggplant.

The Japanese usually pickle this delicacy and make them into tempura. It is best to serve them raw, with a little lemon juice to prevent browning, if you want it to be part of a sushi roll. You can also, grill these beauties on a searing hot grill for a smokier flavor. For those stir-fry nuts, cubed eggplants can be added to a hot wok with salt, garlic and red chilies.

Whatever way you cook it, eggplant will always taste good, especially if it is in a roll of Japanese rice and nori.

Related Articles

How to Cook Eggplant

How to Make Sushi

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sturat_Mitchel
http://EzineArticles.com/?Eggplant-Sushi&id=1703246


May 26 2009

Eggplant Sushi


Eggplant Sushi
By Sturat Mitchel

Sushi has been a Japanese delicacy for centuries and was originally intended to preserve fermented fish. Nowadays, sushi bars (famous for its conveyor belts) have become upscale restaurants in high-class cities. But, you don’t need to be upper crust to enjoy this simple Japanese meal. You only need to know how to make sushi.

There are many sushi-making kits out there with their own how-to books and guides. Find a book with simple recipes that a beginner can try out. You’ll be surprised to see how many simple dishes there really are.

The ingredients are not many. You only need rice (Japanese is the best bet, since they have a unique consistency can hold the sushi together), rice vinegar, sugar, salt, nori (seaweed) and toppings of your choice (eggs, cucumbers or crabsticks).

First, you will have to cook the rice. Most brands actually give instructions at the back of the packet, but in case they don’t, here are some pointers. You cook the rice the normal way by rinsing it with cold water and cook in a rice cooker. What’s important is to dissolve the vinegar, salt and sugar in a pan under low heat for a few minutes before letting it cool in a bucket of ice. Add the mixture into the cooked rice a little at a time. While doing that, you need to ‘fold’ the rice with a spatula without squishing them. It is ready when there is a shine to the grains.

The next part requires a bit of creativity. Spread the rice on a large piece of seaweed, which in turn is placed on a sushi mat. Add your toppings on the rice and start rolling! You may not get it right the first time, but that’s how you make sushi. You rarely get it right the first time.

A delicious topping for sushi is eggplant. This fruit (yes, it is actually a fruit), comes in many shapes and sizes, the most common one being purple and long. It can also be cooked in many ways, from being sautéed, char-boiled and even pickled. If you want to make it as a sushi topping, you will have to know how to cook an eggplant.

The Japanese usually pickle this delicacy and make them into tempura. It is best to serve them raw, with a little lemon juice to prevent browning, if you want it to be part of a sushi roll. You can also, grill these beauties on a searing hot grill for a smokier flavor. For those stir-fry nuts, cubed eggplants can be added to a hot wok with salt, garlic and red chilies.

Whatever way you cook it, eggplant will always taste good, especially if it is in a roll of Japanese rice and nori.

Related Articles

How to Cook Eggplant

How to Make Sushi

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sturat_Mitchel
http://EzineArticles.com/?Eggplant-Sushi&id=1703246


Aug 15 2008

Curried Scallop Roll

Curried Scallop Maki

Article Written By: Marisa Baggett

curriedscallopmaki.jpg

Though not a typical sushi flavor, the addition of a little curry lends wonderful spice to sea scallops in this roll that is more flavorful than hot. Madras curry powder, a blend of spices typically containing tumeric, curry leaves, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, bay leaves, fenugreek, black pepper, cloves and chile pepper, is used to sufficiently flavor the scallops. Only a bit of lime juice, salt and scallions are needed to finish the creamy center which is offset by cucumbers, carrots and an outer coating of crispy tempura flakes.

Curried Scallop Maki

Makes 3 Sushi Rolls of 6 pieces each

For the Curried Scallops

4 very fresh sea scallops, diced

freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 lime

1 1/2 tsp Madras curry powder, or more to taste

1 tsp finely chopped scallions

salt to taste

For the rolls

3 pieces of nori (4in x 7in)

1 1/2 – 2 cups prepared sushi rice

6 cucumber sticks, French fry sized

1/4 scant cup carrot sticks, matchstick sized

3/4 cup tempura crispies, cooled

pickled ginger for garnish, optional

wasabi, optional

soy sauce for dipping, optional 

Tempura crispies

1 egg

1 cup ice water + ice

1 cup all purpose flour

Beat egg in a bowl. Add ice water (including ice) in the bowl. Add flour in the bowl and mix lightly. Do not overmix the batter. In a frying pan, heat a few tablespoons of oil to about 325 degrees F. Dip a fork or whisk into the tempura batter and drizzle batter over the oil being careful not to drop ice into the hot oil. Allow to fry until golden brown. Remove with a fry strainer and drain on paper towels. Cool completely before use.

To make the curried scallops, place diced scallops in a non-metal bowl. Add lime juice and toss well. Add curry powder and scallions and mix well. Salt to taste. Keep in refrigerator until ready to use. When ready to use, drain the excess liquid form the mixture.

Place tempura crispies on a large flat plate or directly on a cutting board.

To assemble each roll, begin with 1 piece of nori placed horizontally, rough side up, on work surface. Cover completely with a thin, even layer of prepared sushi rice, about 1/2 –3/4 cup. Flip nori over and so that the rice is on top of the work surface and the uncovered portion of nori is exposed. Spread 1/3 of the scallop mixture horizontally in the center of the nori, being sure to drain any excess liquid from the mixture. Place 2 cucumber sticks end to end horizontally on top of the scallop mixture making sure that the edges reach both edges of the nori. Place a few carrot sticks on top of the cucumber sticks making sure that they extend to both edges of the nori.

Roll according to the method for rolling inside out rolls. Place roll on top of tempura crispies and roll around to coat. Adhere crispies to rice with a gentle squeeze of a bamboo rolling mat. Cut roll into 6-8 pieces. Repeat process with remaining 2 pieces of nori. If desired, serve with pickled ginger, wasabi and soy sauce for dipping.

Sep 05 2007

Crunchy Shrimp Roll

Crunchy Shrimp Roll

To master the art of inside out rolls, practice making crunchy shrimp rolls. Experiment with various fillings for a truly customized roll.

about 1⁄4 cup of tempura crispies.
3 cooked, peeled and deveined shrimp, tails entact
cucumber sticks
avocado
spicy mayo
finely chopped green onions

prepared sushi rice

4in x 7 in piece of nori

Begin with an inside out roll set up. Before flipping nori over, evenly spread tempura crispies over the surface of the rice. Flip nori over. Pipe a thin line of spicy mayo horizontally across the surface of the nori, then add other fillings. Make sure that the tails of the shrimp extend from the sides of the roll. Discard tail from shrimp in the middle of the roll. Roll the nori according to the inside out method.

Spicy Mayo
2 cups heavy mayo
1⁄4 cup Sriracha Chili sauce
2 tablespoon masago roe or red sushi caviar
Stir together Sriracha Chili sauce, mayo and roe.
.
Tempura Crispies
1 egg
1 cup ice water + ice
1 cup all purpose flour
Beat egg in a bowl. Add ice water (including ice) in the bowl. Add flour in the bowl and mix lightly. Do not overmix the batter.In a frying pan, heat a few tablespoons of oil to about 325 degrees F. Dip a fork or whisk into the tempura batter and drizzle batter over the oil being careful not to drop ice into the hot oil. Allow to fry until golden brown. Remove with a fry strainer and drain on paper towels. Cool completely before use.