Sushi for a beginner

[ArielRae]

I'm finally interested in trying out sushi. I was hoping someone familiar with it can give me advice on what ones to try. I want to try a variety of different types but nothing over powering. I am thinking of going to my local Wegmans grocery store (mt laurel, NJ) to try it out. They have a fresh sushi creating place there. I have watched them a number of times in the morning making the sushi. Please give me a list of types to try. Especially tell me what popular ones that are usually offered at resturants If I find I like it.

 

[mrsv98]

First rule of sushi is to known the sushi chef and know the product is fresh. It should NOT smell "fishy", just clean and fresh. To dip your toe in the water, try cooked versions like California roll (crab meat, avocado, cucumber) or shrimp tempura roll. The best raw IMHO is really good tuna but it has to be the dark red "sushi grade" tuna.

We have a small sushi place by us and we have become friends with the chef/owner. Now I walk in and just ask Sarah to make me something with the best ingredients she has that day. I have tried things I never might have by doing that and most of the time I love it. Be brave!

 

[XYSRUS]

Agree with PP. California Roll for newbs.

 

[JessR]

California roll

 

[Loverly]

I LOVE California roll-almost every freshly made grocery store has this & its usually around $5-7 for a nice serving.

There's also a Philidelphia roll with a chunch of Philly cream chees in it.

 

[Cindy B]

First off Wegmans has great sushi.

You may want to start off with California rolls which while technically isn't sushi. (raw fish). These have avacado, cucumber and crab meat in it.

It is sticky rice, seaweed --in the inner or outer roll-I can't remember if Wegmans puts the rice on the inside or outside.

The seaweed isn't salty or watery tasting if that helps. Its almost crispy if that helps.

Wegmans also makes wonderful tuna and salmon rolls. I really like everything they make.There is some that has the piece of fish directly on a bed of rice. Some poeple don't like that.

I will say one thing, if you see little orange sprinkled things on the top, they are fish eggs. I think they are good, but some people don't.

Wegmans is almost if not better than most restaurants. They have one called rainbow which has I think salmon, avocado and something else. I like the rainbow.

Wegmans also has a Philly style one that isn't really authentic but is good if you aren't that adventourous. That one has salmon and cream cheese. I personally don't like it because it isn't authentic but others like it.

Check out to see if the Wegmans is giving away free samples. The one in Cherry Hill gives away samples all the time!

 

[tasha99]

I'm glad to hear a grocery store has good sushi (I was at the thought of it because where I am, grocery sushi is gross). Sushi refers to the vinegared rice, not the fish so California Roll is sushi, even if not traditional.

For a beginner, I'd choose shrimp (ebi), California Roll, Tuna (maguro), yellowtail (hamachi), and eel (either unagi or anago). Some of my favorites I left out are sea urchin (uni), fatty tuna (toro--just really pricey), amaebi (raw shrimp; you get the heads deep fried as well so it's 4 pieces), and flying fish roe (tobiko). Try them if you find you like sushi.

 

[MushyMushy]

I'm really amazed that a grocery store would have decent sushi. The only ones I've seen around here are gross looking. I'd be afraid to eat it! You're lucky, especially if their prices are good. We have to drive 25 miles and pay a good bit for good sushi where I live.

I agree with the others -- California rolls are great. If you're feeling brave enough to try raw fish, ask for tuna or a mild white fish. A rainbow roll is also a good start for a beginner. It's basically a California roll with a few different types of raw fish (called sashimi).

Don't forget the wasabi. To me, that's what makes the sushi experience. The hotter, the better. It has to burn out my sinuses and make me cry.

 

[emer95]

I never thought I'd try sushi until I was at a party and everyone was raving about it. I bravely tried a Garden Roll (from Wegmans) and now I'm hooked. There is no crab in it. It was just avacado, cucumber and carrot rolled in sticky rice and seaweed. When I go out to eat I ask for avacado & cucmber and they'll make it for me. I know it's not "Real" sushi, but that's ok with me. I love the soy sauce/ginger/wasabi on it. Mmmmm...

 

[Cindy B]

I'm really amazed that a grocery store would have decent sushi. The only ones I've seen around here are gross looking. I'd be afraid to eat it! You're lucky, especially if their prices are good. We have to drive 25 miles and pay a good bit for good sushi where I live.

I agree with the others -- California rolls are great. If you're feeling brave enough to try raw fish, ask for tuna or a mild white fish. A rainbow roll is also a good start for a beginner. It's basically a California roll with a few different types of raw fish (called sashimi).

Don't forget the wasabi. To me, that's what makes the sushi experience. The hotter, the better. It has to burn out my sinuses and make me cry.

Wegmans does it right there in front of you. I've gotten their trays about 3x and I have not been disappointed. In fact they make such excellent sushi, it is even better than some restaurants.

You can even ask them (the sushi people at Wegmans) to make it right in front of you. They do have some prepackaged, but my DH is such a nut about fresh he will ask them to make him a new one right there and then.

DH makes his own California rolls at home. If you really like it, you can make it at home for a fraction of the cost of the store/restaurant. For $7-8 worth of ingredients, we make about 45 pieces!

 

[TennisGirl80]

I have a Wegmans less than a mile from me, and have had their sushi a few times - I'm not a fan. Having said that, if you are just going for Cali rolls (which is NOT SUSHI) then it shouldn't be a problem, but if you are really serious about trying SUSHI, I say find a repupitable (sp?) sushi restaurant near you, and try something there. You can order it by the piece (usually 2-3 pieces each) and do one at a time. If you sit at the sushi bar, they can really help you out.

Now, when I say that California rolls aren't really sushi, I don't mean to offend, its just what it is - NOT sushi. It was something created in America (California!), not Japan, to make people feel like they are eating the real thing when they are not - but it is a good stepping stone! Start slow, and maybe one day we'll meet in a sushi restaurant and share some shashimi - thats really good!

 

[ArielRae]

Wegmans does it right there in front of you. I've gotten their trays about 3x and I have not been disappointed. In fact they make such excellent sushi, it is even better than some restaurants.

You can even ask them (the sushi people at Wegmans) to make it right in front of you. They do have some prepackaged, but my DH is such a nut about fresh he will ask them to make him a new one right there and then.

DH makes his own California rolls at home. If you really like it, you can make it at home for a fraction of the cost of the store/restaurant. For $7-8 worth of ingredients, we make about 45 pieces!

Do you think they would make a sampler pack for me. I don't see any of those at mine. It is usually sets of the same sushi in a pack.

 

[Cindy B]

Do you think they would make a sampler pack for me. I don't see any of those at mine. It is usually sets of the same sushi in a pack.

You might be able to. Cherry Hill is very accomodating.

 

[scottishduffy]

Hubby and I recently got my mom hooked into sushi. Here is a list of good things to start:

California Roll
Japanese bagel (Salmon with a bit of cream cheese)
Tempura rolls (Usually shrimp)
Salmon sushi
Tuna Sushi
Dragon Roll (Just like california, but has fish & avocado on top of it)
Eel


Okey, the eeel sounds icky. But it actually has almost no flavor, just a texture. The great part is the sauce it comes covered in which is just fabulous. Don't try it at first... but once you are good with a few other types and textures then have it. Eel has become a favorite of everyone we know and we always end up fighting over the eel pieces.

 

[Talking Hands]

First off Wegmans has great sushi.

You may want to start off with California rolls which while technically isn't sushi. (raw fish). These have avacado, cucumber and crab meat in it.

It is sticky rice, seaweed --in the inner or outer roll-I can't remember if Wegmans puts the rice on the inside or outside.

The seaweed isn't salty or watery tasting if that helps. Its almost crispy if that helps.

Wegmans also makes wonderful tuna and salmon rolls. I really like everything they make.There is some that has the piece of fish directly on a bed of rice. Some poeple don't like that.

I will say one thing, if you see little orange sprinkled things on the top, they are fish eggs. I think they are good, but some people don't.

Wegmans is almost if not better than most restaurants. They have one called rainbow which has I think salmon, avocado and something else. I like the rainbow.

Wegmans also has a Philly style one that isn't really authentic but is good if you aren't that adventourous. That one has salmon and cream cheese. I personally don't like it because it isn't authentic but others like it.

Check out to see if the Wegmans is giving away free samples. The one in Cherry Hill gives away samples all the time!

California roll is sushi. Sushi doesn't have to contain raw fish. Sushi refers to the rice it is put on. Sashimi is raw fish. As for,newbies: California roll, salmon nigiri, yellow tail nigiri and tuna nigiri.

 

[Talking Hands]

I never thought I'd try sushi until I was at a party and everyone was raving about it. I bravely tried a Garden Roll (from Wegmans) and now I'm hooked. There is no crab in it. It was just avacado, cucumber and carrot rolled in sticky rice and seaweed. When I go out to eat I ask for avacado & cucmber and they'll make it for me. I know it's not "Real" sushi, but that's ok with me. I love the soy sauce/ginger/wasabi on it. Mmmmm...

Real sushi. Please it is real sushi. Not every sushi recipe has raw fish in it. Some is cooked and some is not fish at all. One of my favorites is oshinko roll (pickled daikon), another natto roll. Neither one contains any fish at all. Still sushi. Raw fish is sashimi. Has no rice with it. Just slices of raw fish.

 

[Talking Hands]

Ok for those of you who say California roll is not sushi because it didn't originate in Japan. THis is wrong. Sushi is a style of cooking. California roll is not Japanese but it is still a form of sushi. I have been eating sushi since I was 2 years old, so for 58 years. I started in Japan and continued in the US after we were sent back to DC. Eaten many styles of sushi both Japanese and American. It is all sushi. And it is darn good eating.
What have i eaten:
natto ( fermented soy bean)
hamachi Yellow tail)
ama ebi
ebi
eel
uni (sea urchin)
mackerel
maguro (tuna)
sake (salmon)
salmon skin handroll
sweet egg omlet
oshinko
veggie roll (carrots, burdock and avocado)
Carrots, cucumber and avocado
salmon roe
little pink fish roe with quail egg on top
and more.

 

[tasha99]

Ok for those of you who say California roll is not sushi because it didn't originate in Japan. THis is wrong. Sushi is a style of cooking. California roll is not Japanese but it is still a form of sushi. I have been eating sushi since I was 2 years old, so for 58 years. I started in Japan and continued in the US after we were sent back to DC. Eaten many styles of sushi both Japanese and American. It is all sushi. And it is darn good eating.
What have i eaten:
natto ( fermented soy bean)
hamachi Yellow tail)
ama ebi
ebi
eel
uni (sea urchin)
mackerel
maguro (tuna)
sake (salmon)
salmon skin handroll
sweet egg omlet
oshinko
veggie roll (carrots, burdock and avocado)
Carrots, cucumber and avocado
salmon roe
little pink fish roe with quail egg on top
and more.

I agree with you (and natto? )

One type of nigiri sushi I really miss is shako (mantis shrimp). I bet you could get it in a bigger city, but where I am, it's not available.

 

[Micca]

Sushi is wonderful. I couldn't list the numerous types I've had, but I can tell you that I loved nearly all of them. The soy/wasabi part adds a lot to it...but go easy with the wasabi at first. A little bit of that will clear every gland from your neck up.

 

[minniecarousel]

Every time I eat sushi, the seaweed turns me off. I just can't get past the flavor of the seaweed. It's like the only thing I taste.

I guess I could disassemble each piece and take the seaweed out.