How to Make Nigiri Sushi: Tips & Tricks Revealed

Making nigiri sushi at home can be an incredibly delicious and rewarding experience. The key is to start with the freshest ingredients. Use seasoned rice as the base and top it with fresh raw fish, cooked shrimp, or egg omelet. The combination of the traditional Japanese flavors and the minimalist approach of nigiri sushi is what makes it so appealing. Ensuring your technique is correct is essential. You’ll need to properly wrap the rice with the fish or shrimp, creating a beautiful and cohesive bite.

To make nigiri that’s just as good as what you’d find in the best restaurants, focus on making it your own. With a few simple steps, you can enjoy this novel and elegant dish. Delighted guests at dinner parties or a relaxed lunch with a cup of tea or a little sake will appreciate the effort. The proper preparation of the fish and vegetables, and ensuring everything is prepared correctly, will result in nigiri that is not only beautiful but also incredibly satisfying. Remember, the best nigiri sushi comes from practice and enjoying the process of making it at home.

What is Nigiri Sushi–The Answer

Ingredients

1. 2 cups of Japanese short-grain white rice
2. 2-inch piece of kombu (optional)
3. Season with ⅓ cup of rice vinegar, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and 1½ teaspoons of kosher or sea salt
4. 30 slices of sushi-grade raw fish or tamagoyaki
5. Optional: wasabi paste

To make nigiri sushi, you will need 2 cups of Japanese short-grain white rice. For added flavor, you can include a 2-inch piece of kombu (which is optional). The rice should be seasoned with ⅓ cup of rice vinegar, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and 1½ teaspoons of kosher or sea salt. For the topping, prepare 30 slices of sushi-grade raw fish or tamagoyaki. To assemble, you may also use a bit of wasabi paste (also optional). The key is to focus on properly shaping the rice and topping it with the freshest ingredients to achieve the best flavor and texture.

Instructions

1. Prepare the rice:
   • In a large bowl, use your fingers to wash the rice with cold water until the water runs clear.
   • Soak the clean rice in fresh cold water for 30 minutes, then drain it using a fine-mesh sieve.
   • Cook the rice on the stovetop or in an electric cooker with a piece of kombu.
   • For the stovetop, combine 2 cups of rice with 2 cups of water in a medium pot over medium heat. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce to low and cook until the water is fully absorbed (about 12 minutes). If using an electric cooker, select the “sushi” setting if available.
2. Prepare the seasoning:
   • In a small saucepan, combine vinegar, sugar, and salt over medium-high heat. Whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is hot.
   • Wet the inside of a large bowl with a damp cloth and transfer the cooked rice into the bowl, slightly wet. Leave behind any rice stuck to the bottom of the pot.
   • Pour the hot vinegar mixture over the rice and use a wooden spoon or plastic rice paddle to mix. Slice through the rice at a 45-degree angle, flipping it over between strokes.
   • Once the rice is well mixed, cover it with a clean, damp towel to keep it warm until ready to use.
3. Shape the nigiri:
   • Prepare a small bowl of ice water with a splash of rice vinegar.
   • Dip your hands into the water, then grab a small ball of sushi rice. Shape the rice into a rectangle about as long as a slice of fish.
   • Using a chopstick, place a small dab of wasabi paste in the center of the rice. Top with a slice of fish and gently squeeze the rice and fish together with one hand, using the index finger of your other hand to keep the fish in place.
   • Repeat with the remaining fish and rice.

4 Common Types of Nigiri Sushi

When making nigiri sushi, you can use a variety of toppings to create delicious combinations. One popular choice is salmon nigiri, known as sake nigiri in Japan, which is made with sushi rice and a slice of raw salmon. Another favorite is shrimp nigiri, or ebi nigiri, which can be prepared with cooked or raw shrimp.

To keep the cooked shrimp flat, a wooden skewer is inserted into the shrimp shell before steaming or boiling it. Yellowtail nigiri, also called hamachi nigiri, features sushi rice topped with hamachi, a type of tuna. Lastly, freshwater eel nigiri, known as unagi nigiri, is made with sushi rice and barbecued freshwater eel. These common types of nigiri offer a delightful range of flavors and textures, making them perfect for any sushi lover.

Nigiri vs. Sashimi: What’s the Difference?

Nigiri consists of thin slices of raw fish placed on top of oblong rice balls, while sashimi is thinly sliced raw fish served without rice. The structure of nigiri allows it to accommodate a dollop of wasabi between the rice and the fish. This difference in presentation makes nigiri unique and distinct from sashimi, which focuses solely on the pure taste of the fish.

Note

Before making nigiri, it’s important to prepare sushi rice with this recipe. Also, make sure to thinly slice the fish. For help, see How to Slice Fish for Sushi, which is a simple guide. For more details, check the post section of this page for an extensive guide. It contains more info than what can fit into this basic recipe.

What To Serve With Nigiri

Nigiri is fantastic with a few simple accompaniments like soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger. To keep the nigiri beautifully formed, avoid dunking too much of the rice in soy sauce, as it can cause it to crumble.

Equipment

For making nigiri sushi, a rice cooker is highly recommended but optional. Using a rice cooker ensures the best results by perfectly cooking the rice every time.

Tips

1. When choosing raw fish toppings for your nigiri sushi, always buy from reputable shops that sell sashimi grade fish.
2. We recommend avoiding normal salmon from a supermarket, as it is usually meant to be cooked.
3. To prepare the fish, use a sharp knife and slice it at a 45° angle. This technique ensures the best texture and presentation.

Don’t hesitate to experiment with different toppings and flavors until you find your favorites. Trying various combinations can help you discover unique and delicious nigiri that suits your taste.

Traditional Nikiri Sauce

In Japan, it’s common to see nigiri served with a brush of nikiri sauce over the fish. This eliminates the need for dipping the nigiri in soy sauce. While I don’t have a recipe for nikiri sauce on the site at the moment, it is very similar to my Soy Sake Marinade. Nikiri sauce typically contains soy sauce, sake, and mirin.

Deviations from the Traditional Nigiri Method

When a sushi chef makes nigiri, they don’t just place a piece of fish on top of the rice. They might hold the nigiri in their left hand and use the middle fingers of their right hand to press them together. I’ve attempted this method but didn’t notice a difference, so I skip this step at home. In Japan, it’s common for a sushi chef to put a small amount of wasabi between the fish and the rice when making nigiri. In America, this practice is less common, and since wasabi is often served on the side, I don’t add it directly to my nigiri.

Is Nigiri Raw?

Nigiri is commonly served raw, but there are some varieties that are cooked. When listed by type of fish like salmon nigiri, tuna nigiri, or red snapper nigiri, they are likely to be served raw unless marked as “seared” or “aburi” in Japanese. Some seafood nigiri, such as shrimp, is sold in both raw and cooked forms. Other seafood like octopus (tako) is most commonly served cooked. For those interested in trying different dishes, KOREAN RICE CAKES WITH CHICKEN is also a delicious option.

FAQS

Is Nigiri Hard to Make?

Nigiri is the big grandaddy of the sushi world—it really tests your skills. Making nigiri requires some challenging knife techniques. Without the help of a sheet of nori to hold everything together, shaping the nigiri takes a lot of practice.

Is Nigiri Sushi Healthy?

The answer to whether nigiri sushi is healthy depends on the type of sushi you have. There are many variations in how sushi is prepared and what ingredients are used. The healthiest sushi has minimal ingredients, like nigiri, which includes a small amount of rice topped with raw fish.

What is Nigiri vs Sushi?

The difference between nigiri and sushi (maki) is that the rice in nigiri is pressed into a bite-sized mound, while maki sushi is rolled into a tube and sliced into rolls. Nigiri contains one piece of fish delicately placed on top, whereas maki rolls have fillings on the inside.