What Is Difference Between Sushi & Sashimi?
Although sushi has been a staple food in Japan for hundreds of years, the dish has recently exploded in popularity. Today, Japanese food is the favorite dish of many restaurant-goers worldwide. Although its popularity is obvious, as it can now be found in Japanese and non-Japanese restaurants around the world, many people do not actually know much about this fishy dish. Learning the basics, such as the difference between sushi and sashimi, its equally delicious cousin, is easy.
Nomenclature
The most literal difference between sushi and sashimi is in their names. Although both terms originated in Japan, sushi's literal translation to English is most closely "vinegared rice," wherein sashimi literally means "raw fish." This may be news to those who think all raw fish is sushi.
Sushi
Although "sushi" is commonly used by the uninformed to describe both sushi and sashimi, traditional sushi must contain a key ingredient: sweet, vinegared rice. Typically, sushi also contains various types of fermented fish, commonly crab, tuna, or eel, and a variety of fruits and vegetables, commonly cucumber, mango or avocado. Sushi is served in the form of rolls, often wrapped in nori (seaweed) or served plain.
Sashimi
Sashimi is like sushi, hence the confusion, but served without vinegared rice. Sashimi can be made of a variety of fish or seafood that is thinly sliced and served with a wasabi soy sauce. Fish is most often the main ingredient of sashimi, but octopus, squid, and shrimp are also popular options. To add flavor, sashimi is often accompanied by a variety of garnishes such as grated ginger, daikon (Japanese radish), and shiso, an herbal member of the mint family.
Taste
As far as taste goes, sushi and sashimi are similar, as they are typically garnished and flavored by similar ingredients. But the main difference between sushi and sashimi is the presence of traditional Japanese vinegared rice. This lack of rice gives sashimi a distinctly "fishier" flavor, whereas sushi's fishy flavor is toned down by the addition of the rice.
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