Chapter 12: Making Classic Nigiri-zushi

igiri-zushi (or nigiri for short) is like art created by a magician. In about 6 seconds, a chef cuts a slice from a prepared fillet or block of fish, scoops up a small quantity of sushi rice, forms it in his or her hands into a small egg shape, adds a condiment such as wasabi, and fuses the topping and rice together into a delicious morsel. It is an amazing performance to observe.

Doing this at home is not as easy as it looks. Here I will show you how to cut seafood for use in nigiri-zushi, then how to make a small, warm rice ball that is airy and tender to the bite. To complete the nigiri-zushi, you just need to place the sliced seafood on top of your rice ball. Speed is not the issue here, so relax and enjoy making the nigiri-zushi. And you will get better and better at it.