Finally, a Daring Cook’s Challenge which was a bit easier, well familiar. The November 2009 Daring Cooks’ Challenge was chosen by Audax of Audax Artifex and Rose of Bite Me Kitchen. They chose Sushi, specifically Dragon Rolls, Nigiri and Spiral Rolls.

Now I have made sushi a couple of times before. It was a bit of a tradition for a while at one of my friend’s place when an acquaintance of hers from Japan would come annually to Montreal. What was different this time was the rice. We were not as precise and traditional in its preparation. And boy its time consuming I found since one cooked the rice has to be fanned on a special way to cool in thin layers. But it is totally worth it.

The challenge is in four parts:

  • Part 1: Making proper sushi rice – you will wash, rinse, drain, soak, cook, dress, and cool short grain rice until each grain is sticky enough to hold toppings or bind ingredients. The recipe for the rice and the 3 types of sushis made is long so you can go check it on online here Sushi November Daring Cooks’ Challenge. Then you will use the cooked rice to form three types of sushi:
  • Part 2: Dragon sushi roll – an avocado covered inside-out rice roll with a tasty surprise filling. I made it with eel (unagi) which is a favorite of mine. As most I made mne to look a bit like an actualy dragon with wasabi eye balls and ginger with red chili pepper sauce for fire. Of course I did make mine look a bvit more like its hurling rather then spiting.
     
  • Part 3: Decorative sushi – a nori-coated rice roll which reveals a decorative pattern when cut. I choose salmon, tuna, avocado, cuccumber, fish roe, crab stick.
  • Part 4: Nigiri sushi – hand-shaped rice rolls with toppings….with salmon.

What a yummy plate for dinner. Does it not look pretty?

Hope that has inspired you to try sushi. Its really not as hard as you think.