Smoked Salmon & Cucumber Chirashizushi Recipe

"Chirashizushi means 'scattered sushi', and is the easiest kind of sushi to make. This version uses two ingredients that anyone should be able to get - smoked salmon and cucumber. This sushi is great for bentos. For a more detailed "recipe" of how to make Japanese rice, see my recipe "Perfect Japanese Rice"."

Original is 4 servings

Metric US

I've Tried It

Ingredients

Add to Shopping List

584 grams cooked rice (still hot!, cooked, 4 cups cooked)
3 tablespoons rice vinegar (45cc)
1 tablespoon superfine sugar (or granulated sugar, or sucanat)

1/2 teaspoon salt (less than the usual amount since the salmon and cucumber are salty)
6 ounces cucumber (1/2 English cucumber)
150 grams smoked salmon (5 1/4 ounce)

Nutritional

Serving Size: 1 (240.8 g)
Calories 253.8
Total Fat - 2 g
Saturated Fat - 0.4 g
Cholesterol - 8.6 mg
Sodium - 583.3 mg
Total Carbohydrate - 46.4 g
Dietary Fiber - 0.7 g
Sugars - 3.8 g
Protein - 10.5 g
Calcium - 16.2 mg
Iron - 2.6 mg
Vitamin C - 1.2 mg
Thiamin - 0.3 mg

Step by Step Method

Step 1

Cook the rice as per the instructions. While it's cooking, prepare the vinegar mix by combining the vinegar, sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt n a small bowl. Set aside.

Step 2

Slice the cucumber lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Slice very thinly, and sprinkle with a little more salt (not listed). Massage the salt and the cucumber with your hands, and squeeze the cucumber tightly to remove excess water. Set aside.

Step 3

Slice the smoked salmon into thin slivers. Set aside.

Step 4

When the rice has finished cooking, while it's very hot, empty it out into a stainless steel bowl. Pour the vinegar mixture over the hot rice.

If using a rice cooker, DO NOT leave in the rice cooker - as it will damage the finish.

Step 5

Rapidly mix the rice using a cutting motion with your rice paddle. It's rather like folding egg whites into a cake batter: use a cut-turn-fold motion, trying to break up lumps vertically and letting in air so that the rice cools rapidly. Don't squish the rice grains if you can help it.

Step 6

If you have a pair of extra hands, they can help cool the rice more rapidly by fanning it from the side, but if not just mix the rice as quickly as you can.