Sushi for Beginners with Yutaka

Have you tried sushi? Probably. But until now, we hadn’t, not one of us in our house. So when YUTAKA got in touch offering us the chance to give it a go, I jumped at it as I like us to try new things and I thought it would be fun to get the kids involved in making it.

Leading UK-based Japanese food company YUTAKA, have all the ingredients, without all the additives, to make authentic and healthy sushi at home.

Yutaka sushi ingredients

OK, so first up, this is how you actually do it…

How to Cook Sushi Rice (for 2)

  • Put 250g of rice into a bowl and wash with cold water. Repeat 3 to 4 times and then drain with a sieve.
  • Add 330ml of water and the washed rice to a saucepan. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes with the lid on.
  • Turn off the heat and leave to stand for 25-30 minutes. Do not open the lid!

To Season the Rice:

  • Mix 3 tbsp of Rice Vinegar, 2 tbsp of sugar and 1 tsp of salt together, and then fold into the cooked sushi rice after the rice has cooled down.

To Roll the Sushi:

  • Place a sheet of nori onto a bamboo rolling mat
  • Spread a thin layer of seasoned rice as evenly as possible over the nori, leaving a 1cm gap at the top and bottom so that you can seal the roll.
  • Place fillings in a line about 5cm from the front of the nori – not too much!
  • Roll the nori carefully and evenly around the filling, rolling away from you and pressing firmly.
  • Once the roll is complete, press down firmly on the mat to compress it so that it keeps its shape.
  • Cut the roll into even pieces using a kinfe dipped in rice vinegar so as not to stick.
  • Serve with wasabi paste and sushi ginger.

We decided to make our sushi using tuna, as both of the kids like it. So I got everything ready, explained to them what they needed to do and they were away!

Sushi making

Sushi making 1

Sushi making 2

Sushi making 3

The kids absolutely loved making sushi. The test came when they actually tried some, and to be honest, they were not huge fans! They didn’t like the nori, so they ended up unravelling it and eating the rice and tuna that way. The rice they absolutely loved, and I am really pleased to get these tips on how to make perfect rice as this was really tasty and the kids both ate every last grain. We will be having rice again, and if anyone’s got any suggestions of what we can roll our sushi in, they loved making it, so would be very happy to do that again. It was a fun session, and I do always like to get them trying new things, especially healthy and nutritious food, and I think it’s even better to be involved in the making as well as they eating.

YUTAKA also have a range of delicious looking recipes here to try, so we’ve plenty more to taste and experience.

Competition Time!

I do now have a Sushi Kit for 2 from Yutaka to give away to one of my lucky readers. To be in with a chance of winning it, enter using the rafflecopter below. The competition is open to UK entrants only and closes at 12am 8th June 2016. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What filling would you put in your sushi?

Disclosure: We received products FOC for the purposes of this post

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147 thoughts on “Sushi for Beginners with Yutaka”

  1. We are sushi experts in our house 🙂 If you don’t want to use nori, then don’t, just use a piece of cling film on top of your mat and roll up your rice and filling very tight (but don’t roll up the cling film in the rice,) it’s like california rolls (only these have specific fillings) My kids really love frushi, where we use a fruit filling and they can be dipped in cream, or ice cream sauce instead of soy sauce.

  2. That looks so yum. I would have avocado, wasabi, rice, and either salmon, crabsticks or tuna in mine – my kids love sushi!

  3. Oh my goodness there’s so many options to choose from!! ? I’d probably choose salmon, cream cheese, chives and lots of wasabi. I’ve tried sushi but never made it myself.

  4. michelle worrall

    Pineapple pesto (green) rocket pine nuts toasted…and smoked mackrel flakes ..cut small and mixed to use as filling

  5. Salmon and chilli flakes probably, or maybe king prawns! My niece (8yo) is a massive sushi fan – if I win I’ll use this kit with her.

  6. Not really sure, never made sushi, so would probably go simple and do something like rice, tuna and sesame seeds .x

  7. Various fillings such as tuna, salmon, some vegetables such as carrot, cucumber etc. I am fond of sushi.

  8. I would have to google some veggie ideas. My boys love sushi though. They do look tasty, so I would maybe do rice, avocado and sweetcorn. I would have a play around

  9. Rebecka Granfelt

    My friend has tried to get me with to a sushi making lesson but something always comes up. This is exactly what I need! Brilliant!

  10. Salmon& red pepper – I’ve also had some amazing veggie alternatives and chicken & duck variations for those who don’t like fish! Adore Sushi!! Mmm

  11. Try mixing some flaked smoked mackrel, spring onions, a little bit of sesame oil, sesame seeds and nanami togarashi (japanese chilli with sesame, orange peel, ginger and seaweed).

  12. Oooh, we’re big sushi lovers here! Salmon, cream cheese, dill and cucumber sushi rolls are the best!

  13. James Worsfold

    I’d put in some smoked salmon trimmings (great value for money!) and cucumber
    What about lettuce leaves as an alternative to wrap the rice and tuna in? Although most kids are probably just as adverse to lettuce as they would be to nori!

  14. Spencer Broadley

    We have never tried sushi before, so it would take experimenting and having fun – I expect nice fresh things

  15. I love smoked salmon and cucumber or tuna and red pepper yummy! never made my own sushi but would love to

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