Homemade Sushi with New Zealand Seafood, Japanese Style!
This post continues from my previous blog where I explored the best online seafood delivery in New Zealand.This time, three Japanese women living in New Zealand, including myself, made sushi and sashimi using the fish we ordered online. Whenever we gather, the conversation inevitably turns to our longing for sushi, so we decided to make our own using fish from Sanford and Sons. We tasted and compared Salmon, Gurnard, Kahawai, Tarakihi, Trevally, and Snapper - all eaten raw!Preparation: "Shio-shime" 塩締めSachi handled all the preparation, cooking, and presentation. First, she sprinkled salt on the fish upon delivery to draw out excess moisture and odor, then lightly rinsed and dried them with kitchen paper. This process is called "shio-shime" in Japan. The salted fish became firmer and more flavorful as the excess moisture was removed, along with some of the fishy smell.Now, let's rank the six types of fish we tasted! This time, Sachi, Ayaka, and me joined the tasting. Also the soy sauce is from Japan mart and it is good.Let's Tasting!Sachi expertly transformed each fish into thin, delicate slices, ready for us to taste as sashimi and sushi: Salmon, Gurnard, Kahawai, Tarakihi, Trevally, and Snapper.Salmon: The Star of the ShowSpecifically, we tried the Big Glory Bay King Salmon. This famous New Zealand King Salmon was unanimously our top pick. There was a time when I thought the best fish could only be found in Japan, but I must say, New Zealand's King Salmon stands out! Whether as sashimi, nigiri, rolls, or poke bowls, New Zealand salmon was delicious in every form.Snapper: A Close ContenderCommonly found in fish and chips, snapper is similar to red sea bream in Japan. We found it delightful, with a slightly sweet aftertaste. Me who loves yellowtail, ranked snapper second.Kahawai: The Surprise FavoriteKahawai, similar to Japanese sea bass, was Ayaka's second choice due to her fondness for amberjack. It also made the top three for the rest of us.Trevally: The Japanese DelightKnown as shima-aji in Japan, trevally was Sachi's second favorite, following salmon. Its texture and flavor made it a strong contender.Tarakihi: The Unexpected ResultTarakihi, another member of the sea bream family, had a delicate sweetness and was pleasant as sashimi. However, it ranked fifth for all of us. It seemed too bland for sashimi or nigiri, although it was tasty as a ginger-marinated poke bowl.Gurnard: The Tough OneGurnard, similar to Japanese gurnard, had a chewy texture and was challenging to bite through, earning it the last place. It seems better suited for grilling, stewing, or as a meunière.Sachi's Special Salmon and Avocado RollsTo top it off, Sachi made salmon and avocado maki rolls. Delicious and absolutely the best.Final ThoughtsHow did the raw fish fare? Honestly, the salmon was overwhelmingly the best, so delicious that we couldn't stop eating despite being full. We're already thinking about what fish to order next time, in addition to salmon.Stay tuned for more Japanese delights in New Zealand!Note: Consuming raw fish is at your own risk.
Mayumi