|
Sushi, which is dish of vinegar rice with fish, is the most common
delicacy of Japan. Found in different delicious varieties, Japanese
sushi has become very popular over the years in the western world as
well. The birth of sushi is unknown but many believe sushi was brought
into Japan around 7th Century from China.
The popular sushi varieties
Among the popular sushi dishes, the most popular is nigirizushi or
finger rolls. This type of sushi comprise of hand-pressed mounds of rice
with a dab of wasabi with toppings of raw fish or shellfish or other
ingredients. Maguro or tuna, hamachi or yellowtail and tako or boiled
octopus are some of the other popular nigirizushi.
Maki-zushi or sushi rolls wrapped by seaweed or nori is another popular
sushi dish. Also known as norikami, these are found in different
varieties like tekkamaki or raw tuna roll and kappamaki or cucumber.
Soy sauce and wasabi or Japanese horseradish add a good flavour in the
sushi. While soy sauce is used as a dipping sauce, the wasabi is used in
the making of the sushi. However, the most important ingredient is
picked ginger also known as gari.
The health benefits of sushi
Sushi has many health benefits in comparison to the traditional
American fast food. Raw fish and rice are the two main ingredients,
which are great source of high protein, vitamins, carbohydrates,
minerals and have low fat content. Since this popular Japanese
preparation is served raw, there is no composition of fat in it. Fish,
tofu, egg and seafood, which make the fillings of the sushi, have high
levels of protein. Both rice and vegetables are used as sources of
carbohydrates.
The ill effects of sushi
Despite the fact that sushi come with many health benefits, this
popular Japanese delicacy can also poses threat to health. One of the
integral ingredients of sushi is raw fish, which have several health
risks. Fishes like blue fin tuna contains high levels of mercury in them
and can certainly cause health problems if consumed in considerable
amount.
As sushi is undercooked seafood, it can cause intestinal problem like
diarrhoea. A bacterium named Vibrio parahaemolyticus grows in it. In
addition, sushi may contain parasites and pathogens as well which can be
transmitted to the human body while consuming. The salty condiments of
sushi like soy sauce can even be dangerous if you have hypertension or
renal disorders.
The ways of eating sushi
Eating sushi and sushi train with a conveyor belt in a restaurant is
a famous and inexpensive way of eating. Spread all over Japan as well as
in other countries, sushi in these restaurants is served on colour-coded
plates; the colour codes denote the cost of the sushi serving.
The customers get to choose their desired plates from the moving strip
or platforms where the sushi plates are placed. On the other hand, the
traditional serving of sushi is inspired by minimalist and simplistic
styles where the food is laid in basic symmetry, and in wooden and
monotone plates.
|
