Fish delicacies are an important part of Japanese cuisine, especially the raw ones. Still, many people wonder: is sashimi cooked? This is not a bad thing, because you should always know how the food you’ll eat is prepared and all the health benefits it will bring. Stick around and find out everything needed about this Japanese delicacy.
Sashimi isn’t cooked – on the contrary; it’s raw seafood. This dish is extremely healthy, and it’s considered a delicacy in Japan and all over the world as well. The best way to eat sashimi is to cut thinly bite-sliced pieces of raw fish with an extremely sharp knife.
If you want to learn more about this exquisite dish, keep reading. I’ve prepared some interesting things you should be aware of.
Is Sashimi Cooked
Since sashimi isn’t cooked, and it’s basically raw fish and other seafood, many people have second thoughts about trying it. The word sashimi literally means “pierced body.” This Japanese delicacy is prepared by making thin slices of raw fish or seafood. With sashimi or sushi knives, you can get the perfect slices and prepare this traditional Japanese dish in the best possible way.
As I already said, the fish is raw, so it’s essential to get fresh and high-quality ones. So, when you want to make sashimi at your home, look for sashimi-grade quality seafood. No matter if it’s salmon, tuna, shrimp, octopus, or squid. Right after the fish is caught, it’s properly frozen in order to remain fresh, with a minimal build-up of lactic acid and degradation. After all, sashimi-grade is the highest quality and safest fish available.
What Is the Best Way to Eat Sashimi
Sashimi can be seasoned with seasonings and sauces, including soy sauce, ginger, wasabi, and citrus. It is typically served on a tray or dish, occasionally put on a bed of shaved daikon radish or shiso leaves. It is typically served with soy sauce or ponzu, a citrus-flavored soy sauce, as a dipping sauce. Here’s a step-by-step on how to eat this Japanese delicacy:
- Pick up a piece of sashimi with your chopsticks or hands,
- Dunk it in the dipping sauce,
- Consume it whole in one mouthful.
Explore Different Sashimi Types
Sashimi is a different type of raw fish, which is how there are different types of this dish. Here they all are.
| Sashimi | Seafood |
| Ahi | Yellowfin tuna |
| Fugu | Pufferfish |
| Akagai | Surf clam |
| Sake | Salmon |
| Saba | Mackerel |
| Uni | Sea urchin |
What’s the Main Difference Between Sushi and Sashimi?
The presence of seasoned, short-grain sushi rice distinguishes sashimi from other foods containing raw fish, including sushi rolls like makizushi and futomaki, nigiri, and nori-wrapped cones of temaki. To highlight the distinctive flavors of the food, sashimi is typically served all by itself.
What Is the Difference Between Sashimi and Nigiri?
Another dish on the menu at most Japanese restaurants is nigiri. Given the absence of rice, we already stated that sashimi isn’t even close to becoming sushi. Nigiri and Maki are the two primary varieties of sushi. You’re probably most used to seeing maki sushi. Rolls of rice, nori, and fillings are precisely sliced into bite-sized pieces.
A cut of sashimi is placed on top of a little pile of rice to make nigiri sushi. Salmon, tuna, and shrimp are common sashimi choices for nigiri.
Learn Everything There Is to Know About the Japanese Dish
Understanding the dish you intend to eat is always a good idea, especially when it comes to tasting sashimi. After all, it’s still raw seafood which many people aren’t used to. So, prepare in the best possible way and have an excellent tasting experience.
FAQ
- Is Sashimi Healthy? For people following a low-carb or ketogenic diet who are avoiding rice, sashimi can be a very nutritious addition to their diet. High-quality protein, which supports hunger management and muscle growth, is abundant in sashimi. Omega-3 fatty acids and heart-healthy fats can be found in large quantities in fish such as salmon and tuna.
- How Many Calories Does Sashimi Have? You’ll be happy to learn that sashimi has a low-calorie count. Salmon sashimi has roughly 40 calories per piece, compared to 32 calories for each piece of tuna sashimi. With only 26 calories per piece, halibut is even more kind to your waistline.
- How Long Can Sashimi Last in the Fridge? Sashimi can’t last long in the fridge, given its raw seafood. That’s why it’s best to consume it fresh. However, if there are some leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for 24 hours.