Online Desk: Sushi, a delicacy originating and evolving in Japan, stems from the Japanese words “su” (vinegar) and “shi” (rice). This illustrates its fundamental ingredients. This delightful rice preparation not only stood the test of time but has also transcended borders. It is now gracing the tables in Bangladeshi kitchens and households with its diverse and tantalising flavours. Let’s take a look into some mouthwatering homemade sushi recipes for the local food connoisseurs.

5 Delicious Sushi Recipes to Try in Bangladeshi Kitchens

Maki Sushi with Baked Fish

Ingredients

50 grams sushi-grade salmon, 1 avocado, 1 nori seaweed, 170 grams cooked sushi rice, 1 teaspoon wasabi, soy sauce (to taste), 170 grams ready-to-cook skinless mackerel, salt, rice flour, sesame oil (for frying), 2 lettuce,  chilli sauce, sesame seeds (for garnish).

Instructions

First, halve the avocado, remove the pit, and cut it into 1/4-inch strips. The same process needs to be followed for the salmon.

Then, place the nori sheet on a work surface, preferably a plastic-wrapped sushi bamboo mat for the sushi. Spread sushi rice evenly on the nori, leaving a 1/4-inch edge at the top. Add a strip of wasabi down the centre of the rice. Place avocado and salmon strips on top. Sprinkle the exposed nori with water, roll from the bottom, seal gently, and cut the roll into 12 pieces.

To prepare the mackerel, rinse and pat it dry, cut it into 12 pieces, and lightly salt. Coat in rice flour and fry in hot sesame oil until golden. Top the salmon roll with lettuce and mackerel, and serve with sesame seeds and your choice of soy sauce or chilli sauce for dipping.

Baked Salmon Sushi

Ingredients

2 cups short-grain white rice (preferably Japonica), 3-inch piece ginger (peeled), 1 cup rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons sugar plus 1 teaspoon, kosher salt, 1 inch thick 350 grams salmon (preferably wild, skin removed), 2 carrots (1 cup, peeled and julienned), 2 mini cucumbers (1 cup, julienned), ½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil, ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 avocado (halved and thinly sliced), 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, 6 sheets toasted nori, and soy sauce, for serving.

Instructions

First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Rinse the rice thoroughly and let it drain for at least 20 minutes. Thinly slice the ginger and blanch it in a mixture of vinegar, sugar, and water. Set aside half of this mixture for the rice and add the blanched ginger to the other half.

In a small pot, cook the rice until tender, then fold in a quarter of the vinegar mixture. While the rice cools, season the salmon and roast it until just cooked through.

To assemble the sushi rolls, place a sheet of nori on a bamboo mat, spread rice, mayonnaise, vegetables, salmon, and avocado, and roll it up. Cut into six pieces. Serve with pickled ginger and soy sauce.

Sushi Bake with Tuna
Ingredients
1 cup uncooked short grain rice, ¼ cup rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon white sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼-⅓ cup Furikake seasoning, ¾ cup, 3 tablespoons cream cheese, 150 grams tuna, 1 avocado (sliced), sesame oil drizzle, 1 sprig of green onions (sliced thin), 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (lightly toasted), nori sheet or Korean seaweed.

Instructions
First, prepare short-grain rice as usual. While the rice is cooking, microwave vinegar, sugar, and salt to dissolve the sugar. Alternatively, use ready-made sushi seasoning.

Then, soften cream cheese, and mayonnaise, and drain the tuna, mixing them evenly. Once the rice is cooked, scoop it into a large bowl, then mix the sushi seasoning in by cutting and folding, not stirring. Add sesame oil for a savoury touch.

Next, spread the rice in a baking dish, top with half the furikake, the tuna mix, and the rest of the furikake (add chilli flakes for extra spice). Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.

Finally, bake at 425°F for 12-15 minutes until golden and bubbly. While it bakes, prepare avocado and garnishes. Place them on the dish after it is out of the oven. Serve with seaweed, sliced cucumber, and pickled ginger.

Chicken Sushi
Ingredients
1 ½ cups sushi rice, ½ tsp salt, 3 tablespoons sushi vinegar, 4 nori sheets, 1 bamboo sushi mat, roast chicken (shredded), 1 avocado (peeled and chopped), 1 small carrot (cut into thin strips), soy sauce to serve, pickled ginger to serve, wasabi to serve, and mayonnaise.

Instructions
First, wash the rice and cook it with salt. After it is done, mix in sushi vinegar and let it cool. Now, take a bamboo sushi mat and place a sheet of nori, shiny side down. Using wet hands, spread rice over the nori, leaving a 2 cm strip free of rice on one edge.

Next, mix shredded chicken with mayonnaise and place it down the centre of the rice. Top it with avocado and carrot strips. Use the bamboo mat to gently roll the sushi away from you, enclosing the filling. Cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Repeat these steps with the remaining ingredients.

Finally, slice and serve the sushi with wasabi, pickled ginger, and soy sauce. Enjoy your homemade sushi rolls.

Paneer Tikka Sushi Bake
Ingredients
2 tablespoons oil, 1 ½ cups paneer (cubed), ½ cup tikka masala sauce, 2 ½ cups cooked sushi rice, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons salt, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons furikake seasoning, pickled onions, cucumbers (diced), mangoes or pineapples (diced), green onions (chopped), green chillies (finely chopped), sriracha mayonnaise, hoisin sauce, black and white sesame seeds, and pickled ginger.

Instructions
First, heat oil in a pan, and sauté paneer cubes for 3-4 minutes until slightly golden. Add tikka masala sauce and sauté for 2-3 minutes until well-coated. Remove from heat and let it cool.

Then, prepare the sushi rice by adding salt, sugar, and rice vinegar. Grease a cheesecake springform pan, spread the rice evenly, and sprinkle furikake seasoning. Add the paneer tikka as a second layer.

Next, cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. After baking, let it cool for 5-10 minutes. Garnish with pickled onions, cucumber, mangoes, pineapples, green chillies, and green onions. Drizzle with sriracha mayo and hoisin sauce. Finish with sesame seeds and pickled ginger. Enjoy!

Summing Up
With its roots in Japan, sushi has transcended borders to become a beloved dish worldwide. Bangladeshi cuisine, known for its unique flavours, has warmly embraced sushi, infusing it with a distinctive touch. Whether with baked fish, salmon, tuna, or creative vegetarian options, Bangladeshi-style sushi promises a delightful culinary experience.