A simple yet flavorful sushi, salmon nigiri is widely popular throughout the world. The vinegar of the sushi rice enhances the flavor of the salmon bringing out the best in each ingredient. In addition, it’s a very quick sushi to make!
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What is Salmon Nigiri?
Salmon nigiri is a thin slice of salmon draped over a ball of sushi rice. You can either use sushi grade raw salmon, smoked salmon, or cooked salmon. Personally, I prefer to use smoked salmon when making salmon nigiri as I think it’s more flavorful when combined with the vinegar flavor of the sushi rice. However, if you order from a sushi restaurant, you likely see raw salmon used.
How do you Make Salmon Nigiri?
As far as sushi goes, salmon nigiri is very quick to prepare. Check out the step-by-step instructions below:
Cook Sushi Rice
1. Rinse 1 cup of sushi rice by placing it in a colander and running water through it until the water is clear.
2. After the rice is rinsed, add it to a sauce pan with 1 1/4 cups of water (I would check the instructions on the sushi rice package to see exactly how much water to add as it can vary depending on the brand).
3. Bring the water to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let the rice simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the water is absorbed and the rice is soft.
4. Remove the rice and place into a bowl or dish and let cool. I would line the dish with parchment paper prior to adding the rice to avoid sticking.
5. Once the rice has cooled, mix two tablespoons of sushi vinegar into your rice. Then stir until the vinegar has fully absorbed into the rice. Once cooled and fully absorbed, your rice is ready!
Assemble the Salmon Sushi
1. Cut salmon: Cut the salmon into rectangles roughly 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) long by 1.5 inches (4 cm) wide.
2. Form the sushi rice into a ball the shape of a small egg: Mix a splash of rice vinegar into a bowl of warm water and wet your hands. This helps prevent rice from sticking to your hands. After wetting your hands, form a small ball of sushi rice into a small egg shape. The exact size depends on the size of your salmon slices. The rice ball should be large enough for the salmon to cover it but not touch the plate.
3. Drape smoked salmon slice over the sushi rice ball. After placing the salmon over the rice, gently form it to the rice ball with your hands and place on a sushi plate.
4. Serve and enjoy: I usually serve with soy sauce and wasabi. Some people also serve with pickled ginger as well.
Salmon Nigiri Recipe
Salmon Nigiri Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Pot for cooking sushi rice
- 1 Sharp knife and cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 cup Sushi Rice dried, will cook to 3 cups
- 1/4 cup Sushi Vinegar
- 8 oz Smoked Salmon cut into 12 slices
Instructions
Cook Sushi Rice
- Rinse 1 cup of sushi rice by placing it in a colander and running water through it until the water is clear.
- After the rice is rinsed, add it to a sauce pan with 1 1/4 cups of water. (I would check the instructions on the sushi rice package to see exactly how much water to add as it can vary depending on the brand).
- Bring the water to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let the rice simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the water is absorbed and the rice is soft.
- Remove the rice and place into a bowl or dish and let cool. I would line the dish with parchment paper prior to adding the rice to avoid sticking.
- Once the rice has cooled, mix 2 tablespoons of sushi vinegar into your rice. Stir until it has absorbed into the rice. Once cooled and fully absorbed, your rice is ready!
Assemble the Smoked Salmon Sushi
- Cut salmon: Cut the salmon into rectangles roughly 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) long by 1.5 inches (4 cm) wide.
- Form the sushi rice into a ball the shape of a small egg: Mix a splash of rice vinegar into a bowl of water and wet your hands. This helps prevent rice from sticking to your hands. After wetting your hands, form a ball of sushi rice into a small egg shape. The exact size depends on the size of your salmon slices. The rice ball should be large enough for the salmon to cover it but not touch the plate.
- Drape smoked salmon slice over the sushi rice ball. After placing the salmon over the rice, gently form it to the rice ball with your hands and place on a sushi plate.
- Serve and enjoy: I usually serve with soy sauce and wasabi. Some people also serve with pickled ginger as well.
Video
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Is salmon nigiri gluten-free?
Yes. All the ingredients in salmon nigiri are naturally gluten-free. However, it’s often served with soy sauce which does contain gluten. I would be sure to request gluten-free soy sauce if ordering from a restaurant.
Is salmon nigiri a traditional Japanese sushi?
Salmon is not commonly used in Japanese sushi. However, it’s a very popular ingredient found in sushi in the West.
Final Thoughts on Salmon Nigiri
If you are looking for a flavorful sushi that can be prepared quickly, I would definitely recommend making salmon nigiri. Whether eaten by itself or combined with other types of sushi in a platter, salmon nigiri won’t disappoint. Happy cooking!
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