Origins of Sushi

Everyone has their favorite place to get sushi. From the many different styles such as Futomaki (a large roll that uses many ingredients and rolled in Nori [seaweed] then sliced and served) and Nigiri (a small pat of vinegar rice that is topped with either raw or cooked fish or vegetables) to Oshizushi (vinegar rice and other ingredients that have been pressed into a mold) and Temaki (cone shaped Nori that is stuffed with vinegar rice and other ingredients, which is often called a hand roll), everyone has tried them all and have their favorites from Toro (fatty tuna) and Uni (sea urchin) gto Kappa Ma (cucumber) and Hamachi (yellow tail tuna), but have you ever stopped to think where this popular Japanese form of fast food came from? Sushi means any dish made with vinegar rice which may or may not include raw fish, thus the possibilities are endless in combinations.

According to the Asian Art Mall, sushi started in China during the seventh century, before the Chinese and Japanese cultures and foods blended. Originally fish was preserved in layers of salt for weeks and months at a time; however, there was a discovery that cut down the preservin time. That discovery was rice soak in vinegar did the same preservation as layers of salt did; however, it takes half the time that just salt did, so instead of months it only took days.

During a time of drought and food shortage, people started to eat the rice that they used to preserve the fish, thus the origins of sushi got its start. It was during the 1800s that it was refined and given its name. Like all good things, it was started by accident. Chef Yohei was cooking for a party and he discovered that he did not have enough fermented fish for one of his dishes. He had frozen fish in which he discovered that it retained more flavor than the preserved and the bacteria were dead. Thus served and created the first two styles of sushi, Edo and Osaka which was both named after the cities were the party was held and the birth place of Chef Yohei.

Today, there are almost 5,000 shops across the world that serves this form of Chinese and Japanese fast food. Sushi is low in fat, loaded with nutrients and quick as well as easy to make. A single serving which is approximately eight to ten pieces has on average 350 to 400 calories. It is high in protein, and a good source of the Omega 3 fatty acid. The rice and seaweed that are served in the pieces are also helpful in that they provide complex carbohydrates and iodine for the body.