Sushi is an enjoyable part of a meal or enjoyed on its own. Traditionally made with cooked rice mixed with a little rice vinegar then shaped into bite-sized pieces topped with raw seafood. Other varieties come in the form of a long roll wrapped in seaweed “paper”. This roll contains strips of vegetables and assorted seafood and is served by slicing it into small, bite-sized pieces.

In earlier days, sushi is regarded as exotic and can be found only in specialty Japanese restaurants. Now, this food item has transcended its origins and have become so popular that you can get your sushi fix from delis and supermarkets.

Making sushi at home can be a worthwhile experiment for the die-hard sushi lover. You get to choose what goes in your sushi and you get to have your favorite treat anytime. You will need a bamboo rolling mat, a cutting board, a sharp knife and a large bowl.

The rice is the foundation on which you will build your sushi. Good varieties include short grain or calrose rice. You might as well cook the fish you’re planning on using if you insist on using brown or instant rice because you can never make decent sushi this way. Cook rice a little less compared to other Asian dishes. Never to the point of being mushy, sushi rice has to have a nice texture to it. Put your rice in a mixing bowl so you can add vinegar to it. A tablespoon of vinegar for every cup of rice is about the right proportion. Mix them well and let the mixture cool. Sushi is made with rice that has significantly cooled down.

While waiting for the rice to cool, you can prepare the other ingredients. Take your nori seaweed – bought from Asian specialty groceries – and lay it on top of your bamboo rolling mat. You can use plastic wrap over the bamboo mat to keep things clean. Spread rice over the seaweed, leaving around an inch of seaweed exposed for allowance when rolling. Don’t fall for the common mistake of using too much rice. Limit thickness to just