How to Make the Perfect Sushi Rice Recipe
Learn how to make the perfect sushi rice with this traditional Japanese recipe. This method ensures fluffy, flavorful rice seasoned with a delicate mixture of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt, ideal for sushi rolls and other Japanese dishes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Rice Cooker
- Cuisine: Japanese
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Seasoning
- 4 tbsp Rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 2 tsp Salt
Rice
- 2 cups Uncooked sushi rice
- 1.8 cups Water
- 1 strip of Kelp (about 5 cm/2 inches) or 1 tsp Konbu dashi powder
Instructions
- Wash rice: Rinse the sushi rice several times with cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch. Drain thoroughly.
- Cook rice: Place the rinsed rice in a rice cooker along with 1.8 cups of water and the strip of kelp. Cook the rice according to your rice cooker’s instructions.
- Make sushi vinegar: While the rice cooks, combine rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small pot. Warm over medium heat, stirring until the sugar and salt are fully dissolved. Remove from heat.
- Prepare wooden tub: Moisten the wooden tub (Hangiri) with water and wipe any excess moisture off with a cloth to prevent rice from sticking.
- Transfer and season rice: Once cooked, remove the kelp strip. Transfer the rice into the wooden tub. Pour the prepared sushi vinegar evenly over the hot rice.
- Mix and fan rice: Using a rice spatula (Shamoji), gently fold the sushi vinegar into the rice with a cutting motion to avoid mashing. Simultaneously fan the rice with a Japanese fan (Uchiwa) to cool it quickly and give it a shiny texture.
- Cool rice properly: Let the rice cool to room temperature. Cover it with a moistened cloth to keep it from drying out before using it for sushi.
Notes
- Use good-quality sushi rice for authentic texture and flavor.
- If you don’t have a wooden tub, a large shallow non-metallic bowl can be used.
- Fanning the rice while mixing helps the rice cool quickly and prevents it from becoming soggy.
- Do not wash the vinegar seasoning mixture after it is absorbed; the balance of flavors is crucial.
- Keep the moistened cloth over the rice to maintain moisture until ready to serve.
Keywords: sushi rice, sushi vinegar, Japanese rice, sushi preparation, how to make sushi rice
