When people think of traditional Japanese food, raw fish often comes to mind.
Sushi and Sashimi are two dishes that are synonymous with Japanese cuisine, and some of the key reasons it has become so popular across the world.
From the intricate techniques it takes to creat stunning dishes, to the beautiful presentation that completes the package, these dishes are always fan favourites here at Noya London.
But what sets them apart?
While similar in many ways, there are key differences between sushi and sashimi, and in this blog, we’re going to explain them for you.
What is Sushi?
Sushi is a Japanese staple, and one of this county’s most famous exports.
Packed with different flavours and textures, sushi restaurants are popular across the world, and this is only growing here in the UK where it is fast becoming a preferred lunchtime snack amongst people looking for something nutritious and filling (and if you’re planning a full meal, don’t miss our dessert menu).
It traditionally consists of vinegared rice and a variety of different ingredients. Famously seafood is used as the cornerstone of each dish, but there are often vegetables mixed in as well as occasionally fruit.
Sushi has been eaten by many generations throughout Asia, and was seen as a method of preserving fish to begin with.
While it may not have begun in Japan (it is thought to have first been created in China), it wasn’t long before it spread to our shores where the rice begun to be eaten as well as the fish, and sushi as we know and love it today began to appear.
There are varius types of sushi, including Nigiri (hand pressed rice with fish on top) and Temaki (the sushi is cone-shaped and wrapped in seaweed) but here at Noya we love to prepare it in the Maki style.
This is where the sushi is rolled and chopped into little bit sized pieces and wrapped in seaweed, making it a delicious and convenient snack that is always exciting and packed with flavour.
What is Sashimi?
While sushi may be the most well-known of the two, sashimi is also well loved.
This consists of raw fish or meat that is sliced and served. The key difference between sushi and this is that no rice is involved with sashimi.
This is a dish that requires a meticulous approach and a skillful and steady hand as each item included is perfectly sliced and seared.
Popular seafood to use when cooking are salmon tuna, and mackerel, which provide enough flavour to create a stunning dish without the addition of rice.
Sashimi has been part of Japanese cuisine for centuries. The key is in the presentation, which elevates each dish to heights that boost the dining experience.
Sashimi is all about the seafood, a staple of Asian cuisine, and the lack of rice is used to really make this shine.
Key Differences Between Sushi and Sashimi
- Ingredients – Let’s start with the key difference. The fundamental aspect that sets sushi and sashimi apart is the inclusion of rice. While fish and other foods are used in both, the vinegared rice is what makes a dish sushi, rather than sashimi which just focuses on the other items.
- Presentation – When it comes to presentation, this is an important element to both dishes. While both take great pride in their appearance, there are differences. Sushi comes in various forms, but most famously is seen in rolls, whereas sashimi is purely about slices of seafood or meat, often served on a bed of radish with sides added for flavour.
- Accompaniments – When it comes to accompaniment, there are some essential to Japanese cuisine, such as soy and wasabi. These are used with both, but sushi often comes with a few more dips than sashimi, including pickled ginger which is great for cleansing the palate between bites.
- Nutritional Comparison – While both of these dishes have considerable health benefits, sushi can contain more calories due to the addition of the rice and other ingredients that are sometimes added such as cheese.
Is Sashimi Just Sushi Without Rice?
This is a question often asked by our customers.
The answer isn’t straightforward, as the dishes, whilst having some similarities, are very different.
To class sashimi as simply sushi without the rice would be doing a disservice to the elaborate craft that goes into making both.
Sushi also often comes with added extras such as vegetables and fruit, making this more than just wrapped up sashimi.
From the handling and presentation, both of these dishes have key elements that are different, and preparing each one requires varying skills, setting them apart from each other (for more on what we’re known for, see our Noya signature dishes).
Sushi and Sashimi at Noya London
Here at Noya, we love both of these dishes that pay homage to our Japanese roots.
Some popular choices from our menu are:
- Chicken Kara Age Maki – We steer away from the traditional seafood with this dish, which uses Japanese fried chicken alongside a combination of fruits, vegetables, and sauces to create a stunning flavour combination.
- Sake Sashimi – This uses seared raw salmon and fresh crispy daikon to create a stunning dish. The addition of ponzu dressing and Japanese mixed herbs alongside other accompaniments just adds to the flavour.
- Dragon Roll – For this Maki dish, we add crispy ebi tempura and combine it with a variety of other ingredients such as eel sauces to create a tasty sushi dish that is always a customer favourite.
- Chutoro Sashimi – For this dish, we use another classic Japanese ingredient, tuna. This is freshly sliced and served on a bed of daikon with a shisho leaf and black tobiko.
- Yasai Futo Maki Vegetarian – For people not wanting to eat meat, we offer a vegan option. The meat element is replaced by tasty fruits and vegetables, such as Japanese pickles, cucumber and avocado, to create a really tasty vegetarian dish.
These are only a handful of our wide selection, so why not check out our menu for more.
Or, if you want to try out some sushi or sashimi for yourself, then get in touch or head down to our North London restaurant today.
Our restaurant and lounge offers not just great tasting food, but also a shisha lounge, private dining, and special events.