Homemade Sushi Rice

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One of the myths in the culinary world is that only Sushi masters with 20 years of experience can make Sushi Rice. This is absolutely not true! In fact, anyone can make delicious Homemade Sushi Rice that will taste just as good as what you’ll eat at your favorite Japanese restaurant. It is a relatively easy technique to master, and one that everyone at home will have the tools and capability to do at home.

Why is Sushi Rice considered so difficult to make?

I am not sure where the origins came from, but I have a feeling it’s likely due to the myriad of food documentaries that are out there at the moment. You know the type we’re talking about – the ‘Chef’s Table’ style documentaries on Netflix that dial up the stylization by about a million on the art and craft of cooking

When it comes to Japanese food, and particularly Sushi, this stylization is dialed up even further. The artform of making the perfect batch of Sushi is showcased as something that only one who has been training in the art for 20+ years can master

The reality, however, is that like all cooking it is all about following a process. There is a reason why top restaurants all around the world have people in their early 20’s preparing the food. They are simply following a process that has been outlined to them. Nothing else!

The process of making Homemade Sushi Rice is nowhere near as complex as some elaborate meals you can find in top-end restaurants. It is well within the means of everyone at home, and we’re excited to share it with you!

How to make perfect Homemade Sushi Rice every time

Making Sushi Rice at home is very easy. It is quite like preparing regular Rice, with some additional steps at the end. The one major difference is that you need to specifically buy Sushi Rice from the grocery store. This is a unique type of Rice that is very easy to find these days at the store.

Once you’ve got your hands on the Rice, cooking it comes down to these three primary steps:

1. Washing the Sushi Rice
2. Boiling the Rice with Water
3. Adding the Sugar and Vinegar
   
   

Let’s break down each of these steps

1. Washing the Sushi Rice

To prepare the Rice it is very common to wash it before it gets cooked. This step is completed to remove any excess starch from the outside of the Rice. Having too much starch on the Rice before it is cooked will result in a stodgier, slightly heavier Rice that will stick together

Honestly, it is an optional step and if you forget it (which we do a lot!) the Rice is still going to come out fine. It comes down to texture at the end of the day. If you’re ok with the Rice sticking together a little bit (which is totally fine) then you can skip this step

To wash the Rice, simply add it to a relatively fine strainer or sieve and rinse under cold water. Do this for about 30 seconds – 1 minute, moving the Rice around with your hands to ensure every grain gets a good rinse. Strain it well afterwards, as you want to remove as much water as possible. This is to ensure the quantity of water to Rice is right when it comes to the next step, cooking!

2. Boiling the Rice in Water

The process of cooking Sushi Rice is exactly the same as cooking regular Rice, as are the ratios. A typical serving which is good for 3 – 4 people is 1 cup of Sushi Rice to 1 ½ cups of Water. You can keep this ratio to scale the quantity of Rice too. So, 2 cups of Rice will need 3 cups of Water as an example

Boil the Water in advance (use a Kettle) and measure out your Rice in a measuring cup. Add the Rice to a Saucepan and heat it up over a medium low heat while the Water is boiling. Once boiled, measure out the quantity of Water then add it to the Pot

Mix the Water around to break up all the Rice, as it tends to try and clump together a bit. Then, simply cover the pot and cook for 10 minutes on a low setting. You want the Water to be just simmering. Avoid any excessive boiling

After 10 minutes remove the pot from the heat but keep the lid on. Leave it for a further 10 minutes covered. This step will continue to cook the Rice, but at a lower, gradual temperature. After 10 minutes the Rice is done! Give it a nice stir with a wooden spoon to fluff it all up and then you’re ready for the final step

3. Adding the Sugar and Vinegar

This final step is what really separates Sushi Rice from other types of Rice. Sweet and Sour ingredients are added to the Rice, which is what give it its unique and famous flavor. The ingredients added are White Sugar and Rice Wine Vinegar

White Sugar is used because it is one of the finer grains of Sugar, which ensures the smooth texture of the Sushi Rice will remain intact. Rice Wine Vinegar is used as it is the traditional Vinegar produced in Japan. It has a strong flavor, ensuring a strong contrast to the sweetness of the Sugar comes through

Ensuring the right quantities of these ingredients is key, as Japanese food is famous for perfecting balance. Too much Sugar or too much Vinegar will completely ruin the taste.  For 1 cup of Sushi Rice you should use 2 tbsp. of Rice Wine Vinegar and 1 tbsp. Sugar

Finally, we add Salt to the Homemade Sushi Rice, just like you would regular Rice. About ½ tsp. should be enough. This helps to elevate all the flavors in the dish

The traditional method of mixing these ingredients into the Rice is to transfer the cooked Rice to a large wooden bowl and mix them together using a wooden spoon or spatula. I don’t think this step is critical, but if you’ve got a wooden bowl (like a Salad Bowl) we recommend using it

This delicious Japanese Beef Bowl is just one of the many amazing dishes you can make with Sushi Rice

Perfecting Sushi Rice simply opens a whole world of wonderful Japanese meals you can enjoy at home!

The best part about nailing Homemade Sushi Rice is the world of recipes that seemingly now open up to you. Japanese Food is an amazing cuisine to cook at home. The ingredients are readily available, and most dishes are quite simple to prepare

In fact, the simplicity of cooking is really a hallmark of Japanese Cuisine. You don’t need a lot of ingredients or loads of complicated cooking steps to recreate some truly exceptional Japanese Dishes. Other than the obvious homemade Sushi, here are a few of our favorite recipes that we recommend you pair with this delicious Homemade Sushi Rice you have now created!

• Japanese Beef Bowl (Gyudon)
• Miso Glazed Salmon
• Crispy Rice Salmon Bites
• Teriyaki Chicken
  
  

Homemade Sushi Rice Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup of Sushi Rice
• 1 ½ cups of Boiling Water
• 2 tbsp. Rice Wine Vinegar
• 1 tbsp. Sugar
• ½ tsp. Salt
  
  

Instructions

1. Rinse the Rice well under cold water using a sieve. Strain well and then add to a medium sized pot over medium low heat
2. Bring the Water to a boil using a kettle then add 1 ½ cups to the Pot with the Rice. Stir well to break up the Rice then cover and simmer on low for 10 minutes
3. Remove the pot from the heat and leave for a further 10 minutes with the lid on. Once cooked, transfer Rice to a large wooden bowl (you can use a Salad Bowl)
4. Add the Rice Wine Vinegar, Sugar, and Salt. Mix well using a wooden spoon to combine the ingredients and then serve hot
   
   

Recipe Notes

• Washing the Rice is an optional step. Washing the Rice removes excess Starch coating the outside of the Rice grains and will result in less sticky, clumpy Rice
• You can add some garnishes to the finished Rice such as Sesame Seeds, finely diced Chili or Scallions
  
  

It’s so simple to make Homemade Sushi Rice! Follow these steps outlined above and you’ll be enjoying the most amazing tasting Sushi Rice, ready to be paired with your favorite Japanese Dishes!

If you enjoyed this recipe showcasing the simplicity of preparing restaurant dishes at home, then check out these recipes too:

• Bearnaise Sauce
• Greek Fried Cheese – Saganaki
• Red Wine Sauce
• The Perfect Homemade Fries
  
  

Happy Cooking!