7 Classic Sushi Rolls: What is Really in Your Roll? (2024)

FAQs

What is a classic roll in sushi? ›

The most common type of sushi is known as uramaki and maki. Uramaki is different fish and vegetables rolled in seaweed and wrapped in rice. Maki is similar, but the seaweed is on the outside.

Various recipes incorporate other fixings such as raw or cooked fish, tuna, shrimp, crab and krab (imitation crab). Avocados, gobo (burdock root), cucumbers, and carrots (both of which are often pickled) top the list of vegetables added to sushi rolls.

The typical roll order is made up of a roll as described above, cut into six or eight pieces.

The original sushi roll, the “California roll” was invented in the early 1970s when a Japanese chef in a Little Tokyo district used avocado in sushi rolls for the first time (some say this first happened in Vancouver, Canada).

Sushi is a Japanese dish that is generally made up of fish, vinegar, and cooked rice. The most widely known rolls contain raw fish. However, there are also vegetarian sushi options. It can be enjoyed as either appetizer or main course, and there's more than one way to enjoy this raw dish.

According to our survey results, Maguro (tuna; nigiri) is by far the most frequently eaten sushi type.

The term sushi literally means "sour-tasting", as the overall dish has a sour and umami or savory taste. The term comes from an antiquated し shi terminal-form conjugation, no longer used in other contexts, of the adjectival verb sui (酸い, "to be sour"), resulting in the term sushi (酸し).

While sushi is fish that is served with rice and may be adorned with other ingredients, sashimi is simply the raw fish, served as is. It's sliced in long rectangular slices known as “hira-zukuri” and may have wasabi, soy sauce and ginger served on the side as accompanying condiments.

If you're confused about the difference between roll vs hand roll sushi, here's the 411: Sushi roll is called “Maki” and consists of cylinders that are sliced into several individual pieces—generally 6 to 8 servings. Hand roll sushi is called, “Temaki” and is a cone-shaped individual serving.

What is classic California Roll? ›

A California roll is a fresh take on traditional Japanese rice rolls. Filled with avocado, crab, and cucumber, it's fresh and crunchy and makes a filling meal. You can use real or imitation crab.

Shrimp tempura, snow crab, and avocado. Rolled uramaki style, wrapped with unagi eel. Topped with Eel Sauce.

The go-to roll for everyone, the California roll is made with cooked crab (sometimes imitation crab), avocado and cucumber. The reason that this is one of the best sushi rolls for beginners is because there is no raw fish inside of it, and it's made with very mild, easily recognizable ingredients.