What Comes in a Sushi Making Kit?

A sushi making kit is a great gift idea for all of your favorite sushi fans, if they are interested in cooking it for themselves. There are people who are convinced that they have no cooking talent whatsoever, after all. And while sushi is one of those treats that is delicious and easy to pick up from your favorite Asian restaurant, it does take some practice and a skillful touch to learn how to make some of it, especially the rolls. But, with a good kit, a willing mind and some practice, your recipient can be well on their way to making delicious and nutritious sushi on their own, in their own kitchen.

The most important part of any kit is the recipe and instruction booklet. If the kit you are buying does not have a good, clear and in color book, consider buying one to add to the gift to round it out. The recipe book that you use should be split into sections, possibly having a beginner’s section as well as a more advanced version of the sushi creations you can eventually learn to make.

In the average kit, there are a number of other items, including seasonings and vinegars. Nori wraps which are used to wrap the sushi are often included as well. Of course, if the ingredients are not to your taste or you want some additional, exotic flavors, you can always add more especially as your skills increase.

To wrap the sushi, you lay the Nori down on bamboo mats, included in many kits, and then add the filling, typically starting with specially prepared rice and then adding in others to your own tastes. The kits will come with the basics but not the fresh ingredients that you need to make your favorite kind of sushi. Only your imagination will limit the items that you can use to make your sushi. Some suggestions include: fresh avocado, crabmeat (real or imitation, your choice) cucumbers, shrimp (fresh or frozen) and chunks of other types of fish, preferably tuna, swordfish or salmon. You can choose to use as much spice or flavor as you would like; these are your sushi, after all.

The most difficult part about sushi is the rolling, but that only takes a little bit of practice to get down. If you need, you can watch a video or two to learn the proper way to roll sushi and then you will be ready to get started with your sushi making kit.