Sushi rainbow, or rainbow rolls, is a type of sushi product that consists of several different items such as rice, salmon, halibut and various other fish-related products that come together to form a crisp golden rainbow of colors that dazzles the eyes of those that lay witness to it is wonders.
However, why sushi, you might be asking? Rainbow Rolls, at that? Why talk about something as off-topic as sushi? Let alone something as obscure as rainbow rolls? Well, it is because of that obscurity that I am talking about such a delicacy from the far eastern seas and why fans of sushi and fish should consider adding this tasty treat for their next dinner or party.
What is a Rainbow Roll?
Typically, the contents within rainbow rolls vary from person to person. Not everyone is going to lie eating fish in the same way, and that is perfectly reasonable and understandable. Sushi is one of those meals that have practically no limits to them; anyone can make sushi to their styles and standards, just like pizza and burgers: nearly total, unlimited freedom to customize to a person’s own heart.
With that said, when making rainbow rolls, while anything can be put into them since sushi has a high degree of freedom, typically people will pack rainbow rolls with contents such rice (which makes sense given where it originates,) tuna and salmon.
At the same time, another option for sushi rainbow can include shrimp and halibut. It is all personal choice at the end of the day. Sushi recipes do not need to conform to a certain degree or style like other delicious creations as they are wholly unique and capable of ranging in far or small styles.
Rainbow rolls are no different when it comes to this concept or idea as they are just as open-ended and free to be experimented with as to any other recipe. That is why I want to talk a bit about this dish in particular as they have that freedom and openness, plus they are plain fun to make for family and friends.
Rainbow Maki Sushi Roll
As I mentioned in the previous section above, sushi and product of this ilk can be vast and different depending on the type of product a person wants or needs, especially since, once more, sushi has an air of freedom to it.
It is just raw fish that is waiting to be cooked and prepared, but it is a dish that has freedom and creativity to it. One person’s rainbow rolls can be different from another person’s rolls, it is just how it is, and that includes the various ingredients we can incorporate into these rolls.
As I mentioned a little while ago, rainbow rolls do typically contain rice due to its original country’s origins, but due to its rising popularity in Western territories such as the United States and the United Kingdom, the dish has been changed and altered slightly over the many years it has been here.
Rainbow Roll Ingredients and Recipe
- You will want some rice to act as a compounding agent for nori sheets, plus with it just being a delicious addition to an already delicious meal.
- Oh, you will need one or two nori sheets, of course. You got to have something to hold the rice and cucumber.
- You should also defiantly consider adding cucumbers to the shopping list in order to make rainbow maki.
- I recommend you also get some vinegar or another sort of seasoning powder.
- As for the actual fish, well I recommend getting some Sashimi grade fish
- Salmon
- Halibut
- Some tuna would also be a good idea.
Of course, no sushi platter is complete without wasabi and or soy sauce.- You will also want to see about procuring the proper equipment before you start making the meal. You will want items such as a large spacious cutting board, a sharp and flexible knife, some Saran-wrapping paper or something of the sort, and a bamboo mat.
- Moreover, lastly, a kitchen, to prepare your soon-to-be-delicious home-cooked meal.
Moreover, with all that, you will be ready to make some delicious rainbow sushi that will leave people’s jaws dropping. From everything I have listed here, it sounds like it will be a rather expensive meal to produce, not at all. You can get away with not having said, a bamboo mat or one of the food items, it just makes things easier for the later steps.
Sushi is a free-forming commodity. How one person works, it might be different from how another person works. That is the beauty of not only sushi but most industries in our world. No one has to work the same way as another unless need-be.
Preparation
Now, when it comes to making and preparing sushi rolls, there is no wrong way to go about it as there are plenty of guides, videos, and how-to is on the internet that can show someone how to make and prepare rainbow rolls safely and correctly with their chosen ingredients and skills.
However, to explain how someone can go about making the rolls, it goes something like this:
- Have all of your ingredients and tools out and centerfold for ease of access
- You will need a cutting blade or chefs knife, a cutting board, some clear-wrap and some sort of towel or napkin to clean off your in-between board cuts.
- Before cutting or doing anything, make sure your preparation area is clean along with your tools and your meat. Thoroughly wash and prepare everything before you begin, thus minimizing any potential cross-contamination and all those other yucky germs and problems.
Who needs that when you are cooking, right?
Now that everything clean, and thoroughly decontaminated, you should start the actual meal by cutting off even slices of your various ingredients. Cut as many slices as you believe you need and want. Remember to wipe down your cutting board and knife in-between each cuts to minimize potential contamination of germs and various other materials.- Once you finish slicing and dicing, take one of your nori sheets and cover it in rice (or whatever bonding element you choose to have, whether it is rice, crab mix, or some other third gel, it matters only to you.) Flip the nori sheet over onto your board and prepare to roll the nori and rice into a smooth, even roll. Do that and prepare yourself for the next step in the process.
- The next step in this little dance of ours is to make sure the roll is even. You can do this by using Saran-wrapping paper and placing it over the sushi roll and pressing it together, ensuring the nori and the rice remains the same. I would also recommend having a rolling bamboo mat to assist you in this stage as they can be used to properly press and hold the rainbow roll with the addition of the wrapping paper.
- After doing this, remove the bamboo and the wrapping paper, it is time to lay out your toppings with the various items you have cut before, like the tuna and salmon (or whatever it is you choose to add to the top of your little sushi roll.)
- After evenly distributing the toppings on top of the roll, taking that same Saran-wrapping paper and your bamboo mat and once more, tighten and press your roll together.
- For the final step, (which is optional if you are eating alone, but I recommend doing it) remove your bamboo mat but keep the Saran-wrapping paper on for a few more minutes. Take your knife (after cleaning it again) and cut off sections of the sushi roll for more natural consumption.
- Enjoy.
With all that said and done, this is how you make and prepare rainbow rolls. I am confident that there are other methods of creating and preparing rainbow rolls, just like I am sure there are other ingredients a person can choose to use when wanting to make this one particular dish.
Cooking is about experimentation and finding out what works and what does not. It is about seeing what tastes delicious and what tastes awful. There is, in my opinion, no right or wrong way when it comes to sushi. There just you, and the way your tastebuds handles things, and that is perfectly okay.
Cooking and baking, they are both art forms of self-expression, and that includes sushi. Cooking, baking, creating food for both yourself and others, it is art, it is passion. People have and will spend years perfecting their skills as chefs and bakers, creating dazzling and stunning works of art to be enjoyed and savored by their customers and audiences alike.
Sushi, is the same thing, just in a different shell.
Moreover, when it comes to something like rainbow rolls, it is a concept that I believe anyone interested in getting into sushi should attempt at least once in their path to becoming a competent sushi chef.
The steps to making real, authentic rolls might seem long and convoluted, especially in comparison to other recipes that undoubtedly take less time and energy, but I can assure you that these little bite-size finger foods are worth slaving over a wooden board.
Best of all, when it comes to rainbow rolls, and sushi in general, getting the ingredients needed for various dishes and creations is not hard at all. Many supermarkets and stores contain various ingredients needed for dishes such as the rolls, making it both convenient and straightforward to make these meals every day if need be, so there is little in the way of confusion or inaccessibility for most people who are interested in trying out sushi.
However, is it Healthy?
In short, yes, it is incredibly healthy to eat. Sushi is fish, fish onto itself is a good source of protein as they often contain large quantities of healthy omega-3 acids which can help regulate the heart. Not only does sushi have omega-3 acids in them, helping our hearts, but sushi is one often one of the lightest meals a person can eat that will make them feel full even if they have only had a small amount.
The reason why we can feel full from eating just one roll is that, in a sense, we are tricking our minds into thinking we are eating more than we are. It is especially true when you start to eat something like sushi regularly. Physically eating less, but mentally feeling full. It is all a mind-game that you play with yourself in order to feel more satisfied while eating less.
However, there are some fish you might want to avoid eating if you are planning on getting pregnant, breastfeeding, or might already be pregnant result while reading this article. The reason why is because some fish biologically contains mercury in their bodies. Consuming too much mercury in one period can potentially put your child at risk as it can, in some instances, damage their brains and nervous systems.
Of course, I am no dietitian or doctor, so it is best to consult your health care physician on what is and is not safe for your child before diving into that particular food group or item. Also, remember to be safe and consider what is in a food item, especially for kids.
At the end of the day, sushi is one of the healthier choices to go with when you’re trying to either trying to lose weight or find an alternative to that meaty hamburger. By itself, there are plenty of low-calorie options out there for people to select from, but please remember to be cautious about which type of fish you do choose to prepare.
Lastly, try to go easy on the sauce as they can often contain a lot of sodium and acids in them, especially in large quantities. By itself, condiments such as soy sauce and wasabi are not wholly unhealthy, but it can add to the calories if you are trying to watch for them. Plus, soy sauce could delude the taste of the actual meal if applied at once; so, when it comes to condiments, I recommend moderation on the best of days.
What Else is There?
When it comes to sushi? A lot, too much to put into one single article, one that is about a specific type of recipe and nothing else, but there is far more to the world of sushi making and preparing. There are myriad of restaurants and businesses out in the world that makes and prepare sushi day-in and day-out, working hard to provide quality menu items for their customers, and you know what?
You can do it too.
Sushi is an art-form, like any other industry out there. Yes, it is going to take a lot of time, practice and error, and you will likely make mistakes while trying to learn how to make and serve sushi, but that is just the process everyone goes when learning a new skill or hobby. No one is born perfect, not even the men and women on TV. We all start at the bottom and slowly work our way to the top.
Moreover, if this article or another one inspires you, or anyone in the world to take up sushi as either a simple hobby or as a potential business, then I whole-heartily wish you luck, my friend. Sushi is a beautiful, delicious food group that everyone should try, even if it is only once.
To me, sushi is just another form of art. The way men and women can prepare it and then serve it on a platter in the most artistic way imaginable is just jaw-dropping at times. There is absolutely no end to creativity when it comes to sushi.
That is also why I wanted to write about rainbow rolls in particular out of every other recipe out there; as I believe they can be a gateway for people to get into sushi, whether it is to eat and enjoy from others or to get into making and preparing it for yourself and others alike. It matters not, only that you give it a try and see what you think.
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
When it comes to rainbow sushi or sushi rainbow, there is not much else I feel I can add to this article without it feeling like a bloated and unnecessary long article about some person spending nearly seven pages talking about sushi.
Rainbow Rolls, in all seriousness, is a fascinating topic. Yes, there is not much to say about the topic as a whole since it is just raw fish and the occasional condiment, but the original recipes and ideas, that is where the real story resides.
There is a myriad of different concepts and recipes a person can choose to follow and recreate, and with the power of the internet and international chefs sharing their crafts on TV and Youtube, sushi, and other exotic ideas are entering the minds of young chefs. Thus inspiring them as they work to create new bold recipes that may go on to inspire future generations of chefs down the road, especially as technology continues to develop and progress.
