Everything about Sashimi totally explained
Sashimi is a
Japanese delicacy primarily consisting of very fresh raw
seafood, sliced into thin pieces about 2.5cm (1.0in.) wide by 4.0cm (1.5in.) long by 0.5 cm (0.25in.) thick, but dimensions vary depending on the type of item and chef, and served with only a dipping sauce (
soy sauce with
wasabi paste and thinly-sliced
ginger root or
ponzu), and a simple garnish such as
shiso and shredded
daikon radish.
The word
sashimi means "pierced body", for example "刺身 =
sashimi = 刺し =
sashi (pierced, stuck) and 身 =
mi (body, meat), may derive from the culinary practice of sticking the fish's tail and fin to the slices in identifying the fish being eaten.
One possibility of the name "pierced body" could come from the traditional method of harvesting. 'Sashimi Grade' fish is caught by individual handline, and as soon as the fish is landed, its brain is pierced with a sharp spike, killing it instantly, then placed in slurried ice. This spiking is called the
Ike jime process. Because the flesh thus contains minimal lactic acid from the fish dying slowly, it'll keep fresh on ice for about 10 days without turning white, or otherwise degrading.
The word
sashimi has been integrated to the
English language and is often used to refer to other uncooked fish preparations besides the traditional Japanese dish subject of this article.
Serving
Sashimi often is the first course in a formal Japanese meal, but can also be the main course, presented with
rice and
Miso soup in separate bowls. Many Japanese people believe that sashimi, traditionally considered the finest dish in Japanese cuisine, should be eaten before other strong flavors affect the
palate. Culinarily, sashimi represents the Japanese cultural appreciation of subtlety. The finer sensation can vary from
salmon (not traditionally Japanese) to
squid, and everything in between.
The sliced seafood that composes the main ingredient is typically draped over a garnish. The typical garnish is Asian white radish,
daikon, shredded into long thin strands, accompanied by one green
perilla leaf per slice.
Simple sauces are served with sashimi, such as
shoyu soy sauce and
wasabi. The Japanese sometimes mix wasabi paste directly into soy sauce as a dipping sauce, which is generally not done when eating
sushi, however. Purists denounce the practice of mixing wasabi into soy sauce, saying that this dilutes the sharp hot flavor of wasabi. Another more correct way to flavor soy sauce with wasabi is to place the wasabi mound into the soy sauce dish and then pour it in. This allows the wasabi to infuse the soy sauce more subtly. A reputed motivation for serving wasabi with sashimi (and also
gari, pickled ginger), besides its flavor, is killing harmful bacteria and parasites that could be present in raw seafood.
Varieties
See also: List of sushi and sashimi ingredients
Some of the most popular main ingredients for sashimi are:
Some sashimi ingredients, such as
octopus, are sometimes served cooked given its chewy nature. Most seafood, such as
tuna,
salmon, and
squid, are served raw.
Tataki, (たたき or 叩き, "pounded"), is a type of sashimi. The name comes from the sliced onion placed atop the uncut fish piece and tapped with the side of the cutting blade to transfer the flavor. Also it's quickly and lightly
seared outside, leaving it raw inside.
Less common, but not unusual, sashimi ingredients are vegetarian items such as
yuba (bean curd skin) and raw red meats, such as
beef or
horse. In Japan,
chicken "sashimi" (slightly braised on the outside) is a delicacy.
In the pilot episode of
Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, chef
Andrew Zimmern traveled to a specialty restaurant in Tokyo called
Asadachi to sample
frog sashimi and its still-beating heart.
Other sashimi-style dishes
Sashimi is similar to sushi, another Japanese food, often featuring raw fish, that's commonly served at the same establishments. Non-Japanese often confuse these two dishes, which are however considered distinct and separate.
Sushi actually refers to any dish made with vinegared rice. The raw seafood is a mere topping, much like a filling to a sandwich, and so sushi can have other featured ingredients instead of raw seafood
Another sashimi-like dish is
namasu, which consists of, among other ingredients, raw marinated fish, and was originally introduced from ancient
China to ancient
Japan.
Basashi, raw horse meat, is a 'traditional' dish from
Kumamoto,
Matsumoto, and
Tohoku region, but can be found readily in many restaurants in Osaka, Tokyo and other large cities in Japan.
Outside of Japanese cuisine
Raw fish dishes are not unique to Japan.
Some popular dishes include:
anchovies - Europe, fresh or brine preserved.
carpaccio - Italian very thin slices, most often made with swordfish and less commonly with tuna or other large fish, usually served with lemon juice (a variant of the more common beef carpaccio)
lap pa - Laotian Raw freshwater river fish mixed with lime, cilantro, mint, scallions, roasted rice, chiles
ceviche - Latin American marinated raw fish dish
gravlax - Scandinavian (especially Sweden) raw spiced salmon
Saengseon hoe - Korean dish of sliced raw fish, other seafood.
joulupöytä salmon - Finnish, traditionally served as part of a variety platter at Christmas
kelaguen - The Mariana Islands
kinilaw/kilawin - Filipino vinegared raw fish similar to ceviche
lox - Europe, salmon fillet that has been cured
pickled herring - Europe, especially Scandinavia
Rollmops - Europe, Pickled herring fillets rolled around sliced onion and cucumber.
poke - Hawaiian raw fish salad
smoked salmon - Northern Europe (Norway, Sweden, Ireland and Scotland), a preparation of salmon, typically a fillet that has been cured and then hot or cold smoked
raw, salted herring - The Netherlands
tartare - European minced meat or fish dish
yusheng - Chinese raw fish salad
Safety notes
As with any raw food, when one eats sashimi one risks foodborne illness caused by bacteria and parasites such as Anisakis simplex (Pseudoterranova decipiens), and Tetrodotoxin in Fugu fish.
Traditionally, fish that live some or part of their lives in brackish or fresh water were considered unsuitable for sashimi due to the possibility of parasites. An example, salmon, an anadromous fish, isn't traditionally eaten as sashimi straight out of the river. A study in Seattle, Washington showed that 100% of wild salmon had roundworm larvae capable of infecting people, whereas the same study showed that farm-raised salmon didn't have any roundworm larvae.
Freezing is often practiced to kill parasites. According to European Union regulations, freezing fish at -20°C (-4°F) for 24 hours kills parasites. The FDA recommends freezing at -35°C (-31°F) for 15 hours, or at -20°C (-4°F) for 7 days.
While Canada doesn't federally regulate freezing fish, British Columbia and Alberta voluntarily adhere to guidelines similar to the FDA's. Ontario attempted to legislate freezing as part of raw food handling requirements, though this was soon withdrawn due to protests by the industry that the subtle flavours and texture of raw fish would be destroyed by freezing. Instead, Ontario has decided to consider regulations on how raw fish must be handled prior to serving.
Some fish for sashimi is being treated with carbon monoxide to make the flesh appear red for a longer time in storage. This practice is controversial because spoiled fish will continue to look fresh.
Environmental Concerns
The increased popularity of bluefin tuna for sashimi is reported to have brought this popular species to the verge of extinction. Farming bluefin doesn't help the situation, because the captive fish are not raised from spawn, but rather from small wild fish that are netted and transported to the farms, mostly in the Mediterranean.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Sashimi'.
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