Kar Kazoku Sushi  かぞく すし     2023/10/22


Sushi (すし) is a representative of Japanese cuisine, belonging to a type of gripping rice. It first appeared in Edo period of Japan. There are many types of sushi and each type makes one salivating!  
Let me introduce 8 types of traditional shushi, then follow my invented 4 types of Kar Kazoku sushi (かぞく すし ).

Nigiri (握り寿司)
Dipping sushi rice with Wasabi then putting seafood on top of the rice and kneading it to a bite size. It is the most favorite to Japanese and most common sushi type. Most ingredients are seasonal harvest of seafoods. Nigiri originated from Bunsei(文政)in Edo period (1818-1830). In the past, due to preservation problems, most ingredients were marinated and processed. However, invention of ice makers and progress of preservation methods, fresh seafoods can be used increasingly. Hence, Nigiri becomes very common nowadays.


Gunkanmaki (軍艦巻き)
Method of making: use sushi nori to wrap around the side of sushi rice and put the ingredients on the top of rice. The particular feature is using nori as a container. 
It can pair with salmon roe,  sea urchin and flying fish roe that are not convenient to make Nigiri. 
Gunkanmaki was invented by Ginza Kyubey (久兵衛) sushi restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo in 1941.


Makizushi (巻き寿司)
It is said that Makizushi was invented in mid Edo period 1750-1776 and became popular in around 1783.
Method of making: Spread vinegar rice on nori; put ingredients on top of rice; use a bamboo mat to roll over; cut into small pieces to enjoy. Maki includes Hosomaki, Kappa Maki ,Tekka Maki , Futomakinori sushi. Further according to thickness, it can be differentiated into 3 types: thick, medium and small rolls.


Temakizushi (手巻き寿司)
Without a bamboo mat, directly using hand to roll is called Temaki. 
Method: roll a grill nori into a cone; fill up the cone with vegetable, seafoods, vinegar rice. It is common for home made. Most common Temaki are shrimp temaki and asparagus temaki.  


Inarizushi (稲荷寿司)
It is said to be originated at the end of Edo period 1603-1868. 
Method: First cut an aburaage (thin deep-fried tofu) into half to form a pocket; use soya sauce and sugar to marinade; fill it up with vinegar rice.


Oshizushi (押し寿司)
One type of sushi that comes from Osaka is the oshizushi, meaning "box sushi" or "pressed sushi." This type is actually one of the oldest forms of sushi, the successor to narezushi, which sprang from the method of preserving fish by packing it tightly in boxes of fermented rice.


Kakinohazushi (柿の葉寿司)
Kakinohazushi is sushi that is made by first placing slices of mackerel or salmon onto vinegared rice, then wrapping it in a persimmon leaf before pressing down on it. It is a food that makes clever use of the antioxidant and sterilization properties of persimmon leaves.
Kakinoha zushi has been passed down as a local food of Gojo City and Yoshino Town but it is now known throughout Japan as a specialty of Nara Prefecture. Due to it not requiring chopsticks for eating, it has become a popular eki-ben, a packed meal that is usually eaten on trains.


Chirashizushi (散らし寿司)
Chirashizushi was invented around 1664.
Chirashizushi translates to "scattered sushi" and consists of a sushi bowl with a base of vinegared rice with raw fish and other ingredients on top. The types of raw fish used varies and the most popular would be salmon and tuna. It is often garnished with shredded egg, nori, and salmon roe on top for a mouth-watering and colorful finishing touch. This dish is easy to prepare and popular as a party food, as a big platter can be made and easily shared.


Kar Kazoku Sushi

Kazoku Sushi is my new invention, including Dace fish cake nigiri, Dachshund sushi, Donut sushi and Salmon sushi. I prepared them for my old friend Sunny to enjoy in 2016, 2018 and 2019. It has not been published before.


Dace fish cake nigiri      2016/4/29

Ingredients: Fried Dace fish cake, Nishiki Premium Rice (錦), water, Kikkoman Seasoned Rice Vinegar, carrot, curly parsley.





Fried Dace Fish Cake

1. Mince dace fish meat, add and mix marinade, wait for 10 minutes, cover with saran wrap and put in the fridge for 1 hour.
2. Put oil on a pan, wait for it to heat up; use a table spoon to scoop the meat and place it on the pan one by one; press down the meat with a spatula to form fish cakes.
3. When both sides of the cake are golden brown is done.

Marinade : green onion cut to small pieces; ginger powder, garlic powder, salt, white pepper powder 1/4 teaspoon; corn starch 1 teaspoon

Dachshund sushi      2018/2/19

Ingredients: Nishiki Premium Rice (錦), water, Kikkoman Seasoned Rice Vinegar, chicken sausage cooked, carrot, English cucumber, celery, sushi nori, black raisins, flax seeds (grounded by coffee grinder)






Donut sushi       2018/11/27

White, yellow and purple are 3 colour sushi donuts. Use beets and turmeric to make red and yellow colour. White is original colour.

Ingredients: Nishiki Premium Rice (錦), beets, turmeric, water, Kikkoman Seasoned Rice Vinegar, Ramen eggs(Ajitsuke Tamago or Ajitama 味付け玉子), preserved duck egg (皮蛋), red vinegar ginger, mirin, dried Japanese Anchovy, black and white sesame .

Equipment: donut mold










Red vinegar ginger
Ingredients : Kikkoman rice vinegar, ginger, beets, sugar

Ramen eggs (Ajitsuke Tamago or Ajitama)
Ingredients:
2 eggs
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon 
Kikkoman soy sauce 
3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon Kikkoman mirin
3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon sake
1 tablespoon sugar of your choice
1 tablespoon vinegar


Method:
1. Boil the Eggs
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then carefully lower eggs into the pot in a single layer and boil for 7 minutes.

2. Prepare the Ice Bath
While the eggs boil, fill a large bowl with ice and cold water. Once the eggs have finished boiling, immediately transfer them to the prepared ice bath to stop the cooking process and cool the eggs.

3. Peel the Eggs
Once the eggs are cool enough to handle, peel the eggs.

4. Make the Marinade
In a glass or ceramic container, combine soy sauce (or tamari), mirin, sake (or cooking white wine), sugar and vinegar.

5. Marinate the Eggs
Place eggs in the container and ensure that the eggs are immersed in the liquid mixture and place a piece of paper towel on top. Cover the container with a lid, and allow eggs to marinate in the liquid for 3 days in the fridge. During the marinating process, periodically change the eggs’ position to ensure that they are evenly marinated.

Salmon sushi      2019/10/4

Ingredients: Nishiki Premium Rice (錦),  water, Kikkoman Seasoned Rice Vinegar, salmon meat (grill), mango pulp, honeydew melon meat, purple yam (steamed), black and white sesame, lettuce leaves, radish sprouts, Kraft French Dressing









Next, 《Kar Halloween Delights 2023》

Publisher: Chef Kar Delight







New Year Italian Seafood Feast  2020/1/1



New Year Italian Seafood Feast  2020/1/1

Every year Merry Christmas elapses, New Year will arrive soon. Families in different countries in the world will dine out or stay at home to prepare rich and delicious foods to celebrate the new year. My old friend Sunny invited several good friends to hold an Italian Seafood Feast in his home at noon on New Year day. This time I Chef Kar was invited to be the Head Chef. I was responsible to design the menu, bought ingredients and prepared the meals for this feast.



Italian Seafood Feast Menu:

【Appetizers】
▲ Buridda Ligurian Seafood Soup 
▲ Caponata Sicilian Eggplant Salad 
▲ Ciabatta Italian Bread 

【Main Courses】
▲ Lobster Fra Diavolo
▲ Seafood Ravioli in Lobster Sauce 
▲ Risotto ai funghi 

【Dessert】
▲ Cannoli Sicilian Pastries 




▲ Lobster Seafood Soup

First, use lobster shells to make the soup base, then use this soup base to cook various seafoods and vegetable. Make some sauce and put on plates.




▲ Buridda Ligurian Seafood Soup 

Buridda Ligurian Seafood Soup is originated from Liguria , the northern region of Italy. Its main ingredients are various seafoods, lobster seafood soup, tomatoes, onions, garlic. Very fresh, fragrant and delicious.


▲ Caponata Sicilian Eggplant Salad 

Caponata is the egg plant salad of Sicily, Italy. Main ingredients are egg plants, celeries, red bell pepper, red onions, Italian parsley, sugar, white grape wine vinegar, olive oil, black olives, capers. Sweet and sour; appetizing and yummy.


▲ Ciabatta Italian Bread 

Ciabatta is an Italian white bread made from wheat flour, water, salt, yeast and olive oil, created in 1982 by a baker in Adria, province of Rovigo, Veneto, Italy, in response to the popularity of French baguettes. Arnaldo Cavallari and other bakers in Italy were concerned by the popularity of sandwiches made from baguettes imported from France, which were endangering their businesses, and so set about trying to create an Italian alternative with which to make sandwiches. The recipe for ciabatta came about after several weeks of trying variations of traditional bread recipes and consists of a soft, wet dough made with high gluten flour.

Ciabatta is somewhat elongated, broad, and flat, and is baked in many variations, although unique for its alveolar holes. Ciabatta is made with a strong flour and uses a very high hydration dough.

While panino indicates any kind of sandwich regardless of the bread used, whether slices or a bun, a toasted sandwich made from small loaves of ciabatta are known as panini (plural of panino) outside Italy.

Ingredients: flour, yeast, salt, olive oil, water



  




▲ Italian white wine (Ruffino Orvieto Classico White Wine) $13.99 is a vital ingredient for preparing seafoods. It can also be served for drinking.






▲ Lobster Fra Diavolo 

Fra Diavolo, Italian for "Brother Devil”, is a spicy Italian-American tomato sauce for pasta or seafood, made with crushed red pepper, garlic, and fresh herbs like parsley and basil. The sauce is made by sautéing chopped onions in olive oil, then adding tomatoes (canned or fresh), crushed red pepper and garlic. Some recipes add white wine.

Ingredients: 
3 live lobsters 1 pound each
8 tablespoons butter softened and divided
4 cloves minced garlic divided
1 onion sliced thin
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 fennel bulb cored and sliced thin
2 shallots peeled and sliced thin
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/4 cup 
Ruffino Orvieto Classico white wine
1/2 cup lobster seafood soup base
28 ounces crushed Roma tomatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 - 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 tablespoons heavy cream
Salt and pepper

Garnish: Rapini (cime di rapa or broccoletti di rapa)



▲ Risotto ai funghi 

Ingredients: Arborio rice, mushroom, lobster seafood soup, olive oil, onions, garlics, Thyme, Italian parsley, Italian white wine Ruffino Orvieto Classico, salt, pepper



▲ Seafood Ravioli in Lobster Sauce 
 
Ravioli dough: flour, eggs , salt, olive oil
Fillings: lobster seafood sauce + prawns + octopus + Ricotta &  Parmigiano-Reggiano


Garnish: black tiger prawns, octopus


▲ Cannoli Sicilian pastries 

Cannoli has various types of fillings. It is fragrant, smooth and crispy. Yummy!

2 types of fillings: Ricotta + fresh cream / yam + Mayonnaise, sugar, cinnamon
 
Garnish: strawberries, sprinkle with black chocolate powder and sugar powder


We took pictures together. Cheers!






Next, 
《 Kar Kazoku Sushi 》


Publisher: Chef Kar Delight


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