Ever wanted to have a group of friends or family over for a delicious meal of Japanese fare? You certainly aren’t alone. Many people wind up simply ordering sushi from their local restaurant because they don’t feel skilled enough to make their own sushi. If you are one of those people, then perhaps a temaki sushi party is the ideal choice for you.
Temaki sushi is very easy to make. The best part is that all your guests can join in the fun. Additionally, you can do the majority of the prep work the day before so that everything is ready to go when your guests arrive.
What Is Temaki Sushi?
Put simply, it is an assortment of sushi ingredients and sushi rice rolled up in nori, which is the paper-thin strips of very dark green seaweed most sushi maki rolls utilize. Other than making the sushi rice and prepping the other ingredients, you don’t really need any skill or ample practice to make temaki sushi. It looks somewhat like an ice cream cone shape, with the various ingredients almost spilling out the top.
Because temaki sushi rolls are very easy and quick to make, a temaki sushi party is a fun event. Everyone can select what they like from the assortment of ingredients you’ve laid out and experiment with their own sushi creations.
What Sushi Ingredients to Prepare?
First, the essentials:
You will need sushi rice, of course. If you don’t already know how to make sushi rice, you can find detailed instructions on what ingredients and tools you will need. It is best to make the rice shortly before the party so that it is sure to be fresh.
Nori is also required. Depending upon the size of the nori sheets you’ve purchased, you may need to cut them in half. You can do this a day before the party and keep them stored in a container to prevent them from going stale.
Next, it’s simply a matter of selecting a good variety of sushi ingredients that you think all your party guests would enjoy. Visit an Asian supermarket or reputable fishmonger to purchase sushi/sashimi-grade fish, such as tuna, salmon and yellowtail. Asian supermarkets also typically carry other common raw fish ingredients, such as uni (sea urchin), squid and octopus. Cooked shrimp and crabstick also make good additions.
You can slice the fish a day ahead if you can’t find it already pre-sliced. Keep the fish wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
You’ll also want an assortment of vegetables to add to your temaki sushi rolls. This can include cucumber, shiitake mushrooms or enoki mushrooms, jalapeño peppers, cooked asparagus, avocado, thinly sliced daikon radish, and possibly even fruit such as mango. It’s your party, so can get as creative and experimental as you like!
Lastly, you’ll just need some traditional Japanese sushi condiments, such as soy sauce, wasabi, fresh or pickled ginger, and spicy mayonnaise.
Day of the Party
When it is time for the temaki sushi party, simply lay out all the ingredients on platters, and allow your guests to enjoy making their own hand rolls to try. You’ll likely come up with some delicious combinations. Serve sake and plum wine at the party, and it’s bound to be a memorable event!
