Sushi vs. Sashimi

Did you know that there are clear differences between sushi and sashimi? Even with the popularity of Japanese food around the world and the varieties of sushi available, people tend to consider sashimi as a type of sushi. But this isn’t true.

What are the things that make sushi different from sashimi? Let’s take a look.

The Ingredients and The Way Sushi and Sashimi Are Prepared

Sushi and Sashimi Preparation

Sushi is a very popular Japanese dish that’s either consumed as a main course or as an appetizer. One bite is already a complete package. You get vinegared rice, vegetables, seafood, other kinds of fillings, and nori (seaweed wrap) cut into small chunks. Wasabi, soy sauce, and pickled ginger are served with sushi.

The most common types of sushi are nigirizushi and maki sushi. The former is a mound of sushi with a piece of cooked or raw dish at the top, while the latter is classic rolled sushi. Yet another type you commonly see is the temakizushi, which looks like a cone as it is hand rolled.

Sashimi, on the other hand, doesn’t have rice, toppings, or fillings. A serving consists of raw fish or meat that is thinly sliced. The types of meat that can be served as sashimi include beef, pork, chicken, horse, deer, sea turtle, and frog. Seafood sashimi can be tuna, salmon, squid, or halibut. 

A hand line is used for catching sashimi-grade seafood. Once captured, the sea creature is immediately killed and stored with ice to extend its freshness.

Why is sashimi not sushi?

Sushi’s key element is rice. Without it, sliced raw fish cannot be considered sushi. Although both sashimi and sushi use raw fish, the former doesn’t include rice of any amount or of any kind. Sushi will always have either a mound of or rolled rice.

Which is healthier: Sushi or sashimi?

What’s considered healthier between sushi and sashimi really depends on the ingredients used. Generally speaking, you can expect more calories from sushi as it includes rice and seaweed. You’d also get more fiber from the same food if the sushi features vegetable fillings. The calories will increase if sushi has ingredients like tempura.

On the other hand, sashimi is made entirely of raw meat or fish, which makes it a better source of protein and heart-friendly, omega-3 fats.

Condiments That Go Well With Sashimi and Sushi

Soy Sauce

A condiment that complements sushi and sashimi so well is none other than soy sauce. Its salty and umami flavor enhances the natural taste of the fish or meat, making it a perfect pairing for these dishes.

Remember to always dip the fish and not the rice when eating sushi with soy sauce.

Wasabi

Of course, you can do without wasabi. But if you want a kick of spiciness, add this spicy green paste. Wasabi is a popular condiment served in small amounts with sushi and sashimi.

The condiment has been used to improve the flavor of raw fish as it combats bacteria. But remember that it’s not intended to mask the taste of the fish. Do not use too much wasabi as it will overpower the delicate flavor of your sashimi and sushi. As with many things in life, moderation is key when it comes to enjoying your Japanese dining experience!

Another thing you shouldn’t do is mix the wasabi with soy sauce. Doing so will ruin the flavor. Usually, with sashimi, you would use a chopstick to add a small amount of wasabi on one side and the other side is dipped in soy sauce.

Some restaurants automatically add wasabi to sushi and the amount is enough for you to enjoy the flavor of the dish.

Read more: your guide to wasabi.

Ponzu

Some people prefer to use ponzu in place of soy sauce for their sushi and sashimi. Japan’s citrus-based sauce has a taste that’s similar to vinaigrette with its tart and tangy flavor.

A ponzu sauce contains vinegar added to citrus juice (which can be daidai, kabosu, lemon, sudachi, or yuzu), dashi, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar.

The citrus-based condiment can add extra layers of flavor to your sushi and sashimi and is worth a try if you're feeling adventurous.

Pros and Cons of Eating Sushi and Sashimi

Sushi is more versatile than sashimi, as it caters to a wider range of dietary preferences. A good example is when the consumer is vegan. They will eat sushi instead of sashimi because they can choose ones that only have fruit or vegetable fillings. Sashimi isn’t an option for them as it’s only made of either raw fish or meat.

Certain varieties of sushi and sashimi are not recommended for some age groups. For example, children, seniors, and pregnant women need to completely avoid raw fish because of health risks. Raw ingredients may contain parasites and bacteria which can be harmful to them.

Certain types of fish are also not ideal for children and pregnant women because of the higher mercury content, which is potentially toxic and can come with a whole lot of health risks.

It’s important to note that people should consume sushi in moderation because of sodium and refined carbs. Consuming too much sodium can increase the risk of high blood pressure and other health problems, such as increased blood sugar.

Generally speaking, sushi and sashimi are delicious Japanese dishes that you’ll surely enjoy. But you also need to be aware of the risks that come with consuming raw food contained in both.

Good to Know

One of the Japanese kanji for sushi (鮨) is used for another word that means vinegared rice or sushi-meshi (鮨飯). In other words, sushi can also mean "sour rice." 

On the other hand, the kanji for sashimi is 刺身. It means “pierced body.”

The Bottom Line

By now you’ve learned that sushi and sashimi are different and that the latter doesn’t count as the type of the former. You only need to remember one thing: It’s not sushi if it doesn’t have rice.

With sushi, you’re bound to enjoy a mix of fillings in one bite, whereas sashimi only has one element. Sushi will not always have a raw ingredient while sashimi will always be served raw.

Also remember that to truly enjoy both sushi and sashimi, you don’t need to overpower the piece with the condiments. Remember that sauces are meant to complement the flavor, not dominate the taste of the whole bite.

Discover more Japanese flavors in our Japanese snack box!