Bamboo Mat Sushi Views
Is it possible to roll without a bamboo mat? Live in the hinterlands, and was just thrilled to find nori, but of course no mat to be had within 50 miles (at least). And I'm having a withdrawal moment -- weekend sushi fix while traveling got deep sixed. Tin foil? Wax paper? Tortilla skins (we DO have that!)
In Japanese cooking, a makisu (巻き簾) is a mat woven from bamboo and cotton string that is used in food preparation. Makisu are most commonly used to make a kind of rolled sushi called makizushi (巻き寿司), but they are also used to shape other soft foods such as omelets, and to squeeze excess liquid out of food.
Sushi rolls are delectable treats enjoyed by many at Japanese restaurants all over the world. You can make your own sushi to your tastes at a fraction of the cost. To make sushi at home, you just need the proper equipment, including short-grain sushi rice, a sharp knife and, of course, a bamboo sushi mat. Constructed of thin strips of bamboo loosely bound to make a flat, rectangular, but flexible surface, sushi mats help tightly roll together the seaweed, sticky rice and fillings to create a sushi roll.
Roll rice into a sheet of nori seaweed and you have sushi. To create the tight roll of the sushi, sushi chefs traditionally use a bamboo mat. The home cook who does not have specialty sushi-making supplies at his or her disposal must find an alternative means of holding the ingredients together to make a sushi roll. A common kitchen towel comes to the rescue in such an instance, and can be used as a stand-in for a traditional bamboo sushi rolling mat.
Bamboo Mat Sushi Images
