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Koi fish

Amazing Sushi that Looks Like Koi Fish

Japanese koi fish, specifically nishikigoi (錦鯉), literally means “brocaded carp” and makes a beautiful and popular pet. For fish hobbyists, they have become one of the most expensive fish to own. Japanese koi are mainly kept for their beauty, to enhance the decorative aspects of most gardens and homes. For the Japanese, these fish symbolize love and friendship since the word “koi” is a homophone for another word that means “love” or “affection.”Koi fish in a pond

Here is a simple sushi technique to create lifelike koi fish to amaze anyone!

Ingredients:
Sushi rice
Spicy cod roe
Squid
Shrimp
Seaweed
Cucumber and radishes to garnish

Directions:

  • Cook short grain rice in a rice cooker.
  • Cut and clean shrimp, insert a stick through the middle to keep shrimp from curling, then boil for 1 minute.
  • Butterfly cut the shrimp down the middle and lay it down flat.
  • For garnish, make several thin cuts on the baby radish.
  • Thinly slice the squid accordingly. Slice each surface of the squid piece in a criss-cross pattern to create scale-like details. Cut a slice for the body of the fish, and smaller pieces for the tails and fins.
  • Cut through two thirds of the cucumber and make thin slices. Cut vertically making sure not to cut all the way through. Then press each piece to open.
  • Cut small cucumber pieces to make into fins.
  • Cut open cod roe and scrape the eggs out gently.
  • Add the sushi vinegar into the cooked rice let cool.
  • Prepare tiny cuts of seaweed.

Assembly:

  1. Shape rice into a small rectangle and add a layer of cod roe on the top.
  2. Add the sliced of seaweed in a random pattern to create the dark markings typical of the koi fish.
  3. Place the slices of squid over the rice, cod roe, and seaweed assembly to create the body, fins, and tail.
  4. Add the cucumber fins to the prawn sushi and place the pieces of seaweed on each side of the fish head to create eyes.

See how koi sushi is made with this YouTube video!

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Read all about Japanese immersion learning and studying abroad. Check out our eZasshi archives for more articles!