Chen Chow

Chen Chow
260 North Old Woodward
Birmingham MI, 48009

Local sushi restaurant Chen Chow shares their secrets for the California Roll and Cucumber Nigiri.

California Roll:

You will need:

Sushi Mat Sesame seeds
Plastic wrap Avocado
Nori Sheet Cucumber
Pickled Ginger Wasabi
Sushi Rice cooked and seasoned Mayonnaise
Soy Sauce
Equal parts: King Crab
Blue Crab
Crab sticks

Method of Preparation: Rinse sushi rice until water runs clear. Cook the rice in a rice cooker with a 1 to 1 water to rice ratio. Remove from rice cooker and place in an over sized bowl. Season the rice to taste. (Each sushi chef has his or her own blend for seasoning sushi rice. A simple one to start would be 10 parts of rice wine vinegar to 5 parts of granulated sugar and 1 part of salt.) Fan the rice and move around with a folding and cutting motion to lower temperature of the rice. Try to keep the grains of rice intact.

For the crab mix, pick through the blue crab and king crab looking for pieces of shell. Mince the crab stick. Fold all three together using mayonnaise as the binder. Season with salt as needed.

To make the roll first wrap the mat in plastic wrap. Place ½ sheet of nori, shiny side down onto the mat. Next, add the rice and spread to cover the nori. Be gentle and dont damage the texture of the rice. Then, sprinkle with sesame seeds. Invert the nori so rice is facing down. Next, add cucumber, avocado, and crab mix extending to fill the entire roll. Roll the California roll using the mat or by hand. Use the mat to perfect the roll. Slice into six or eight pieces and serve with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger.

For Cucumber Nigiri

You will need:

English Cucumber cut into 2 ½ in sticks
Prepared and seasoned sushi rice (same rice from California roll recipe)
Thin cut bands of Nori

Method of Preparation: Pinch 280-300 grains of rice in this case a small pinch. See video for example. Gently form the rice into a rectangle shape being careful not to damage the rice. Place eight to ten cucumber sticks atop the sushi rice. Wrap the nigiri with a band of Nori seam side down. The natural moisture in the rice will seal the seam. Enjoy with soy and try utilizing other vegetables or even fruits.