This colourful Mosaic Sushi options sashimi, tamagoyaki rolled omelette, and greens organized in a checkerboard sample over sushi rice. It’s a feast for the senses! Regardless of its beautiful presentation, anybody could make it at residence. In my recipe, I’ll train you a simple methodology to organize this contemporary tackle sushi that’s positive to impress. (Vegetarian/vegan-friendly toppings are included.)
I’ve shared a set of conventional sushi recipes that the Japanese make at residence, corresponding to Inari Sushi, Futomaki, Temaki (Hand Roll Sushi), and Chirashi Sushi. At this time, I’m excited to share a contemporary tackle sushi known as Mosaic Sushi (モザイク寿司).
Have a look at the colourful toppings and the aesthetic show! Isn’t it a good looking piece of edible artwork?
What’s Mosaic Sushi?
Mosaic Sushi, or what we name Mozaiku Sushi (モザイク寿司), earned its Instagram fame in Japan again in 2016. I don’t know who or what firm began this craze, but it surely was an enormous sensation!
Because the title suggests, Mosaic Sushi is fabricated from sushi rice topped with a placing array of components like sashimi, tamagoyaki (candy rolled omelette), greens, and fish roe in a checkerboard sample. The tactic of creating this modern-style sushi is much like Oshizushi (Pressed Sushi) and Chirashi Sushi.
Judging by the fragile presentation, Mosaic Sushi may appear to be loads of work, but it surely’s actually not, particularly the best way I make it. After a number of runs of recipe testing, I found out a few simple tips that work like a appeal. So, you don’t want any particular talent aside from a eager eye for coloration and patterns.
Able to attempt your hand at making this adorned tray of sushi?
Elements for Mosaic Sushi
For the Sushi Rice
- Japanese short-grain rice (cooked) — Whenever you make sushi, you actually must get Japanese short-grain rice. No exceptions. You should use Korean short-grain rice as it’s the closest to Japanese selection. Don’t use jasmine rice, and so on.
- Sushi vinegar — It’s a combination of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt.
- White sesame seeds
For the Toppings
* Select your mixture of toppings primarily based on visible attraction, seasonality, and your dietary preferences. The components that I used for this recipe are in daring.
- Sashimi-grade fish — salmon, tuna (otoro), scallop, squid, shrimp (amaebi and cooked), kanpachi, tai, surf clam (hokkigai), ikura, tobiko
- Cooked fish — smoked salmon (prime with capers), unagi (grilled eel), Salmon Flakes
- Cooked meat — seasoned thinly sliced meat or floor meat (try Soboro)
- Eggs — Tamagoyaki (Japanese candy rolled omelette), usuyaki tamago (skinny omelette), Kinshi Tamago (shredded omelette)
- Cucumber slices
- Purple radish slices
- Inexperienced peas
- Opened snap peas
- Blanched asparagus
- Sakura denbu (pink coloured cod flakes)
- Garnish — parsley leaf, kinome leaf, sliced blanched okra, chives, yuzu zest, lemon slice, edible flower, gold leaf flakes
The way to Make Mosaic Sushi
- Make the sushi rice. If you wish to learn to make sushi rice correctly, from measuring the rice and rinsing the rice, learn my Sushi Rice recipe.
- Pack the sushi rice right into a container.
- Reduce the mattress of sushi rice into cubes contained in the container.
- Put together the topping components. Reduce or organize them right into a sq. form.
- Place the topping components on prime of the sushi rice cubes and garnish with herbs and tiny toppings.
3 Tricks to Make Vegan Mosaic Sushi
In case you’re vegetarian or vegan, you’ll be able to nonetheless take pleasure in Mosaic Sushi with colourful plant-based components!
The three most essential issues about vegan Mosaic Sushi are the coloration, texture, and taste.
- Coloration: Take note of the interaction of colours by working with brilliant and colourful components.
- Texture: Search for components with contrasting textures. They create dimension and inventive type which assist improve the visible part and delight of the sushi.
- Taste: As a result of the rice is calmly seasoned with sushi vinegar (rice vinegar, sugar, and salt), you’ll need toppings that can deliver extra assertive and vibrant taste to the sushi.
Watch out together with your seasoning or when marinating with any condiments as we wish to protect the recent brilliant coloration of the greens. My suggestions are calmly seasoned greens and pickled greens.
Vegan-Pleasant Toppings
* The components that I used for this recipe are in daring.
Garnish choices
- Kinome leaves
- Chives
- Lemon slices
- Yuzu Zest
- Blanched okra slices
- Watermelon radish cutouts
- Edible gold leaf flakes
Mosaic Sushi Tips and Methods
The primary (and extra superior) methodology requires layering the toppings and rice in reverse order in an oshibako (picket sushi compressor), then reducing the entire composed sushi in a checkerboard sample with a pointy knife.
The second (and extra widespread) methodology requires compressing the sushi rice in a container lined with plastic after which reducing it. Whereas this methodology is simpler than the superior methodology, you continue to want a really sharp knife to chop the sushi cubes cleanly.
I’ve fairly sharp knives, however nonetheless, I struggled just a little when reducing the sushi rice block into good, sharp-cornered cubes. Fortunately, persistence and eager commentary repay. I’m glad to say that I’ve found out two cool tips!
Trick 1: Parchment Paper
This was the truth is the ultimate trick that solved the puzzle: Line the underside of the container with parchment paper.
When the sushi rice is compressed within the container, the rice sticks to the underside and this can be very exhausting to choose up a dice of sushi with chopsticks. You possibly can find yourself with the toppings however solely a partial dice of sushi rice. With the parchment paper lining the underside, you’ll be able to decide up the whole cubed sushi with the topping on prime! Downside solved!
Trick 2: A Dough Scraper
Whenever you pack the sushi rice into the container, it must be tightly packed, however the grains shouldn’t be mashed. I used a dough scraper for this and it really works completely. You simply must moist the scraper with water each time you utilize it.
Then, use a dough scraper to chop the compressed sushi rice INSIDE the container. The width of the dice measurement must be someplace between 1¼ inches (3 cm) to 1½ inches (4 cm). I used the three.5 cm sq. for my container, yielding 25 cubes.
This methodology makes a lot extra sense. Why would we take out the sushi rice from the container to chop with a knife and put it again contained in the container so you’ll be able to put the toppings on prime? No want!
Once more, the parchment paper beneath this compressed sushi rice was the ultimate key for this profitable trick. Because of the parchment paper on the underside, you’ll be able to decide up the sushi cubes utterly and simply with chopsticks!
Now all you should do is minimize the topping components (sashimi, greens, and so on.) to cowl the squares. Place every topping on the mattress of sushi rice. Very simple!
5 Mosaic Sushi Ideas
Moreover the two tips for this recipe that I discussed above, right here are some things to remember once you make mosaic sushi:
- Visualize your remaining look. It might even assist to map out on a chunk of paper what toppings to position and the place. For a complete of 25 squares, you’ll want 3 squares every of 4 components (salmon, tuna, cucumber, and tamagoyaki), 2 squares every of 5 components (ikura, scallop, amaebi, cooked shrimp, and surf clams), and 1 sq. every of three components (purple radish, snap pea, and inexperienced peas).
- Moisten the dough scraper when urgent down the sushi rice and when “reducing” the sushi rice block.
- Reduce the topping components barely larger than the sushi rice squares and ensure the traces are straight. The checkerboard will look excellent.
- When arranging the toppings, take into consideration the coloration, texture, and orientation.
- It’s crucial to layer and make the toppings three-dimensional. You possibly can place extra garnishes corresponding to ikura, zest, okra slices, lemon slices, and chives on the principle toppings to offer the whole presentation extra dimension.
Mosaic Sushi is certainly certainly one of my latest sushi obsessions. Be at liberty to experiment with totally different toppings that you can imagine! It’s about essentially the most enjoyable you’ll be able to have within the kitchen, so I hope you give this sushi a attempt.
Get Inventive and Have Enjoyable!
The fantastic thing about this recipe is in its flexibility. The choices for toppings are limitless. You possibly can customise this sushi to fit your aesthetic senses of coloration, form, texture, and taste. It’s extremely adaptable to what’s in season and obtainable in your native markets. You may as well change up the toppings primarily based in your dietary preferences.
Above all, have enjoyable with it. Get artistic with totally different combos of components that attraction to you. You’re solely restricted by your creativeness!
Readers’ Mosaic Sushi
Mosaic Sushi was the difficult recipe for JOC Cooking Challenge March 2022. Take a look at the attractive mosaic sushi created by JOC readers!
Extra Sushi Recipes on JOC
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Mosaic Sushi
This colourful Mosaic Sushi options sashimi, tamagoyaki rolled omelette, and greens organized in a checkerboard sample over sushi rice. It‘s a feast for the senses! Regardless of its beautiful presentation, anybody could make it at residence. I’ll train you a simple methodology to organize this contemporary tackle sushi that‘s positive to impress.
Elements
For the Toppings (use this for instance; be happy to decide on your personal)
For the Garnishes (non-obligatory)
Stop your display from going darkish
Directions
Earlier than You Begin…
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Collect all of the components. It‘s useful to use a ruler to measure a exact checkerboard sample for the Mosaic Sushi. Please use my topping concepts as simply an instance. I requested the fishmonger on the Japanese grocery retailer (Suruki Market in San Mateo) to slice the sashimi for me. In case you purchase a block of sashimi, slice it ⅛–¼ inch (3–6 mm) thick.
To Make the Sushi Rice
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To make the sushi vinegar (sushizu), mix 4 Tbsp rice vinegar (unseasoned), 2 Tbsp sugar, and 1 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt in a small saucepan and produce it to a boil over medium warmth. Whisk till the sugar is totally dissolved. Alternatively, you’ll be able to put the components in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute or till the sugar is dissolved. Put aside to let it cool.
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If utilizing a wooden sushi oke (additionally known as hangiri), moisten it with working water and drain properly. You may as well use a baking sheet. Switch 3½ cups cooked Japanese short-grain rice, freshly cooked, into the sushi oke. Unfold out the recent rice evenly so it’ll cool sooner.
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Drizzle the sushi vinegar over the rice. With a rice paddle, gently “slice” the rice at a 45-degree angle to include the sushi vinegar combination and separate the chunks of rice. Don’t stir or combine the rice as a result of the grains could break and the rice will grow to be mushy. In case your rice is freshly cooked, vigorously fan the rice with a paddle fan or one other kind of fan whereas utilizing this slicing movement. This cools the rice and takes away the surplus moisture. Fanning makes the rice shine and retains it from turning into mushy. Gently flip the rice between slices. Repeat this course of till the rice is cooled to the temperature of human pores and skin.
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Sprinkle toasted white sesame seeds on prime and gently distribute them all through the sushi rice utilizing a “slicing“ movement. Put aside.
To Pack the Sushi Rice
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Place a sheet of parchment paper on the underside of the container you‘re utilizing. Right here, I‘m utilizing a 7½- x 7½-inch (19- x 19-cm) Japanese lacquered field known as jubako (this conventional field is used for Osechi Ryori or as a lunch field). If you don’t place parchment paper contained in the container, the rice will stick with the underside and it will likely be very exhausting to choose up the person sushi items.
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Switch the ready sushi rice into the container. The measured rice (the entire 2 rice cooker cups you‘ve cooked) is simply the right quantity for this commonplace jubako measurement. With the rice paddle, evenly distribute the sushi rice to the corners and edges of the container, ensuring the mattress of sushi rice is degree.
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Moisten a plastic dough scraper in water and use it to firmly press down the sushi rice. We don‘t wish to overpress the rice and mash the grains, however the rice must be tightly packed so the sushi cubes maintain their form once you decide them up.
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Proceed to press down the sushi rice with the dough scraper. Don‘t overlook to moisten it so the rice doesn‘t stick with it. This kind of sushi is known as oshizushi or pressed sushi, so it’s thought of regular to press the rice grains.
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Now, minimize the sushi rice into squares or cubes. Moisten the dough scraper with water and use it to makes a collection of lengthwise slices by means of the mattress of sushi rice throughout the width of the sushi field. The slices must be the identical distance aside so you’ll have neat squares for the checkerboard sample. Measure your sushi field in order that your slices are equally distanced, about 1¼ inches (3 cm) to 1½ inches (4 cm) aside. For my 7½- x 7½-inch (19- x 19-cm) container, I minimize the sushi rice about 1⅓ inches (3.5 cm) extensive. Moisten the scraper after every slice to forestall sticking.
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Then, rotate the container 90 levels, and once more make lengthwise slices throughout the width of the field which might be the identical distance aside (1⅓ inches or 3.5 cm in my case) because the earlier slices you made. You now have cubes about 1⅓ inches (3.5 cm) sq.. Put aside.
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Go over your slices a second time to separate and compress the sushi squares additional; it will make it simpler to take away the person cubes when serving. Begin by inserting the clear dough scraper that you simply’ve moistened with water into the primary slice you made earlier. Transfer the scraper forwards and backwards in a sawing movement alongside the whole size of the slice, guaranteeing a transparent separation between the 2 sides. Subsequent, press the scraper alongside the proper facet, firmly packing within the rice. Repeat alongside the left facet. There’ll now be a niche of about 1 mm between the 2 sides. Transfer onto the subsequent slice and repeat this “separate and compress” course of. Moisten the scraper with water between slices and hold it clear of any rice grains or residue. Proceed till you’ve completed all of the lengthwise slices in that path. Then, rotate the container 90 levels and repeat with the remaining slices.
To Put together the Toppings
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Begin reducing your topping components into sq. items barely bigger than your sushi cubes; I minimize mine about 3.6 cm extensive for my 3.5-cm sushi cubes. Tip: For the perfect look, minimize the topping components barely bigger than the dice measurement in order that the toppings cowl the sushi rice utterly and there aren’t any seen gaps. For 1 Japanese or Persian cucumber, I exploit a vegetable peeler to slice it into paper-thin ribbons. Stack 3–4 ribbons and minimize them into squares 3.6 x 3.6 cm extensive.
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For 2 snap peas, insert the knife to open the pea pods. Reduce them into squares 3.6 x 3.6 cm extensive.
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For 1 okra (blanched), minimize it into rounds ⅛ inch (3 mm) thick. For 1 Tamagoyaki (Candy Rolled Omelette), minimize it into ⅛-inch (3-mm) slices and additional minimize them into sq. items 3.6 cm extensive.
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For the sashimi—3 slices sashimi-grade salmon, 3 slices sashimi-grade tuna, 6 items sashimi-grade shrimp (amaebi), and 2 items cooked shrimp—attempt your greatest to create a sq. form. Right here, I minimize one slice of the salmon sashimi in half and layered it so it’ll look sq..
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For 1 piece sashimi-grade scallop, slice it in half crosswise so every bit is thinner. For 2 items cooked surf clam (hokkigai), slice them in half and minimize to form the slices into squares.
To Embellish the Mosaic Sushi
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Embellish the Mosaic Sushi by putting a single kind of topping onto every sq.. Be sure to keep up the straight traces of the checkerboard sample and utterly cowl the sushi rice with the toppings.
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Think about the coloration, texture, and orientation of every ingredient as you place the toppings. For instance, keep away from placing similar-colored components subsequent to one another. For toppings like 2 Tbsp inexperienced peas or 4 Tbsp Ikura, merely place them kinome leavesto utterly fill a sq.. Use a tiny garnish like ikura4 Tbsp Ikura, tobiko (flying fish roe), yuzu zest, slivers of 1 slice lemon, edible gold leaf flakes, and herbs like kinome leaves or chives to create dimension. I thinly sliced 1 purple radish and fashioned the slices right into a flower as a of entirety.
To Make a Vegan Model of Mosaic Sushi
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If you need to make a vegan model of this recipe, please learn the weblog publish for the components I used for my vegan Mosaic Sushi and different topping concepts.
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Right here is my completed vegan Mosaic Sushi.
Vitamin
Vitamin Info
Mosaic Sushi
Quantity per Serving
% Day by day Worth*
* % Day by day Values are primarily based on a 2000 calorie weight-reduction plan.
Editor’s Observe: This publish was initially revealed on March 1, 2022. It was republished on February 28, 2024.
