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Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri
Food & Cooking

Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri

Seasoned rice, safe fish, one inside-out roll, and nigiri — restaurant technique at home

2h 30m8 photographed stepsBeginner

Complete sushi method for beginners: wash and cook short-grain rice, season with the right vinegar ratio, choose sushi-safe fish, roll a classic maki with a mat, try one inside-out roll, shape two nigiri pieces, and cut clean slices without squashing. Includes shopping list for one sushi night and what must stay out of home sushi (random supermarket salmon).

What you'll learn

  • Rice: wash until clear, 1:1 water, no lid peeking
  • Seasoning folded in — not poured on hot rice
  • Sushi-grade vs random raw fish — the safety line
  • Maki roll: nori shiny side down, tight roll, seam down
  • Nigiri: rice oval, fish draped, one fingertip pressure

Inside this course

  • Rice is 80% of sushiGet this right first.
  • Your first maki rollTight, seam down, wet knife.
  • Inside-out and nigiriLevel up same night.
  • Pass criteriaSushi night complete.

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First steps from Rice is 80% of sushi

See how every step looks — photo, checklist, and pro tips included.

Wash until water runs almost clear
01Wash until water runs almost clear

Rice in bowl, cover, swirl, drain. Repeat 4–5 times. Soak 20 min. Cook 1:1 rice to water by weight in rice cooker or pot — lid on, low 15 min, rest 10 min off heat.

No stirring while cooking. Peeking releases steam = mush.

Season and cool to body temperature
02Season and cool to body temperature

Heat vinegar + sugar + salt until dissolved. Fold into rice with cutting motion — don't smash grains. Fan while mixing to glossy.

Cover with damp towel until body temp. Hot rice tears nori; fridge-cold rice tastes dead.

Pro tip. Wooden hangiri bowl optional — wide pan works.

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Wash until water runs almost clear

Step 1

Wash until water runs almost clear

Season and cool to body temperature

Step 2

Season and cool to body temperature

Set the mat and spread rice

Step 3

Set the mat and spread rice

Roll, rest, slice

Step 4

Roll, rest, slice

Inside-out roll (uramaki)

Step 5

Inside-out roll (uramaki)

Two nigiri pieces

Step 6

Two nigiri pieces

Plate and eat same session

Step 7

Plate and eat same session

Pass criteria: first sushi night

Step 8

Pass criteria: first sushi night

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