Making Your First Sushi

If you haven’t read how to make sushi rice yet, go back to that page.

Making Salmon Nigiri

Nigiri (slice of fish on rice) are the easiest types of sushi to make. The basic version is this:

1. Make a small ball of rice

The first step of making nigiri at home

2. Cut a thin slice of fish across the grain

A knife being held against a salmon filet, showing what an "across the grain" orientation means

3. Place the slice of fish on top of the ball of rice

4. Squeeze it together into that elongated nigiri shape

5. EAT

No, this is not the “correct” way of making a nigiri that you’ll see in sushi restaurants because that takes practice. This “incorrect” way that I’ve outlined makes for delicious and pretty nigiri, especially if you make them all the same size!

If you want to go slightly fancier…
You can put a teeny bit of wasabi on the rice before you put the fish on top. This what you’ll see done at most sushi places that are serious about their nigiri. How much wasabi? Well that depends on you.

You can also add whatever topics you feel like. My favorite for salmon is fried green onions.