How Many Types Of Sushi Are There? [Definitive Guide]

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Unsurprisingly, if sushi is not something that you grew up with, then it can be very confusing. As soon as you sit down at a restaurant, you might not be familiar with a lot of the different sushi that is available.

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Unless there is a description next to the sushi on the menu, choosing which sushi to eat can be troublesome. Not everyone wants to keep asking the waiter what things are. 

How Many Types Of Sushi Are There? [Definitive Guide]

It is not something to worry about, however.

This is because sushi is something many people are unsure about when it comes to the different types. If you are interested to know all about sushi, then you have come to the right place.

In this definitive guide, you will find out about the many types of sushi – including how many types of sushi there are. So, let’s go!

What Are The Five Main Types Of Sushi?

You may have noticed that there are different types of sushi. While you may be used to seeing either the nigiri or maki roll version, there are many more types of sushi.

Here are the five main types when it comes to eating sushi:

Maki Sushi

Maki is a type of sushi that includes using rice along with a filling. It is then wrapped in nori (a seaweed sheet). 

When it comes to the typical sushi, this is the kind a lot of people imagine them to be like. They are often made as a cylinder tube and then cut into slices.

Nigiri Sushi

Nigiri is the second type of sushi people imagine. Nigiri refers to sushi which has a topping which is based on a bed of rice.

Nigiri is also a type of raw sushi. For this reason, it is eaten by those who enjoy the taste of shellfish or fish. It may also include other toppings too. 

Sashimi Sushi

Speaking of raw, sashimi is raw fish served on its own. This means it is never served along with rice, for example.

However, it is often dipped in a sauce to bring out its rich fishy flavor, as well as to ‘kill’ any remaining bacteria.

This is why you will often find sashimi served with a wasabi dip. However, to enjoy sashimi you will want to be the kind of person who loves to eat fishy-tasting fish.

However, in a twist of events, some sashimi isn’t raw fish. Take a look at the explanation further on down the article.  

Temaki Sushi

Temaki is a type of sushi that has been rolled by hand to create a cone shape. While they are a little bit messy to eat, they are very delicious.

The filling (which can be many things) along with rice is wrapped in nori. They look impressive and can be quite filling.

Uramaki Sushi

Uramaki sushi is similar to maki. The difference is that the rice is rolled onto the outside followed by the seaweed wrap and then the filling.

There are different types of uramaki. Some are raw while others are cooked, so you will want to make sure which one is which before ordering it.

How Many Types Of Sushi Are There? [Definitive Guide]

Is There A Difference Between Sashimi, Nigiri, And Sushi?

At first glance, you may struggle to see the differences between these three types of sushi on a menu. However, once you know exactly what is what, you will know what to avoid – oh, and what not to avoid!

Sushi

Sushi generally refers to rice and other ingredients being wrapped in a sheet of green seaweed. Once rolled into a cylinder, it is then sliced to create the sushi that you recognize.

This type of sushi is referred to as maki (which translates to ‘roll’).

However, there is also uramaki sushi and temaki sushi. The former is like the maki sushi but the rice is on the outside of the nori sheet.

The latter is sushi which has all of the ingredients hand-rolled into a cone shape made from the nori sheet.

Nigiri

Nigiri is a type of sushi that is in the middle of both sashimi and regular sushi. This is because it uses both cooked and raw fish.

The overall shape is a rectangle that has a piece of fish, or other ingredients, lying over the top of the rice. The fish is not wrapped in seaweed. This can make the sushi look extra delicate. 

Sashimi

Sashimi on the other hand tends to be raw fish with nothing else added to it. This also includes seaweed and rice. However, sashimi does not always mean that it is raw fish.

In fact, there are even times when sashimi is not fish at all. This is because sashimi can be an eel that has been cooked. 

What Are The Types Of Sushi Rolls?

There are many different types of sushi rolls. Here are some:

Philadelphia Roll

This sushi roll includes using cream cheese along with creamy avocado and raw salmon. 

Tiger Roll

A tiger roll uses shrimp tempura and tobiko (fish eggs) along with cucumber and avocado. So yes, it does include raw fish ingredients. 

Rainbow Roll

This sushi uses different raw fish in one roll. For example, yellowtail, salmon, tuna, shrimp, and either imitation crab or fish cake. This is put with avocado and cucumber.

Crunch Roll

This roll includes raw spicy tuna with tempura and crispy seaweed.

Dynamite Roll

You can either eat this with raw or cooked fish, so it is best to check. It includes yellowtail and shrimp tempura, along with spicy mayo, avocado, bean sprouts, chili, and carrots. 

California Roll

An American sushi that is made up of cooked imitation crab, cucumber, avocado, and sesame seeds. 

Vegetable Roll

This veggie roll includes no fish at all. It is often made with avocado, cream cheese, asparagus, carrot, cucumber, and scallion.

Spicy Tuna Roll

This hot sushi roll includes raw tuna, chili sauce, and mayo. 

Shrimp Tempura Roll

If you like crunch to your sushi, then this one will be right up your street. It is made using shrimp tempura along with tempura flakes, avocado, and cheese. It also does not contain raw fish.

Tempura Roll

This is a type of sushi that includes something in tempura. It can include raw fish.

Spider Roll

This full-cooked roll includes a soft-shelled crab in tempura along with spicy mayo, avocado, and cucumber.

Caterpillar Roll

This eel sushi roll is fully cooked and includes avocado and cucumber. 

Dragon Roll

This type of sushi can include raw or cooked eel, so you will want to check first. Along with the eel includes crab, avocado, cucumber, and eel sauce.

Volcano Roll

There are different types of volcano rolls which can include raw and cooked fish. It looks like the food is exploding which can be fun to look at. It may be spicy too!

Surf And Turf Roll

This roll often contains raw ingredients such as beef, imitation crab, salmon tuna, carrot, and cucumber.

Final Thoughts

Understanding sushi can be a challenge for those who have not grown up with it. Fortunately, most restaurants include an explanation of what sushi is.

If you find that it does not, then use the guide above to learn about the different types of sushi.

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