Three Delicious Dishes You Might Not Think to Order at Your Sushi Bar
Since spreading from its native Japan across both the Pacific and the Atlantic, sushi, widely considered to be one of the world’s top cuisines, has become beloved among people around the world. Just in the United States, according to Statistic Brain, nearly 4,000 sushi restaurants have opened their doors to help meet demand for this simple and altogether delicious dish.
While traveling to your favorite sushi bar, you should absolutely be sure to try out the chutoro sashimi or whatever your favorite fresh seafood dish is to have, but you should know that the sushi bar isn’t just for sashimi and sushi; in fact, some of the best dishes offered by the best sushi restaurants are seafood starters.
Three Seafood Appetizers You Should Order on Your Next Trip to the Sushi Bar
- Seaweed and Cucumber Salad
- Savory Seafood Custard
- Grilled Shrimp Kebabs
As Just Bento, an extremely popular cooking website devoted to Japanese cuisine, writes, seaweed and cucumber salad, known in Japanese as sunomono, is a light, refreshing dish that may be served as an appetizer before any meal. The acerbic punch of rice wine vinegar cleanses the pallet, while the slightly fishy flavor of tiny dried sardines and seaweed give it the island flavor Japan is known for.
Savory seafood custard, called chawanmushi in Japanese, is a savory, supple egg dish filled with shrimp, vegetables, and a single ginkgo nut placed at the bottom of the cup. While Americans aren’t terribly familiar with savory custard, this makes for a warming, sea-flavored dish that perfectly accents the onslaught of California rolls that are coming your way, as Rasa Malaysia suggests.
One of the most delicious foods served in Japanese bars is yakitori, grilled pieces of seasoned chicken parts on a stick. Taking that tried and true formula to seafood with shrimp kebabs is one of the smartest things sushi bars have ever done. Depending on your preference, you can have “yaki ebi” served with salt and pepper, teriyaki sauce, or just a splash of soy. Either way, when coupled with a cold beer, these appetizers really hit the spot.
The most important thing when visiting your local sushi bar is to have a meal that satisfies both your taste buds and your stomach. Add these classic starters to your favorite sushi, and you’re certain to walk away satisfied. To learn more, read this: www.carminesog.com
