#6 in Baking mats
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Reddit mentions of Helen's Asian Kitchen Helen Sushi Mat, 1-Pack, Bamboo
Sentiment score: 2
Reddit mentions: 3
We found 3 Reddit mentions of Helen's Asian Kitchen Helen Sushi Mat, 1-Pack, Bamboo. Here are the top ones.
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Helen’s Asian Kitchen Bamboo Sushi Rolling Mat for making all types of sushi rolls at homeMade from 100-percent natural bamboo; fast-growing, fully sustainable alternative to traditional materials for a more sustainable livingHand roll homemade sushi easily; includes 9.5 x 8.25-inch Sushi Mat and 8-inch Rice PaddleFun and easy to use; works nicely as an attractive bamboo placemat, tooLightweight, strong, less absorbent than wood; won’t scratch surfaces; compact for storage; hand wash in warm, soapy water; air dry thoroughly
Specs:
| Color | Bamboo |
| Height | 0.15 Inches |
| Length | 8.25 Inches |
| Number of items | 1 |
| Size | 1 - Pack |
| Weight | 0.02 Pounds |
| Width | 9.5 Inches |
Psst. Get a mat. Makes it easier to roll them tightly. Also my mom sticks them in the fridge for 30 minutes before she cuts them. Aaaaand now I want to make sushi.
Sushi nerd here, happy to get into this.
The word "sushi" is actually Japanese for rice. That's kind of a big misconception about sushi as a cuisine: the rice is really the foundation of the dish, just like bread or pasta is the foundation of most cuisines in other parts of the world. Apprentice sushi chefs in Japan would spend months learning how to make sushi rice well before they ever touched a fish. It's also more than the rice itself; sushi rice is spiced with vinegar, and usually salt or sugar, to give it a sharp flavor that complements the fish that is served with it. For a solid sushi rice recipe, I recommend this one, made by Masaharu Morimoto, the Japanese Iron Chef of almost 30 years.
Now with the rice, you can do all sorts of stuff that technically falls under the realm of "sushi". Most obvious is maki rolls. You've probably seen them before; they're what everybody thinks of when they think of sushi. You take a sheet of nori (seaweed) and add a layer of rice over one side. Basically, you'd need a mat of some kind for this kind of sushi. What you'll do is lay the nori and rice on the mat, add a line of fillings into the middle, and then use the mat to roll one side of the nori over itself, and then press down to give it a nice compact cylinder shape. Then open the mat up, cut the roll into pieces and you're good.
For filling, you may have a harder time finding things that fit the budget-cooking style. You need very fresh fish for sushi, since it's served raw. Most supermarkets don't stock fish at that level, since the demand isn't very high. You'll probably have better luck at an asian market in your area. But keep in mind that sushi with raw fish won't keep. You need to eat it within a few hours or the flavor will start to turn, getting more "fishy" (which is actually a sign of bacteria, and therefore un-fresh fish). For a budget version, I recommend other ingredients. Vegetables like scallion, cucumber, and carrot are all classics. Imitation crab is both cheap and easier to store frozen or refrigerated. Shrimp is cooked before using in sushi. Avocado is popular in American sushi, but remember that avocado will start to brown pretty quickly, and so it may not be what you want in your sushi.
If you want some other ideas, onigiri is a popular snack good in Japan. If you've ever watched anime, you've probably seen them before. To make, just take a handful of that sushi rice from before and roll it into a ball (or that triangle shape the cartoons always use). You can use a strip of nori as a wrapper, to give you a surface that isn't sticky to hold onto. You can fill onigiri with ingredients a lot like the maki rolls. Usually you see less raw fish in onigiri though, so it may be more appealing for a number of reasons.
This and a billion more. Something like this is what my family uses, but probably better quality. All they really provided you with in the above commercial is this in plastic and a knife guide? I'm pretty sure everyone can cut sushi by eye.