Book Review - Sushi at Home by Yuki Gomi

 

I first met Yuki earlier this year when Sozai launched their new dedicated Japanese cooking school, the first in the UK, and she was teaching us how to make sushi.

Yuki was so friendly and we connected right away.  I made sushi for the first time ever and it was a success and loads and loads of fun.  I subsequently attended one of her cooking classes at her home in South London.

Yuki makes sushi making uncomplicated and fun. Something that with a few authentic Japanese ingredients (available from most supermarkets and specialist shops in London and on-line) anyone can make at home.

'Sushi at Home' will teach you everything you need to know about buying and preparing the finest ingredients.  You will learn a step-by-step process to rolling out your own sushi rolls as well as popular alternative shapes.

In this book Yuki explains the need to follow certain traditions but that some can be modernised and used with the equipment you have at home, such as a hairdryer to quickly cook your sushi rice if you don't have the traditional fan.

The most important part is getting your sushi rice perfect. Do that and you will have the skill to go forward and make fantastic sushi at home. Miso soup will be a staple for your Japanese meals at home.

Inside the book is a glossary of terms of ingredients and a list of useful equipment and utensils list. The drawings and illustrations are very simple and illustrative of Japanese art. 

 

The photos are clear and stunning.

 

The recipes have their Japanese name and then their English translation. I love this because so many times I have been in restaurants and not known what the different variations meant.  Now I can make a note on my phone and get it right everytime!

Yuki is well experienced to teach the art of sushi making and has taught thousands of people to do just that.  She studied in Chicago at Le Cordon Blue and trained under a master noodle maker.  She now teaches at her own home and at Sozai from time to time.

So if you fancy making Sashimi, Sushi, Futomaki, Hokomaki, Miso Soup and Dashi in the comfort of your own home, to have a Japanese dinner party then this book is a must have in your cookbook collection.

 

This beautiful book (which is like Japanese modern art) will be published on 27 June 2013 by Fig Tree and will retail at £18.99 (Hardback).

(all photos are taken from the book)

Yuki's Kitchen - Japanese Cooking at Home

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Yuki at the Sozai Cooking School in London last month. Yuki taught the segment on making sushi and it was the first time I had actually made my own sushi.

 

We got talking and Yuki invited me to her home to take part in her cooking lessons from home. Last week I made the journey to her home in South London and was immediately welcomed with a cup of black barley tea out of a very pretty teapot.

 

A couple of other students cancelled at the last minute leaving only Jo and myself to attend the course. What a wonderful privilege to have 1-2-1 tuition with such a lovely lady. Yuki's goal is to teach people how easy it is to cook proper Japanese meals at home and this will be the main subject of her forthcoming cookbook due out in June 2013!

We watched and talked about Japanese cooking whilst Yuki prepared all the marinades and dressings for the meal she was preparing for us. She cut the fresh cod loin in thick chunks for the main course of Marinated Black Fish with Miso. In Japan you would use a black cod for this recipe but here the cost would be enormous and a simple cod will work just as well.

The sea vegetables were re-hydrated ready to make the Cucumber Salad "Sunomono". These came out of the packet looking like dried fish food flakes but as they spent time in water they began to pulp out and show off their beautiful colours and shapes.

After all the prep, soaking and marinating Yuki started to assemble the lunch. The assembly  all happened very quickly and the first course was a Wakame and Egg Drop Soup.

Cucumber salad 'Sunomono' served with cooked baby squid on top.

Roast Aubergine and Red Peppers with sweet miso sauce. This is perhaps my favourite one that we made and it would be so easy to make at home.

Marinated Black Fish with Miso. Marinate the fish in a fantastic and easy marinade sauce and cook in the oven for about 10 minutes. So much flavour and tender fish.

Vegetable Stir Fried 'Soba' Noodles

 

If you want to learn how to prepare and cook authentic Japanese food at home I can thoroughly recommend taking one of Yuki's courses at her home in South London, very easy to get to with good rail and tube links.

Yuki's book which will teach people how to make simple and delicious Japanese food at home will be published in June 2013. I can't wait to get a copy.

You can follow Yuki on Twitter @yukiskitchen.

A place for everything and everything in its place! Spice collection.