Homemade Sushi Vinegar and Sushi Rice

This homemade sushi vinegar was taught to me by a friend.  Tasted stronger than the Mizkan sushi vinegar sold at the supermarkets but definitely more economical to prepare your own if you are not going to use the remaining store bought sushi rice vinegar for other cooking purposes, moreover they costs quite a lot compared to vinegar.

HOW TO PREPARE SUSHI RICE VINEGAR

Ingredients
- Advisable to prepare more if you intend to make more sushi rolls

Small Portion [makes about 75 ml]

3 tbsp rice vinegar

3 tbsp sugar

a pinch of salt to taste

Big Portion [makes about 400 ml]

270 ml rice vinegar

300 gm sugar

1 tsp salt

1. Mix all ingredients together.  Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves.
2. Remove from heat and leave aside to cool completely before storing in a clean bottle until required.

Notes: This rice vinegar can be used to cook other dishes that requires Mirin like this dish Braised Spanish Mackerel with Soy Sauce and Mirin
HOW TO PREPARE/COOK SUSHI RICE

Ingredients

400 gm [3 cups] short grain sushi rice - washed and drained

600 ml [3 1/2 cups] water

Vinegar Dressing For Cooked Sushi Rice [mix together until sugar dissolves]

75 ml sushi rice vinegar

3 tbsp sugar

2 tsp salt

1. Rinse short grain sushi rice until clean.  Drain and add water to steam for 30 minutes.  Allow rice to stand for 15-20 minutes.
2. Remove to a big bowl [wooden or stainless steel] and mix rice with vinegar dressing by slowly drizzling it into rice.  The rice grains should be properly mixed with the sushi rice vinegar with a wooden rice paddle to prevent it from becoming lumpy and pasty.
3. Use rice immediately or cover with a damp cloth to retain the moisture [use within 1-2 hours].
4. Use prepared rice to make various sushi you wish to make such as the following:

a)   Hosomaki  -  thin sushi rolls with 1 or 2 ingredients [see posting]

b)   Futomaki - fat sushi rolls with more ingredients [see posting]

c)   Uramaki - Inside-out sushi rolls, eg. California Sushi Rolls [see posting]

Refer here  on How to make Sushi Rice