Sushi is a Japanese preparation of seasoned rice (sushi-meshi) and another ingredient, usually seafood, often raw, or vegetables. It is usually accompanied by wasabi, pickled ginger, and shoyu.
Traditionally, sushi is prepared by a sushi master, or itamae, in front of the customer. In modern practice it is also available for takeout or in prepared servings.
There are four main types of sushi:
- Nigiri, or "hand-pressed": Slices of raw fish pressed into a rectangular block of rice, shaped by the itamae's hand.
- Maki, or "roll": A sheet of nori, covered with seasoned rice and fish or another ingredient, then rolled into a cylinder and sliced into small bite-sized cylinders. Related are futomaki, or "giant roll", which is a much larger roll that is not sliced, and temaki, a cone-shaped roll made with the hands, also called "hand roll".
- Chirashi, or "scattered": A bowl of seasoned rice which is topped with raw fish, shellfish, pickles, ginger, radishes, and other items.
- Battera, a specialized variation of Osaka, made with layers of mackerel and rice in a rectangular mold.
Note that sushi is not the same as sashimi, which is served without rice.