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ABALONE or AWABI

The “king of clams,” has exquisite pearlized coloring on the inside of its shell that is used for jewelry and decorative items. The meat has a crisp, chewy texture.

ABURAGE

A rectangular, fried bean curd (tofu) pouch is used for inari sushi. They are prepared by cooking the bean curd in mirin (sweet cooking saké), shoyu (soy sauce), and water.

AEMONO

A purée of tofu and seasonings is used as a dressing or sauce for other dishes.

AGARI

While the Japanese word, ocha, refers to all tea, agari is a lower-grade tea given away at lower-end sushi bars. It is not a whole leaf, but made of a mix of the residual dust, fannings, leaf particles, and bits of stem broken off and sifted out during the processing of quality teas, like gyokuro or sencha (paradoxically, it’s low-quality tea from high-quality leaves).

The tiny particles of tea that pass through a strainer give, the tea a strong green color and an intense flavor. The flavor is also bitter, a taste that complements the flavor components of of sushi and sashimi very well.

Agari green tea. Photo courtesy Dengonet.

AJI

Spanish mackerel, also known as horse mackerel. It is fillet marinated in vinegar to cure it before serving. Also called sawara.

AJI-NO-MOTO

The largest brand of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in Japan. The word has become a generic, like Kleenex and Sanka in the U.S.

Aji fillet, Spanish or horse mackerel. Photo courtesy OKSFood.

AHI

Ahi tuna is also known as big-eye and yellowfin (not to be confused yellowtail, or hamachi, which is not tuna but a different species). Ahi is a very popular sushi and sashimi fish. It is also used for tuna tataki (see photo at top left) and tuna tartare. When American restaurants offer an entrée of seared tuna, it is often ahi.

AKAGAI

Red clam or ark shell. Ark clam is the common name for a family of small to large-sizd saltwater clams. They vary both in shape and size. The family comprises some 200 species worldwid. (photo courtesy PopDish.Blogspot.com).

AKAMI

Red meat tuna.

ALBACORE TUNA

High-fat and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, the albacore has the lightest flesh (white with a hint of pink) and is the only tuna with meat that can be called “white tuna” in the U.S. Its prized white flesh and mild flavor make it prized for both sushi and canning; it is the most expensive canned tuna, with comparisons to chicken (this earned it the sobriquet “chicken of the sea” and created a major brand of the same name). Charlie The Tuna was an albacore. Albacore tuna are commonly 80 pounds and can reach 200 pounds. Albacore goes by other names in different countries, including longfin and bonito del norte.

AMA-EBI

Sweet shrimp, served raw. If it is served with the deep-fried shells of the shrimp, the shells are to be eaten as well.

AMBERJACK

A more mature hamachi or yellowtail.

AMERICAN SUSHI

California rolls, Philadelphia rolls, spicy rolls, spider rolls, even salmon skin rolls were born in the U.S.A. Read more about them under the individual listings.

ANAGO

Salt water eel, a.k.a. conger eel. Salt water eel is less fleshy and rich than fresh water eel (unagi), but “richness” is a relative term: As apple lovers enjoy different varieties of apples, eel fanciers welcome both types. Eel is not served raw, but is pre-boiled and then freshly grilled prior to serving. In Japan, each restaurant is judged by its anago, since the recipe each uses to steam, boil, marinate and grill differs. Most of our anago supply comes from Japan.

ANA-KYU-MAKI

Conger eel and cucumber rolls (the salt water eel, anago).

ANKIMO

Monkfish liver, generally served in a marinade. The Japanese “foie gras,” and much more affordable!

AOYAGI

Yellow round clam (top photo).

AWABI

Abalone—see above.

BAKAGAI

Orange clam, a beautiful orange color, like a Creamsicle (see second photo). They are harvested off of Long Island; the adductor muscle of the clam is called kobashira and is served separately as a “boat roll.”

BAIGAI

Small water snails.

BARA SUSHI

In the Kansai region of Japan, bara sushi is similar to chirashi but with a twist: ingredients are mixed into the sushi rice to make a kind of rice salad. In another part of Japan, Okayama Prefecture, in the far southern part of Honshu, bara sushi is a luxurious dish that weaves the fish on top of the rice, in a mosaic-like pattern.

Aoyagi, yellow clam. Photo courtesy Pafco.net.

Bakagai, orange clam. Photo courtesy Caveman Circus.

BASASHI or SAKURA

Raw horse meat sashimi, typically served on a bed of shredded daikon (white radish) with shiso leaves. Horse sashimi is a delicacy in parts of Japan. It is a speciality in Kumamoto on the island of Kyushu, and some restaurants specialize in it. Due to its pink color, it is often called “cherry blossom [sakura] meat.” Horse meat is low in fat, cholesterol and calories, and high in protein.

It is not served as nigiri or other sushi for a couple of reasons:

BATTERA-SUSHI

Oshi-zushi (pressed sushi) topped with mackerel. Along with hako sushi, battera uses plant leaves (here, aspidistra leaves, which are inedible); however, in battera sushi, the layer of leaves is upside down, which makes for easier removal from the mold. The rice is generally topped with mackerel (and in Japan, gizzard shad is also used), strong-tasting and oily fish. Because of the oily quality, the fish can stay fresh for several days, making battera sushi popular for quick dinners, since it stays fresh for days. (In fact, it evolved in the more inland areas that had no access to fish). To make battera, the mackerel is salted, allowed to stand for six or seven hours, washed and marinated it in a vinegar mixture, placed on the rice and pressed.

BEEF SUSHI & SASHIMI

Top quality beef, including wagyu, is served as sushi or sashimi—for nigiri sushi, the beef can be served lightly cooked as well as raw. Sliced very thin, it is absolutely delicious (and one our favorite ways to eat wagyu, cooked and raw). Horsemeat is also served—see bashashi.

BENI-SHOGA

Red pickled ginger. The color can range from deep pink to light red.

BENTO BOX

Bento boxes are popular choices at Japanese restaurants. In the U.S., they typically include five different popular foods in a sectioned lacquer box: a selection of dumplings, pickles, tempura, negimaki, fish and sushi or sashimi are commonly offered. They can also be more “gourmet” in nature, with more unusual dishes like the ones in the photo. In Japan, there are fast-food bentos packed in disposable plastic boxes and reusable  plastic or metal bentos packed at home for lunch. Bento originates from a Chinese term meaning convenient. The word was imported to Japan in the 12th century; at the end of the 16th century it referred to a meal served in a traditional black-lacquered box with compartments (called a Shokado bento). To tempt both children and adults, some chefs has raised the art of bento, turning ingredients into bunnies, piglets and other cute shapes. See some examples here.

BIRU

Beer.

BLACK RICE SUSHI or BLACK SUSHI

Since the early 21st century, the desire to eat healthier created a demand for brown rice sushi in the U.S. Its success engendered multigrain sushi rice and quinoa* substituting for rice entirely. One company with a Korean heritage began serving multi-grain rice in 2007 in New York City, and trademarked the name “Black Sushi.” They now use all-black forbidden rice, an ancient strain from China.

Any grain other than white rice changes the characteristic flavor of sushi; but those seeking better nutrition willingly trade off.

Black rice is even more nutritious than brown rice. The dark color of black rice comes from the same powerful anthocyanin antioxidants found in blackberries and blueberries.

*Purists will note that su-shi means “vinegar rice,”, not “any grain with vinegar.”

Above: Black sushi, so-called because it uses black rice. Here’s the recipe from Savor The Best Below: Uncooked black rice. When cooks, it takes on a purple color (photo courtesy MixRecipe.com.

BLOWFISH

See fugu.

BO SUSHI or BOZUSHI

A pressed sushi that is made in a long, candy bar-type shape and then cut into bite-size pieces. Bo means “stick.”  The photo shows yaki-anago bozushi, grilled conger eel.

BONITO or KATSUO

Bonito, also known as skipjack tuna (an all-dark-meat tuna), is eaten as a cooked fish, but is also smoked and dried into a popular Japanese seasoning called katsuo-bushi (the Japanese word for bonito is katsuo). Dried bonito flakes are used to make stock for miso soup, stews, sauces, dips and other foods. In sushi bars, they are often used as a garnish atop mackerel sushi, spinach and other dishes.