Salmon Nigiri
(Inexpensive but impressive and quick appetisers)

Ingredients:

1. Fresh fish Fillets (approx 1/6th - 1/4 pound per person)
2. Sushi Rice (approx 1/3 cup per person)
3. Rice Vinegar (seasoned if available)
4. Wasabi paste
5. Soy Sauce

Directions:

1. Start buy making Sushi Rice (If not available at your market, then find a Japanese food market) Cooking this rice is the same as any other, but the rice has a different shape and consistancy. We use a Rival rice cooker we picked up at Wallmart for only $20. It works Great! If you have purchased powdered Wasabi, mix it now as it takes 30 minutes to season properly before using.

2. After the rice is cooked, sprinkle in the Rice Vinegar to taste. Then spread the rice up the sides of a large bowl to allow the rice to cool. (it will stick to the sides and not fall back into the bowl)

3. After the rice cools, get out a cutting board (preferrably a plastic non stick type) and also fill a small mixing bowl with water. You will make small mounds (like in the photo) of rice and place them on the cutting board. You will use the water to wet your hands to mold the rice into mounds. The water will keep the rice from sticking to your hands. I like using a soup spoon to help me mold the mounds.

4. Make up the small mounds of rice about 3/4 - 1" wide (and tall) and around 2.5" - 3" long) and place them on the cutting board.

5. Make sure you have cut the bones and bloodline out of your fillets. Select a piece that is approximately 3/4" - 1" thick.

6. Make sure to have around 1/6 - 1/4 pound per person.

7. Slice the fish against the grain so that the grain of the fish is visible in every slice. Cut slices around 1/8" thick. (Cutting these slices against the grain is same direction as perpendicular to the fish's backbone). If your filet is thin, cut at an angle to make your slices wide enough to cover your rice mounds.

8. Spread a very small amount of Wasabi on the top of each mound of rice as shown in the photo. Make sure that you do not use too much! If you ever get a strong vapor from Wasabi make sure NOT to breathe through your mouth. Breathe ONLY through your nose until you eather eat or spit out the Wasabi. (and YES, I have had to spit it out before)

9. Lay your fish slices on the top of each mound of rice as shown in the photo.

10. Place Wasabi on your plate and Soy Sauce in a small bowl and mix to taste for dipping. Sometimes I like just Wasabi with no Soy.... 

11. Serve