Do I HAVE to put sugar in the rice vinegar when making sushi?

Question

If the sugar is there just for the taste I don't want it.

But if it's important to the texture or whatever I guess it's needed.

So, which is it?

Answer 1

Yes!! It is important. It helps the rice sitck together.

Answer 2

He Svenska, try some birch syrup, most vinegars sold outside of Europe is seasoned with a sweetener, even honey is fine, your likely to prefer a tarter flavour.

I used make a sushi in Singapore, for Swedish business people with herring both smoked and pickled, with a bit of apple and fresh horseradish instead of wasabi, even smoked reindeer in a rolled Maki is a neat trick, with cucumber and would you believe lingonberrys.

Answer 3

It depends largely on whether or not your rice vinegar is already sweetened. The rice itself is sticky so the sugar and vinegar are largely a flavoring agent.

Answer 4

No, the sugar is NOT needed in the sushi. It is purely for taste. Basically when you use the rice vinegar and you happen to put too much of it in the rice, the sugar can be used to balance out or "take out" the bitterness/sourness of the rice. Otherwise, it's unnecessary, and a bit odd, because I've never really heard of it being absolutely necessary for sushi! It doesn't matter if the rice vinegar is seasoned already or what, it won't affect the taste of the sushi. Adding sugar, is merely a mask to the mistake of overdoing the rice vinegar. Also, if you overdo the rice vinegar, the cure to that is simply adding more rice,without the rice vingar, and it will be A-O-kay. Do a taste test, and you'll be able to tell if it's enough for your liking. Good luck!

Answer 5

Most rice vinegar sold in U.S. grocery stores is already seasoned with sugar.  Just taste it