Is it really raw?

Question

In sushi, is the fish really raw or is it smoked or cooked to a degree? Isn't raw fish bad for you and why dont they serve any other sauces for dipping besides soy sauce and wasabi?

Answer 1

Raw fish ISN'T bad for you, just raw fish that is caught and then held in the hold of a boat long enough for parasites in the fishes guts to burrow into the meat.  That's why "sushi-grade" fish are gutted on the boat, and the CLEAN meat is then separated and packed on-board....

Other sauces are unnecessary...if you want something that tastes like sauce, order something cooked in sauce!

Silly goose!

Answer 2

it is mosty smoked most of the time. yes raw fish is bad for u because it carries paracites. i dont know why they serve only soy sauce and wasbi mabye those are the only things that go good with the food like also the hot pepper sauce

Answer 3

Sushi is actually rice. The raw fish is sashimi. Most people in the US consider  sushi to be rolls of rice with a filling wrapped in seaweed. That is makizushi and is mostly for the gaijin, or non-Japanese. Nigirizushi has mostly really raw fish with some being steamed sitting on top of rice. Remember, it is the muscle of the fish. You aren't eating guts or anything. It is, to me, the best food in the world.

Answer 4

mostly, the fish is raw but it is of the best and the freshest quality, the fish will be bad if it is already spoiled and you still eat it. for me the wasabi neutralize the fishy taste of the fish, the soy sauce adds some saltiness but do not overcome the taste of the food

Answer 5

Yes, the fish is raw.

The dipping sauce is only to give a bit of flavour because, if you ever tried the fish on its own, it doesn't have much of a taste.

Answer 6

yes, proper tuna or salmon sushi and sashimi is completely raw.  soy sauce and wasabi are the traditional accompaniments and are what tastes the best.

Answer 7

Yes, most of the fish used in sushi is raw except for a few smoked exceptions. Although many Westerners shudder at the thought of raw fish, you have to understand that really fresh top quality raw fish has no fishy odour, slimy feel, peculiar colour etc to put people off, it's a very clean refreshing taste. You can't just use any fish for sushi & sashimi, so don't try it at home as almost all the raw fish you buy from your typical supermarket is not considered sashimi-grade. Cooking actually destroys many nutrients and hence good quality raw fish is more beneficial for health.

In Japanese cuisine, the freshness & natural taste of the ingredients is paramount. When eating sushi, you should be able to separately taste the delicately seasoned rice & different toppings, hence only a touch of soy sauce is required for dipping & wasabi naturally heightens flavours and cleanses the palate. The use of other sauces simply ruins the whole taste, obscuring the other ingredients.

Actually Westerners eat a fair amount of raw food too. Salads, raw carrot & celery sticks are very common in the West but Asians consider them rabbit food. What about raw oysters, steak tartare, and raw fish marinated in vinegar to 'cook' ? It just proves that one man's meat is indeed another man's poison, to each his own.