The Difference between Sushi and Sashimi

Virginia-based business leader Ralph Beck divides his time between serving as an investor at JETR Holdings and as a proprietor at a real estate development and investment company. A self-proclaimed food connoisseur, Ralph Beck of Virginia goes out to eat at least three times a week and is fond of such foods as sushi.

Although some individuals use the terms “sushi” and “sashimi” interchangeably, the two dishes are actually very different. Sashimi consists entirely of raw slices of fish or seafood. Salmon and tuna are popular fish used in sashimi dishes, and thinly sliced scallops, sea urchin, or mackerel also make appearances. Since these dishes focus on the meat being used, they are typically unaccompanied by rice and other ingredients. At most, sashimi dishes may include wasabi, soy sauce, pickled ginger, or shredded daikon to enhance the flavor of the fish.

Meanwhile, sushi is made from a wide range of ingredients, including chicken, vegetables, and fish. What sets sushi apart from sashimi is the fact that it does not always include raw fish and that its constant ingredient is vinegared rice. Further, sushi can be wrapped in seaweed, or nori, and formed into a roll, which is one of the most common forms of sushi in the United States, or it can be formed as nigiri, which consists of fish and other ingredients pressed on top of rice. Nigiri typically does not include nori.