Are you beginning to develop a taste for sushi? If you answered yes, you’re probably scratching your head trying to recall all the different types of sushi. Have you tried the maki or temaki rolls yet? Is that correct? And you’re asking why and how they’re different, given that they’re both rolls, right?
That’s a fantastic point you’ve made there. We’ll start with temaki, which is just as prevalent and popular as maki. This means it can be found on almost every sushi menu that delivers at least acceptable food. Let’s talk about it.
Maki vs. temaki (maki vs. temaki)
Maki is the most common type of sushi roll found in restaurants, consisting of a cylinder split into 6 or 8 pieces. Temaki is a single-serving cone produced with the same ingredients as maki but designed for one person. A temaki, unlike a maki, is difficult to share and is significantly larger.
Both employ nori sheets, but the temaki absorbs moisture much more quickly and must be consumed immediately after rolling. Unlike a set of temaki rolls, it is unable to sit.
When rolling a maki roll, more skill is required: how to layer everything, how tight to roll, and how to get a clean cut. A temaki is considerably easier to learn and can even be a pleasant snack for kids.
In a nutshell, both are popular Japanese sushi varieties that share a lot of the same characteristics. You can stuff a maki roll with anything you can stuff a temaki with, but more carefully. Let’s go through those distinctions in further depth now.
1. Temaki is a cone-shaped Japanese roll, while maki is a cut-up cylindrical roll.
The shape of maki and temaki is the first way to distinguish them. Maki is a cylindrical roll that looks like a savory Swiss roll and is cut into 6 or 8 pieces.
Temaki is a separate technique that necessitates a different way of spreading the rice. You spread it out on one side, then top it with whatever toppings you desire before rolling the cone. It will resemble a flat ice cream cone, with the top portion intended to display the fillings.
Because the direct translation of the phrase from Japanese is “hand roll,” temaki is also known as “hand roll.” Makizushi, which means rolled sushi, is another name for maki rolls. Even yet, knowing these secondary names is vital because not every restaurant includes images of the food on the menu.
2. Maki is the most common type of sushi roll.
If you’re not sure where to begin, the maki roll is the standard sushi roll that you’ll find everywhere. It’s made of vinegared rice, fish, and possibly a thin vegetable strip, all wrapped in a thin nori sheet (dried seaweed sheet).
It’s the sushi roll that you’ve seen in movies, cartoons, and even video games. It’s frequently shown alongside nigiri, a thin strip of fish on top of an oval rice ball.
We haven’t seen temaki in as many movies, games, or cartoons as we would like. It’s probably because it’s less flashy than a maki roll, and few people are familiar with temaki (unless they’re Japanese or very like sushi).
3. Temaki is kid-friendly and simple to prepare.
One of the best things about temaki is how forgiving it is, and how welcoming it is to newcomers and beginners. It’s a lot easier to make it at home than a maki roll. You’ll need a keen eye for detail and some dexterity, though not quite as much as you’ll need for maki rolls.
This means you may have some fun with the kids by allowing them to make their own sushi. They can easily manufacture their own temaki as long as they are supervised and have all of the necessary supplies.
Because this roll calls for a smaller nori sheet, you can split one in half to make two temaki sheets. Place the nori on the dish or table, top with rice, and equally distribute it, leaving one side empty. Put whatever ingredients or toppings you choose in the middle of the rice. Then, starting from the rice side, begin rolling the temaki. To seal the cone, the area with just plain nori should be rolled last.
Don’t be concerned if it comes out crooked. It’s fine as long as the bottom is pointed and closed up so the rice doesn’t spill out.
However, this isn’t good enough for maki rolls. So that you don’t overfill it, you’ll need to judge the proper amount of rice and toppings. It’s considerably more difficult to roll uniformly and cut through a roll with so much within.
4. Maki and temaki can be shared, but temaki is exclusive for one person.
If this is important to you or influences your decision, keep in mind that temaki is just for one person. It’s significantly more difficult to share without spilling because of the way it’s rolled. If you wish to share the temaki, each person must take a mouthful, which may be off-putting to some.
Meanwhile, because the maki roll is always split into 6 or 8 pieces, it’s much easier to share. And, in most cases, you can order two or three maki styles so that everyone gets a chance to try each one.
For maki and temaki, you can use whatever fillings you choose.
If you’re asking if maki or temaki require a specific type of stuffing or topping, the answer is no. The most prevalent ones involve a type of fish (tuna or salmon), rice, or nori. It’s the simplest, but it’s also the best.
As a result, you can make your own roll or choose from a variety of varieties on the menu. The California roll, for example, is rolled inside-out with crab, cucumber, and avocado, but it can also be made into a standard maki roll. Alternatively, there are vegan variants such as the kappa maki (cucumber and rice) and the avocado maki.
There are many more alternatives, and each restaurant will have its unique menu of sushi fillings to choose from. Some restaurants will let you pick the ingredients and have them prepared to your specifications.
This is also a temaki option. Typically, you can buy whatever type of sushi filling you like. If you’re wondering where the wasabi comes from, it’s normally in nigiri, not temaki or maki.
It can be tough to dip temaki in a piece of sushi. If you’re going to use soy sauce, make sure you really want it. It’s a lot easier to dip maki.
A quick rundown of the various types of sushi
This is by no means a complete list of all sushi varieties ever created. It is, however, a list of the most prevalent sushi types that you will almost certainly see on a menu. For those who are new to sushi, some menus may not provide explanations or photographs, therefore we’re here to help.
Maki
Sushi in its most basic form. Rice, salmon, and seaweed wrap Depending on the type or what the chef decides, it may arrive in 6 or 8 pieces. Maki wrapped in rice paper, thin cucumber slices, and thin omelette are also available.
Hosomaki and futomaki are two types of sushi.
Hosomaki is a type of maki that is thinner and has only one filling. When you look at salmon or cucumber maki, this is what you see. In a rice field, there is just one type of filling.
Futomaki are larger versions of hosomaki, with two or three fillings. A futomaki is a roll made with rice, salmon, cucumber, and roe.
Uramaki
Uramaki is a maki that is made from the inside out. The fillings, which must be at least two, are wrapped in nori before being wrapped in sushi rice. Sesame seeds, roe, crispy fried onions, or anything similar are then sprinkled over the rice. The goal is to keep the rice from clumping together by covering it.
Temaki
Temaki is a basic cone-shaped hand roll that may be filled with as many fillings as desired. Because of the way it’s built, it’s only meant for one person, thus sharing is impossible.
Nigiri
Nigiri is simply raw fish cut into a very thin strip. It’s spread out like a blanket over an oval-shaped ball of rice, with a thin dab of wasabi sandwiched between the fish and the rice. There are also vegan and tofu nigiri options.
A thin strip of nori will be used to secure toppings that may have a hard time attaching to the rice. Nigiri is usually bite-sized, however you may come across larger ones that require two bites.
Nigiri can only have one topping, unlike maki, which can have two or three.
Gunkanmaki
A maki style that rethinks the placement of each ingredient. It’s a more showy artwork. Nori is encircled by a bite-sized ball of sushi rice that is almost half an inch higher than the rice. As a consequence, you’ll have a bowl that you may fill with meat or veggies. The most frequent type is topped with roe.
Sashimi
Sashimi is the most basic sort of sushi, though whether it should be called sushi is controversial. Sushi is typically defined as any item served on top of or wrapped in vinegared rice. However, in the Bronze Age, the actual, original sushi was simply the meat kept safe and fresh by fermented rice, which was discarded and not eaten.
So, let’s talk about sashimi. It’s the thick or thin strips of meat served with wasabi, soy sauce, and pickled ginger instead of rice. The key is that the meat is of such good quality, and the chef is so skilled at cutting the fish and putting together the appropriate combination, that you will be blown away by the results.
If you want spicy, intensely flavorful foods, sashimi is not for you. Because the flavors are delicate and require a skilled palate to detect them all, sashimi is best avoided if you’re new to sushi.
And there you have it. You now understand what temaki is, how it differs from maki, and the most popular sushi names. Hopefully, you’ll be able to choose the finest option for you. The most popular choice is uramaki, which has the most toppings and appears to be the most stunning.
