How to Throw the Perfect Sushi Dinner Party
Invite Your Guests to a Make Your Own Sushi Party
Feb 13, 2009
It's a trend that's gaining popularity virtually everywhere—throwing a do-it-yourself sushi party. Not only is it an incredibly fun way to spend time with friends and family, but it's also an inexpensive way to enjoy a healthy meal without the exorbitant prices that usually come with restaurant sushi.
So how much can one expect to shell out for a sushi party? Initial setup usually runs under $50 to stock up on bare necessities such as bamboo rolling mats, disposable food handling gloves, dipping bowls, chopsticks, sauces & spices, seaweed or soy wraps, and sushi rice.
After initial setup, costs vary by number of guests versus types of sushi. Plan on a minimum of one quarter to one half pound of fish or shrimp per guest. The wonderful thing about sushi is that “less is more.” The rice, and other ingredients made up the majority of the dish, with only the fish or shrimp taking up a small portion.
Sushi Preparation
At a sushi party, the guests will be creating their own dishes, so all of the food prep work must be done before the party. Much of the preparation allows for refrigeration of cut and diced vegetables such as avocado, cucumber, carrot, radish, green onions, and ginger. Wasabi and other sauces can be mixed ahead of time and refrigerated as well.
Prepare the sushi rice about three hours before the guests arrive so that it will have time to cool and be easy to work with. While the rice is cooling, cut the smoked salmon, tuna, crab, or other cooked meats into thin strips and refrigerate. Fill condiment bowls with sesame seeds, cream cheese, and other seasonings that will be used and set them out at the preparation area.
About half an hour before the guests arrive, fry any shrimp or calamari that will be needed during the party. Drain, cover, and set aside. Set the preparation area with plates, dipping bowls for soy sauce, and disposable food handling gloves. Sushi making is a hands-on project, and since a lot of hands will be working with the ingredients, don't forget the food handling gloves.
A Crash Course in Sushi Making
Once the guests arrive, the host or hostess should take a few minutes to show the guests the proper way to roll the sushi. Set the guests at ease by letting them know that their first sushi roll probably won't be a work of art, but that the fun is all in the creation.
Try to have several rolling mats available. This will help speed the assembly line along. Depending on the number of guests, it could take everyone several minutes to get through making their first roll, so it might be a good idea to have some appetizers on hand for the guests. Then just enjoy the party. It's sure to be a success.
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