Japanese Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri), or Girls' Day, is held on March 3rd.
On this day, we set up hina dolls (hina-ningyo) since they are believed to protect girls from bad luck.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htnrsgsOWa8
Hishi Mochi (diamond shaped rice cake) is usually presented with hina dolls. Hishi Mochi commonly consists of three layers: pink, white, and green, from top to bottom. It is said that pink represents peach flowers, white represents snow, and green represents grass. Those colors have a meaning to get the power of nature. Therefore, I used these three colors for my California roll :)
↓Hishi Mochi
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California Roll for Hinamatsuri
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 20min
Number of servings: 2 rolls (16 pieces)
Necessary Equipment:
makisu (bamboo sushi-roll mat)
Ingredients:
1/2 avocado
6 Kanikama (imitation crab sticks)
((Pink Sushi Rice))
* 110g (3.9oz.) cooked Japanese rice (short-grain rice)
* 2 tsp. Sushi vinegar
* 2 tsp. Sakura Denbu (pink colored seasoned shredded codfish)
((White Sushi Rice))
* 110g (3.9oz.) cooked Japanese rice (short-grain rice)
* 2 tsp. Sushi vinegar
((Green Sushi Rice))
* 110g (3.9oz.) cooked Japanese rice (short-grain rice)
* 2 tsp. Sushi vinegar
* 1 tsp. Aonori (green laver)
1 nori sheet
soy sauce
Wasabi (Japanese Horseradish Paste) if desired
pickled ginger if desired
Directions:
((Pink Rice))
Place cooked Japanese rice in a bowl. Add Sushi vinegar and Sakura Denbu while the rice is hot and slice through rice using rice paddle to separate the grains. (Cool the rice before you use.)
((White Rice))
Place cooked Japanese rice in a bowl. Add Sushi vinegar while the rice is hot and slice through rice using rice paddle to separate the grains. (Cool the rice before you use.)
((Green Rice))
Place cooked Japanese rice in a bowl. Add Sushi vinegar and Aonori while the rice is hot and slice through rice using rice paddle to separate the grains. (Cool the rice before you use.)
1. Cut 1/2 avocado into 4 strips.
2. Cover a bamboo sushi-roll mat with plastic wrap. Cut nori sheet in half and place it on the bamboo sushi-roll mat, shiny side down.
3. Spread 3 different colored sushi rice (pink, white, and green) alternately on a sheet of nori sheet using your finger tips, little bit moistened with water. Turn it over so that the nori sheet facing you.
4. Place avocado and imitation crab sticks lengthwise on the nori sheet. (cut them if too long.)
5. Roll the bamboo mat forward, hold the line of ingredients firmly with your fingers, stop and leave about 1/3 inch of sushi rice, make sure all the ingredients are pressed in, roll it completely, gently press the mat around the roll to shape it (do not squeeze).
6. With a moistened knife (bread knife cuts well!) cut the roll into 8 pieces (re-wet as needed. don't push but pull to cut!).
7. Serve with soy sauce, Wasabi, and pickled ginger.
Ingredients to make sushi vinegar from scratch.
* 3 tbsp. rice vinegar
* 1 tbsp. sugar
* 1 tsp. salt
↓レシピ(日本語)
http://cooklabo.blogspot.jp/2013/02/blog-post_25.html
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