Sasazushi: I Enjoyed the Bamboo Leaf Wrapped Sushi

The other day, my family got a sushi pack from our neighbor, so I tried a piece today and savored the taste of the sushi. 

I had this variety of sushi for the first time in a while. Like Niigata’s specialty “Sasa Dango (笹団子)” dumplings, the sushi I enjoyed was wrapped in “Sasa (笹)” as well.

Sasa-Zushi (笹寿司) from Ishikawa Prefecture 

The sushi our neighbor gifted us is a type of sushi called “Sasazushi (笹寿司)” which uses “Sasa (笹)” or bamboo grass.

As you can see in the picture below, Sasa-Zushi is sushi whose vinegared rice and topping are double-wrapped in bamboo leaves. 

These are Sasazushi produced and sold by a food company based in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

Sasazushi is known as a local specialty of Ishikawa, and in the city of Hakusan and the Noto area of Ishikawa, Sasazushi is an essential thing for festivals. 

The sushi topping in this Sasazushi is a thin slice of salmon. These vinegared rice grains have been packed together into a block, as, in the final production process, the sushi is finished by applying pressure. 

Both the rice and salmon in this Sasazushi are somewhat vinegary compared to ordinary sushi offered by sushi restaurants. 

Toppings (Ingredients)

For the unfamiliar, other than salmon, typical sushi ingredients for Sasazushi are trout, sea bream, and dolphinfish. Additionally, Abura Age is sometimes used as its main topping.

Also, the main ingredient is sometimes garnished with small toppings, which include thinly sliced ginger and lemon, sakura shrimps, sesame seeds, and nori seaweed.

(Reference Page: Wikipedia 笹寿司 )