Salmon sushi

For the sushi
150 g sushi rice, rinsed thoroughly and drained
225 ml water
pinch salt
25 g sugar
50 ml rice wine vinegar
4 sheets dried nori
50-75g wasabi paste, plus extra to serve
200 g best-quality salmon fillet, skin removed, cut into strips
0.5cm in thick
½ cucumber, peeled, seeds removed, cut into thin batons
½ red pepper, seeds removed, cut into thin batons

For the dipping sauce
100 ml oz rice vinegar
75 g sugar
1 small red chilli, finely chopped

To serve
soy sauce
pickled ginger

Method
1. For the sushi, place the rice in a pan with the water and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for five minutes, then take off the heat, leave covered and allow to cool.
2. When the rice is cool, place it into a bowl, season with a pinch of salt and add the sugar and vinegar. Mix well.
3. Lay out the nori sheets on a work surface and spread a little of the wasabi paste onto each sheet. Place a line of the rice mixture about 2.5cm/1in wide towards the bottom edge of each sheet.
4. Divide the salmon strips and cucumber and red pepper batons among the nori sheets and roll up tightly. Place into the fridge to chill for 30 minutes, then cut into 5cm/2in long pieces.
5. For the dipping sauce, heat the vinegar, sugar and chilli in a pan until the sugar dissolves.
6. To serve, place the sushi rolls onto a large serving plate with a bowl of the dipping sauce, extra wasabi paste, soy sauce and pickled ginger.

Nori-rolled sushi with soy dipping sauce

Ingredients
200 g Japanese rice
4 tbsp/60 ml white vinegar, such as rice vinegar or white wine vinegar
1 tbsp caster sugar
1 tsp salt
½ cucumber, seeded
1 avocado
175 g fresh tuna or salmon
4 sheets nori seaweed
1 tsp wasabi paste
pickled ginger, to serve
soy dipping sauces, to serve

Method
1. Begin by cooking the rice. Wash it well in warm water, then place in a pan. Cover with water so that it comes 2 cm above the rice. Cover and cook gently for 12 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the water has been absorbed.
2. Meanwhile, mix together the vinegar, sugar and salt and set aside to dissolve. As soon as the rice is cooked, stir the vinegar mixture in to it and leave to cool completely.
3. Cut the cucumber, avocado and fish into batons.
4. Halve the nori sheets and place one half horizontally on the rolling mat. Spread 2-3 tbsp of the mixture on the seaweed, leaving a 1 cm margin on the edge furthest from you.
5. Spread a tiny amount of the wasabi across the centre of the rice, then place a row of cucumber and avocado or fish across the centre. Roll up so the join is on the bottom of the roll. Continue to make rolls, alternating the ingredients so that some contain just fish and others contain cucumber and avocado.
6. Trim the ends of the rolls with a sharp knife, then cut each into six pieces. Transfer to serving dishes and place a pile of pickled ginger with each.