Sushi Vs Sashimi: Key Differences You Should Know

The main difference between sushi and sashimi is rice: sushi always includes vinegared sushi rice, while sashimi does not. Sushi can be made with raw or cooked seafood, vegetables, egg, and other ingredients, while sashimi most commonly consists of carefully sliced raw fish or seafood served on its own. Depending on where you are, there can be very different ideas about what sushi actually is. Outside Japan, sushi is often associated with California rolls, spicy tuna rolls, or simply “raw fish on rice.” Sashimi is even less understood and is sometimes mistaken for just the “raw fish part” of sushi. But there’s much more to both Japanese dishes. In this guide, we explore sushi and sashimi from a Japanese perspective, including their origins, preparation methods, and the key differences that set them apart. What is Sushi? Sushi is a Japanese dish centered around specially prepared vinegared rice, known as shari (seasoned sushi rice), which is paired with ingredients such as seafood, vegetables, egg, or seaweed. Although sushi is often associated with raw fish, it is the seasoned rice, not raw fish, that defines sushi. The word “sushi” is thought to come from an old Japanese word mean...