Dominican Sushi: Fully Explained

When you hear “Dominican sushi” for the first time, you may pause and ask, “How does that work?”

Rightly so, because sushi is a well-known Japanese cuisine made from flavored rice, vegetables, and fish. So, how are the Dominicans involved?

Well, it turns out Dominican sushi is a culinary twist that combines Dominican breakfast with the popular Japanese delicacy — Therefore, Dominican sushi. This is typically known as a fusion cuisine, combining different aspects of various culinary cultures.

For good reasons, fusion foods are making waves in the US nowadays. Have you ever had trouble deciding what to eat for dinner because you are torn between Thai or Mexican or a similar scenario? Fusion foods make these decisions much easier, so you can have both instead of settling for one.

What is Dominican Sushi?

It may be easy to assume that Dominicans make Dominican sushi, but it is not. Rather, it is the same traditional sushi but with Dominican effects.

Dominican sushi adds a Caribbean flavor to sushi, making it fresh and tropical. Chefs usually serve this dish with rice, beans, and bananas.

Furthermore, it can also be served with chicken or beef for a more meaty experience. It generally combines seafood flavors with tropical fruits to create an extraordinary delicacy.

This cuisine will surely excite friends and family who want to try something different from regular sushi. Another big bonus is that it is very healthy with lots of vitamins and nutrients.

Where Did the Concept of Dominican Sushi Come From?

The origin of Dominican sushi can be traced back to MamaSushi, a restaurant in Inwood, a town in the northern part of Manhattan. Owned by Susan Osorio, a restaurateur who wanted to bring Japanese cuisines and culture to an area mostly populated by Dominicans.

She experimented by fusing the two cultures, and the result was shocking, in a good way, because it worked. The Dominican sushi rush began when Gadiel and Julissa of Pero Like made a video titled “Dominicans trying Platano sushi for the first time.”

Platano sushi contains sweet plantain, jalapeños, tuna, and eel. It is also known as “Hot Mama Rolls” and has become quite popular. Now the restaurant attracts customers worldwide who crave this amazing dish and other creative fusion cuisines.

How to Make Dominican Sushi

Making Dominican sushi will be a breeze if you know how to make sushi. The main ingredients required are sushi staples like fish, rice, seaweed, or nori. These ingredients are then complemented with Dominican ingredients such as plantains, bananas, fried eggs, fried cheese, crispy salami, and escabeche.

Dominican Sushi Cooking Instructions

To begin, get your seaweed ready. It should be thick and specific for making sushi, as indicated on the package “nori.” Let the shiny side face the rolling surface, so it ends outside the roll.

Carefully spread a layer of prepared sushi rice and flatten the top nicely with a spatula without smashing it. Pay attention to the edges of the seaweed sheet as well.

Time to include your fish. You could go with salmon, tuna, or whatever is available. Prepare and cut your fish into small strips using a sharp knife.

Place your remaining ingredients on top of the spread-out sushi rice. This is where the Dominican twist comes in for a tropical flavor, including sweet plantains, jalapeños, fried egg, and fried cheese or bananas.

Now it is time to roll it up. Use a bamboo mat to roll up all your ingredients tightly. You can use plastic wrap or parchment paper if you don’t have one, but it may not help you achieve a rather tight wrap. Additionally, you should get a proper bamboo mat for the best results if you intend to make sushi regularly.

You may also put a little water in a bowl nearby or a damp towel you could use to wipe your fingers between rolls. Rolling is tedious, and sometimes you might find yourself in a sticky situation. No pun intended.

Finally, using a very sharp knife, cut your roll into pieces. Make sure that the slices are not too big or too small. A third of a finger’s length should be just the right size.

Remember to sharpen your knife if it is dull for this one. Using a blunt knife will make slicing tedious and might ruin your roll. Voilà! Your Dominican sushi is ready.

Conclusion

Who knew you could have sushi for breakfast? Thanks to this delicious fusion cuisine, you can have the best of both — a Japanese delicacy with a tropical savor.

If you’re yet to try it, I highly recommend you do. Look out for places that offer fusion foods, and Dominican sushi might be available. Feel free to get in the kitchen and try something new if you can’t find it around you.