Oshizushi

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A method of preparing sushi that combines rice and assorted toppings layered and compacted in a mold for slicing into small servings
2. A culinary technique that involves pressing rice and ingredients together in a form to produce a distinct sushi style served in squares or rectangles
3. A sushi preparation style that utilizes pressing rice along with various toppings into a mold, resulting in neatly shaped and sliced portions

Etymology: Oshizushi is a compound of two Japanese words: "oshi", from the verb "osu", meaning to push or press, and "sushi", the familiar vinegared rice dish. Put together, the name describes exactly how the food is made: vinegared rice and toppings are packed into a wooden mold and pressed firmly until they hold together in a compact block, which is then cut into rectangular pieces. The literal meaning of the Japanese term, "pressed sushi," is the whole story, so there is little more to unpack. The name distinguishes this style from the hand-formed nigiri and the rolled maki that many people in the West take to be the only kinds of sushi. Pressing is a long-established technique, and oshizushi is one of the older forms in the sushi family, whose shape grew directly from the process used to make it.

Synonyms: pressed sushi