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However, sushi is gaining a number of loyal followers thanks to its healthful properties and great taste. Fish contains healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, which are proven to improve cardiovascular health and benefit people with type II diabetes by moderating blood sugar levels.

If you're new to sushi, here's a rundown of what you'll encounter at your typical North American sushi restaurant:

Sashimi: A slice of raw fish, served as-is. With sashimi, you don't get any nori (seaweed wrap) or rice, but it is often served with daikon (radish), pickled ginger and wasabi. Most restaurants serve sashimi a la carte (2 pieces per order).

Sushi (Nigiri-zushi): A slice of raw fish or seafood, served atop a finger-sized bed of seasoned rice, often served with daikon, pickled ginger and wasabi. Most people dip it in soy sauce before eating it. Most restaurants serve sushi a la carte (2 pieces per order).

Sushi maki (rolls): If you've heard of the California Roll, then you know what a basic maki is all about. The roll consists of seasoned rice, nori (seaweed wrap), fish, seafood and/or vegetables.

There are several types of rolls, depending on how they are formed.

Futomaki: These are larger, thick rolls, sometimes referred to as Monster Rolls. Nori is on the outside.

Hosomaki: These are smaller, thinner rolls (such as the California Roll), with nori on the outside.

Uramaki: These rolls are "inside out" - the rice is on the outside of the nori. Uramaki are frequently garnished with black and white sesame seeds.

Many American sushi restaurants offer rolls with both cooked and raw fish/seafood, such as:

• Conch
• Ebi - Shrimp
• Fluke
• Hamachi - Yellowtail
• Hokkigai - Surf clam
• Hotategai - Scallops
• Ika - Squid
• Kani - Crab
• Maguro - Tuna
• Salmon skin
• Sake - Salmon
• Shiro Maguro - White Tuna
• Soft shell crab
• Tai - Snapper
• Tako - Octopus
• Tamago - Egg
• Unagi - Eel
• Uni - Sea urchin roe

Other ingredients common in sushi maki include:

• Cream cheese
• Tempura flakes (adds a crunchy element)
• Avocado
• Asparagus
• Scallions
• Ikura - Salmon roe
• Masago - Smelt fish roe
• Cucumber
• Tobiko - Flying fish roe
• Eel sauce (a sweet, syrupy sauce that accompanies eel - don't worry, it's not made from eel!)
• Spicy mayonnaise

Soy maki: These are very similar to traditional rolls, except you'll find wraps made of soy (usually quite colorful) replacing the usual nori.

Pickled ginger: This is a condiment to be placed atop sushi, sashimi and maki. It has a slightly sweet and tangy flavor.

Soy sauce: Most sushi, sashimi and maki are dipped in soy sauce prior to eating.

Wasabi: This is a condiment to be placed (sparingly) atop sushi, sashimi and maki. It can be very spicy, so go easy if you aren't familiar with its flavor.

Sushi Etiquette

Understanding sushi etiquette is almost as important as knowing what to order in a sushi bar. If you are seated at the sushi bar, do not ask the sushi chef to take your order. In addition, asking the chef if something is fresh is considered rude. In addition, you should not rub your chopsticks together or put wasabi in your soy sauce dish. Green tea is the recommended beverage to accompany sushi and sashimi, but sake, served chilled or hot, is also an acceptable choice.

If you run across something on the menu that wasn't mentioned here, don't hesitate to ask your server to explain. Exploring the world of sushi can be an exciting experience for the palate, so don't be afraid to try something new!

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• Related Terms:
• ethnic cuisines
• sushi and sashimi