In Japan, we have a few dedicated dishes that are strongly tied to special occasions or celebratory events, and one of them is the brightly colored Chirashi Sushi (ちらし寿司).
What is Chirashi Sushi?
The word chirashi means “scattered” (散らし), so chirashi sushi literally means ‘scattered sushi’. It is a traditional style of sushi said to have inspired the modern-day sashimi bowl. The most distinctive feature of chirashi sushi is its presentation. Unlike the individually hand pressed (or rolled then sliced), single bite-size pieces of sushi, chirashi serves the rice in a large rice tub or a lacquer box and top it with a variety of raw fish and vegetable garnishes. There are generally 2 types of chirashi sushi you can find in Japan:
Type 1: Sashimi Over Sushi Rice
Chirashi sushi (chirashi don) with sashimi — @justonecookbook on Instagram I believe this chirashi sushi (also known as chirashi don) is what most people are familiar with. When you order chirashi sushi at Japanese restaurants, you’ll get a lacquer box of assorted sashimi nicely plated over the sushi rice. Around the early 1900s, sushi chefs in Edo (current Tokyo area) started to serve assorted sashimi (raw seafood) on top of sushi rice and called it chirashi sushi. However, when you go outside of the Tokyo area, this is called Edomae* chirashi sushi (江戸前ちらし寿司) or kaisen chirashi sushi (海鮮ちらし寿司) to differentiate the mainstream chirashi sushi, which I’ll talk about next. * Edomae or Edo-style means old Tokyo style.
- On a side note, when sashimi is placed over regular steamed rice, not vinegared sushi rice, it’s called kaisen don (海鮮丼). You can get these sashimi bowls at non-sushi restaurants. I also have a recipe for Sashimi Bowl. Sushi restaurants make only sushi rice so they only offer sashimi over vinegared sushi rice. Now you know the difference between kaisen don and kaisen chirashi sushi — it’s all in the rice.)
Type 2: Chirashi Sushi
This festive and visually stunning chirashi sushi is one that we often serve at happy or celebratory events, such as Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day) in March and Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day) in May. The rice is served in a large wooden platter called hangiri and the ingredients are mixed in and topped on the sushi rice. It’s often vegetarian, and if it is not, it usually contains only cooked seafood like unagi and shrimp rather than raw fish.
Regional Differences
Depending on the regions, chirashi sushi is also called gomoku sushi (五目寿司), gomoku chirashi (五目ちらし), or barazushi (ばら寿司). The alternate naming conveys the regional nuances and helps distinguish the dish from the other chirashi (Type 1 above). My mom is originally from Osaka before she moved to Tokyo, so she always calls this type of sushi bara sushi, which is commonly used in the Osaka area.
Ingredients and Topping Choices
Every family has their own version of chirashi sushi, and today I’ll show you how you can make it your own too! In my recipe, I included some traditional ingredients which can be hard to find if you don’t live near a Japanese grocery store. However, you have the flexibility to simplify and modify! Feel free to leave out any ingredients you can’t find. Here are my suggestions for ingredients and toppings that go well with chirashi sushi:
Ingredients (to mix in with the sushi rice):
Dried shiitake mushrooms Carrots Gobo (burdock root) — can also be found at Whole Foods or local co-ops. Dried kanpyo (gourd strips) Bamboo shoot (blanched) Inari age (seasoned deep-fried tofu pouch) Kamaboko and chikuwa (fish cakes) Koyadofu (seasoned dehydrated tofu)
Toppings:
Avocado (sliced or cubed) Snow peas Green beans (blanched) Egg crepe Shrimp Crab (real or imitation) Kinome (木の芽 (山椒)) – I look for it locally but no luck… Octopus (boiled) Sakura denbu (seasoned ground codfish) – pink color adds a nice touch for Girl’s Day celebration! Tobiko (flying fish roe)
Make Chirashi Sushi for Hinamatsuri & Potluck!
Traditionally, Chirashi Sushi is eaten on Hinamatsuri (雛祭り) or Doll’s Festival on March 3 every year. You can read more about this Japanese custom in this post. Chirashi Sushi is a very easy type of sushi and does not involve any raw fish. It’s a perfect dish for big family gatherings and potluck parties!
Quick & Easy Chirashi Sushi Recipes
- Simplified Chirashi Sushi using a packaged seasoning mix — this is one of the easiest sushi recipes you can make at home!
- Chirashi Sushi Cake – This is a modern take on chirashi sushi and very popular at weddings. Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
