【Reading】はらすまき

【English Name】Harasu maki

Harasu-maki is a nori roll that uses harasu, the fatty belly portion of salmon, as its main filling.

Harasu is the belly meat of salmon, a cut characterized by its high fat content and melting texture. It can be considered the equivalent of o-toro in tuna. The basic composition places this cut at the core and combines it with cucumber, wrapped in nori.

In most cases, shiso (perilla) leaves or white sesame are added as secondary ingredients when rolling, and the refreshing flavor of shiso and the fragrance of sesame are said to pair well with the rich fat of the harasu. The crisp, refreshing texture of cucumber also plays a role in balancing the strong fat of salmon harasu.

As for the rolling method, the thin-roll (hosomaki) style is mainstream, and along with tekka-maki and kappa-maki, it is positioned as one of the rolls belonging to the lineage of Edomae sushi thin rolls. It is a familiar item often seen at conveyor-belt sushi restaurants and takeout sushi shops.