HEB Sushi for Beginners: No Raw Fish

 By Trina M., Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle blogger

New to sushi and scared of raw fish? I tried HEB Sushiya’s avocado cucumber roll for $4.99. Here’s what it’s like and what to order.

I have never eaten sushi in my life until this week. I thought every roll had raw fish in it,this HEB sushi for beginners post is just for you. I found out that there’s a different side of sushi with no raw fish in it at all, and I picked it up at my local neighborhood HEB for only $4.99.

Why I Never Tried Sushi

For so many years I assumed sushi meant raw fish, and raw fish was a no no for me. Every time I saw it on tv I would cringe and change the channel, because I would never eat something raw and make me sick. It never crossed my mind that there might be a cooked version with vegetables in it made for someone like me.

Then last week my aunt asked if I wanted to try some. I’ll be very honest with you, I hesitated for a second lol!. But then I looked at hers and saw cucumber, seaweed, and imitation crab, and avacoddo which is cooked. There was no raw fish anywhere. And that’s when I thought, well, maybe I can at least try this.

What I Bought at HEB

My mother and I decided to pick up a few groceries, so when we arrived, I went straight to the HEB Sushiya Sushi House counter and picked up the avocado cucumber roll. It’s rice rolled around avocado and cucumber.  No fish or no meat. It comes in a container of 10 pieces, and mine was $4.99. Prices can vary by store, so yours may be a little differently priced.

Here’s what’s in the tray. You get your roll, a little packet of soy sauce, a scoop of pickled ginger, and a dab of green paste. I’ll tell you about that green stuff if you don't already know in a minute.

My First Bite

I picked up a piece and held it up so you can see the inside of it.

You can see the seaweed wrapped around creamy avocado and cucumber, with rice on the outside of it. It looked good enough that it didn’t make me scared to try anymore. Then I took a bite, and I was so surprised. It was really good. The avocado was soft and so creamy, the cucumber gave it a fresh bit of crunch, and the rice held it all together. It tasted fresh and light, and nothing like what I’d been afraid of for all those many years ago.

I loved it so much that I went back and bought a second container of it later that day when my mother and I forgot something. I ate both of them! The two containers cost $4.99 each, and I have no regrets in buying them.

About That Green Stuff

Now, the green paste. It’s called wasabi, and I did not like it at all. If you’ve never had it, it’s a spicy paste that’s served with sushi, and the HEB page lists horseradish as its main ingredient. A little bit goes a long way, and it wasn’t for me,- ugh, nasty lol!. The roll, in my opinion, is delicious without it, so just leave it in the tray.

The whitish, pale stuff is pickled ginger. Some people usually eat it between bites to freshen up their palate. I’ll let you decide whether you’re a ginger person. I like ginger in other forms, but not like this. The soy sauce packet was a nice little add. It’s a Sushiya low-sodium soy sauce, and a light dip or you can do what I did,  I squeezed it onto mine instead.

Tips If You’re a Sushi Beginner

If you’re scared like I was, start with a veggie roll. The avocado cucumber roll is about as good as it gets. If you’d like a little more going on, a California roll is the next try. HEB’s version is made with imitation crab, avocado, and cucumber, and it’s cooked.

My advice: read the label, too. HEB’s product descriptions say whether a roll is cooked or raw, so you never have to guess anything. When I was browsing, some rolls were listed as fully cooked, and others were marked raw.

And don’t feel like you have to try everything all at once. I stuck with one roll and went back for more, and that worked out for me. Start out small, and take your time, and leave the wasabi alone if you don’t love it.

Would I Do It Again?

Absolutely!. I wish I hadn’t waited so long. For five dollars, I got a snack that was fresh and delicious, and nothing like what I’d imagined. I’m already thinking about which roll to try next, and I’ll probably start with that California roll.

So if you’ve been avoiding sushi because of the raw fish, take it from me. There’s a cooked and veggie version waiting for you at the grocery store. Have you tried HEB sushi yet? Tell me your favorite roll in the comments, because I’m looking for my next one.

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