nigiri

American  

[ni-geer-ee] / nɪˈgɪər i /

Sometimes nigiri-zushi

noun

Japanese Cooking.

1. cold boiled rice moistened with rice vinegar, shaped into bite-size pieces and topped with raw seafood.

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nigiri British  

/ niːˈɡiːriː /

noun

1. (in Japanese cuisine) a small oval block of cold rice topped with wasabi and a thin slice of fish, prawn, etc, and sometimes held together by a thin band of seaweed

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Etymology

Origin of nigiri

First recorded in 1945–50; from Japanese nigiri-zushi, literally, “hand-pressed sushi, rolled sushi,” from nigiri “a gripping or grasping, handmade rice ball,” from nigiru “to grip, grasp, roll a lump of rice in the hand” + -zushi, combining form of sushi ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does nigiri compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• nigiri vs. sushi

Example Sentences

Most are reserved for the dinner hour, when diners have the time to leisurely enjoy nigiri one bite at a time.

From Salon

One Michelin-starred Sushi Nakazawa might have a slightly dated interior, but the chef’s counter omakase — about 20 pieces of nigiri, including uni, snow crab and multiple cuts of tuna — certainly delivers.

From Salon

The chef seems to enjoy using the torch, often pulling it out to sear the nigiri.

From Salon

Lincoln Park also offers one of the best midday deals in the city: a $38 lunch tasting menu with edamame, spicy tuna crispy rice, sashimi and nigiri, a scallop hand roll, and more.

From Salon

It’s the kind of setting where you can interact with the chef, watch each piece of nigiri come together, and savor the craft up close.

From Salon