Shima aji is a fish with a devoted following but remains mysterious to many Western diners. If you love hamachi and are looking to try something new, this fish should be on your list.
This post is dedicated to all things shima aji. Learn about this fish, where it comes from and tastes like, preparing it at home, and beverage pairings.
What is Shima Aji?
Shima aji is a small fish that’s popular as sushi and sashimi. This fish is often called striped jack on English menus. It has a firm, springy texture and is slightly oily. Striped jack’s flavor is clean and sweet, with a moderate amount of umami.
Wild shima aji (縞鯵) is in season during the summer. But fish farming has expanded its season.
This shima-aji post is part of an informative sushi and sashimi guide. Check it out if you want to take your sushi game pro.
Is Shima Aji a white fish?
Many sushi chefs consider shima aji to be a white fish or shiromi. This class of fish is mild-flavored, white-fleshed, and crunchy. And this is true of shima aji, especially when it’s wild.
However, most striped jack is farm-raised. And this produces a fattier, oilier fish. For this reason, master sushi chef Jiro Ono classifies shima aji as a colored fish or iromono.
Are Trevally and Shima Aji the Same Fish?
White trevally, Pseudocaranx dentex, is another name for shima aji. It’s in the Carangidae family, along with kanpachi (amberjack), hamachi (yellowtail), and aji (horse mackerel).
White trevally habitat ranges from central Japan down to the tropics of Okinawa. Their range also includes the eastern Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans.
Shima Aji Sushi
Striped jack sushi is delicious. It has some of the fatty umami of hamachi with the clean crunchiness of madai. It almost melts in your mouth when combined with perfectly prepared sushi rice.
Shima Aji Nigiri
Raw striped jack nigiri is a classic preparation. It consists of a thin slice of raw fish over a finger of sushi rice. A bit of wasabi is pressed on the underside of the fish.
Some chefs will place grated ginger and scallion on top of shima aji. Other chefs often brush on nikiri sauce.
I’m a big fan of Scratch Restaurants’ enticing striped jack nigiri video. Check it out below. It’s guaranteed to make you hungry!
Striped Jack Sushi Rolls
You’re not likely to find shima aji maki sushi. Making friends with a sushi chef or preparing it at home are your best bets.
The striped jack is a small fish. But there are still some scraps pieces plus meat that can be scraped from around the spine. This can be minced and used in a sushi roll. Add scallion, and you have a negi shimaji maki.
Shima Aji Sashimi
Striped jack sashimi is another classic preparation. Sashimi is simply thin slices of raw fish. Sometimes ponzu will be provided as a dipping sauce.
How to Prepare Striped Jack
Preparing shima aji requires some knife skills but is achievable for the average home chef. Luckily many professionals have made videos online.
Check out Travel Food Channel’s video on filleting striped jack below. The chef also slices the fish into sashimi at the end.
Shima Aji Beverage Pairings
The right beverage can enhance the pleasure of eating striped jack sushi and sashimi. Overall, look for drinks that aren’t too strong, bitter, or tannic.
Sake usually fits all of these requirements.
Sake Pairings with Striped Jack
It’s easier to list types of sake to avoid with raw shima aji. This is because most sake will work great with this fish.
The main thing to avoid are flavors that are too strong. Super earthy and rich junmai and honjozo are in this group. And powerful, acidic nama genshu muroka can also overpower striped jack sushi.
Any relatively clean sake will pair nicely with this fish. Don’t get hung up on the grade of sake. But fruity and elegant ginjo-shu will almost always pair beautifully with shima aji.
Pairing Shima Aji with Wine
Many white and sparkling wines pair well with striped jack sushi and sashimi. My favorites are Muscadet, Italian pinot grigio, French sauvignon blanc, friulano, Champagne, and Cava.
Beer and Striped Jack Pairings
Beer is too often underrated for its pairing skills. There’s a spectacular beer pairing for every dish.
Look for a light, savory beer to pair with shima aji. Japanese macro brews like Sapporo and Asashi work ok. Orion Draft is a little better. Echigo Koshihikari is amazing with raw striped jack.
Light European beers like Helles, Kolsch, and Dusseldorf altbier are also solid options.
31 Days of Sushi
If you find this post useful or enjoyable, I suggest you check out some of the other content in my 31 Days of Sushi campaign.
Every day in August I’ll share a new piece of content. Topics are centered around nigiri and maki sushi. I include sashimi info, as well.
It’s like an omakase of sushi information!
What Do You Think About Shima Aji?
Have you tried it? If so, do you like it better than hamachi?
Please share your thoughts by commenting below!