Sushi – Blessing, Shabbat and kashrut

I hope this message finds you well. We are planning a business lunch at our office, and we will be serving sushi. I would appreciate your guidance on the appropriate blessing to recite for sushi. Considering that sushi contains both fish and rice, could you please clarify which is considered the main part of the dish for the purpose of the blessing?

Thank you for your Question.
When it comes to the laws of berachot (blessings), things can get complex. So, be'ezrat Hashem (with G-d's help), we will work our way through the applicable halachot (Jewish laws) and conclude with halacha lema'aseh (practical ruling).
There are two main types of sushi: Nigiri, which is a slice of raw fish over a mound of pressed vinegared rice. Maki, Rice, and other ingredients like fish and cucumbers wrapped in seaweed (nori). The ingredeints generally are Nori (Seaweed),Sushi Rice,fish (e.g., tuna, salmon) and Vegetables (e.g., cucumber, avocado, asparagus)
Regarding the seaweed, avocado, and cucumber, which are berachot of shehakol, ha'etz, and ha'adamah respectively, there is a clear halacha in the Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, Hilchot Berakhot Ha'peyrot Siman 212, Seif 1:
שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות ברכת הפירות סימן ריב סעיף א: "
כל שהוא עיקר ועמו טפילה (פי' דבר בלתי נחשב), מברך על העיקר ופוטר את הטפילה."
The Mishnah Berurah explains that in mixtures where one ingredient is primary and the others merely complement or enhance it, the blessing over the main ingredient suffices for all.
משנה ברורה על שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות ברכת הפירות סימן ריב סעיף א: "
כגון כל תערובות שני מינים שהאחד הוא העיקר והשני אינו בא אלא לתקנו ולהכשירו."
Since these ingredients are added to enhance the flavor of the fish and rice, we consider them as tofel (secondary) and they are exempted with the beracha said for the ikar (main ingredient).
The complexity arises in determining which beracha to say on the fish and rice since they are both primary.
If they were mixed, like minced meat in rice, the blessing should be on the majority ingredient. As brought in the Mishnah Berurah:
משנה ברורה על שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות ברכת הפירות סימן ריב סעיף א: "
אפילו שניהם עיקרים אלא שהאחד מרובה מחבירו הרוב הוא העיקר כמ"ש סימן ר"ח ס"ז."
In sushi, however, since the fish and rice are not mixed but placed distinctly, there's a debate among poskim (Jewish legal authorities) whether to follow the majority rule or to say separate berachot since both components are recognizable. Pri Megadim suggests reciting one beracha on the majority component. However, Sha'ar Hatziyun notes that according to Chaye Adam (Klal 51, 13), individual blessings are necessary when both ingredients are clearly identifiable.
Sha'ar Hatziyun concludes that due to the rule of safek berachot lehakel (in doubt, opt for the lenient option regarding blessings), one should recite the minimum number of blessings to avoid unnecessary blessings, which may be in vain.
Thus, if the rice constitutes 51 percent of the entire dish, one beracha on the rice will exempt you from reciting another blessing on the fish.
Chopsticks on Shabbat
Generally one uses chopsticks when eating Chinese cuisine. However, on Shabbat, it is important to avoid breaking chopsticks to use them, as this is considered making a utensil, which falls under the prohibition of "makeh b'patish" (completing the making of a product), as detailed in the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 302:2. This action turns them into a usable form, which is forbidden on Shabbat. Therefore, one should ensure to separate chopsticks before Shabbat begins.
Nori - Kashrut
The main concern with nori is its potential contamination with non-kosher fish or crustaceans, The inspection of nori is more complex compared to other vegetables due to its multiple thin, toasted layers, where these non-kosher elements can easily be concealed. Therefore, when ordering sushi, it is important to check that the restaurant has a competent hechsher (kosher certification), so you can be confident that it was checked properly.
Wishing you well.

1. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Hilchot Berakhot Ha'peyrot, Siman 212, Seif 1
2. Mishnah Berurah on Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Hilchot Berakhot Ha'peyrot, Siman 212, Seif 1
3.  Sha'ar Hatziyun ibid

1. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 302:2
2. Pri Megadim introduction to Hilchot Brachot.
3. Chaye Adam, Klal 51, 13