What is Inari Sushi?
A Beginner’s Guide to Inari Sushi
What Is Inari Sushi?
Inari sushi is sushi rice stuffed inside a pouch of seasoned fried tofu called aburaage（油揚げ）. The tofu pouch is sweet and savory, while the sushi rice has a light, tangy flavor from rice vinegar.
What Is Aburaage（油揚げ）?
Aburaage（油揚げ） is a thin tofu pouch made by deep-frying tofu. It has a light and slightly chewy texture and can absorb lots of flavor when it’s cooked in a seasoned sauce.
If you’ve had kitsune udon or kitsune soba, the sweet fried tofu on top is the same aburaage used for inari sushi.
miyu.japanesefoodプロフィールを編集
How Is Inari Sushi Made?
① Remove Excess Oil
Hot water is poured over the aburaage to remove some of the excess oil.
↓
② Season the Aburaage
The aburaage is simmered in a sweet and savory sauce, usually made with soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and dashi. The exact flavor can vary depending on the recipe or shop.
↓
③ Make Sushi Rice
Japanese rice is mixed with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt to make vinegared sushi rice.
↓
④ Fill the Pouches
The seasoned tofu pouches are gently opened and filled with sushi rice.
What Is Inside Inari Sushi?
Most inari sushi contains simple sushi rice.
Sometimes, the rice is mixed with ingredients such as carrots, burdock root, and shiitake mushrooms. This style is often called gomoku inari（五目いなり）.
What Does Inari Sushi Taste Like?
Inari sushi has a sweet and savory flavor from the seasoned tofu pouch. The vinegared sushi rice adds a light, tangy taste, making it a nice balance of sweet, savory, and refreshing flavors.
Different Shapes and Regional Styles
Eastern Japan
In eastern Japan, inari sushi is often rectangular or oblong.
Western Japan
In western Japan, triangular inari sushi is more common. The shape is sometimes said to resemble a fox’s ears.
Why Is It Called “Inari” Sushi?
The name comes from Inari, a Japanese deity associated with rice and agriculture. Foxes are believed to be messengers of Inari, and according to Japanese tradition, foxes are said to love aburaage（油揚げ）.
Where Can You Find Inari Sushi?
- Sushi restaurants
- Conveyor-belt sushi restaurants
- Convenience stores
- Supermarkets
- Bento shops
- Station bento shops
Dietary Information
Inari sushi is often vegetarian, but ingredients vary. The seasoning may contain dashi made from fish, so check the ingredients if you have dietary restrictions.
Why Try Inari Sushi?
Inari sushi was once considered a kind of fast food in Japan. Today, it’s simple, affordable, and easy to find. It’s also a great way to try a traditional Japanese food with a different texture and flavor from other types of sushi.
Try Inari Sushi on your next trip to Japan!🦊