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Made of vinegared rice tucked inside little deep-fried tofu pockets, Inari Sushi is easily one of the easiest sushi to make at home. It’s vegetarian and vegan-friendly too!
Looking for easy sushi recipes to make at home? You won’t go wrong with Inari sushi. Tasty, filling and addicting, Inari Sushi are fast and easy to make and can be enjoyed at any time of the day. In this recipe, I’ll show you how to make classic inari sushi with a delicious touch.
What is Inari Sushi?
Inari Sushi (稲荷寿司, いなり寿司), or Inarizushi, is made of sushi rice that is stuffed inside seasoned deep-fried tofu pockets called Inari Age. Inari Age (pronounced [ah geh]) is made by simmering tofu pockets in sweet and savory dashi-based broth. After the tofu pouches absorb all the flavors, they are squeezed to remove the liquid and ready to stuffed with sushi rice.
With their sweet and tangy taste, these little golden pouches are the best sushi to enjoy at home, picnic, or on the go. Inari sushi is also a popular menu for bento boxes, and you may see this type of sushi packed at the deli along with sushi rolls.
The Origin of Inari Sushi
Inari shrines in Japan are dedicated to Inari, the deity protecting the crops. The Japanese people bring Aburaage (deep-fried tofu pockets) or Inari Sushi as offerings and place them in front of the fox statues on the shrine grounds. It is said that foxes are the messengers of the Inari god and it’s believed that they like aburaage. Eventually, newly harvested rice was added as a filling to the fried tofu to show the gratitude for good crops towards the Inari god.
Hence the dish is named Inarizushi or Oinari-san (O is an honorific prefix, and -san is an honorific title) and enjoyed for over 170 years.
Tokyo vs. Osaka Style Inari Sushi
Even within Japan, the Inarizushi in the Tokyo area and the ones in the Osaka area are different in shape! In the Tokyo area, you will find straw bag-shaped Inari Sushi and the sushi rice is completely wrapped inside the bag. On the other hand, in the Osaka area, you will find fox-ear-like triangle-shaped inari sushi that exposes the sushi rice at the bottom, and sometimes sushi rice is mixed with various ingredients.
How to Make Inari Sushi
Inari sushi is made in 3 simple and easy steps.
- Make sushi rice (add sushi seasonings over steamed rice).
- Make Inari by simmering tofu pockets in dashi-based broth. Or, buy a packaged inari from a store.
- Stuff the sushi rice into the inari pockets.
It takes extra time only if you want to make homemade inari. Otherwise, it all comes together very quickly once you made the sushi rice. We’ll talk about the homemade inari age next.
Homemade vs. Store-Bought Inari Age
Homemade inari age is the best, in my opinion, especially because store-bought inari age tends to be a bit sweeter to my taste. However, there are benefits for store-bought.
Homemade:
- IMPOSSIBLE to purchase if you live far from Japanese/Asian grocery stores.
- Healthier (no preservatives, natural ingredients).
- You can adjust the seasonings (being able to make it less sweet).
- VEGETARIAN/VEGAN-friendly (use Kombu Dashi)
Store-bought:
- EASILY accessible in any Asian grocery store (doesn’t have to be Japanese grocery stores).
- Stored at room temperature (packed in a can and no need to refrigerate).
- All brands tend to be sweet.
- Includes unnatural ingredients.
My mom used to make inari sushi for our bento lunch box. When she had the time, she would make her own inari age; otherwise, she would just use the readily made tofu pockets. Sometimes I’d help her out by stuffing the rice into the tofu pockets. It’s a very easy task so you can ask your children to help!
Make Delicious Vinegared Rice (Sushi Rice)
I make sushi rice from scratch, and it’s very easy to make with just three ingredients – rice vinegar, salt, and sugar.
However, keeping a bottle of Sushi Seasoning in the refrigerator can be very convenient when you just need a small amount of sushi rice or when you are running short of time.
Creative Inari Sushi
I loved the simplicity of the classic Inari Sushi, but I discovered a simple way to spruce it up.
Since I happened to have some leftover shiso (perilla) in the fridge, I figured I could incorporate shiso leaf and seasoned nori (seaweed) to the Inari Sushi. As simple as that, the add-on ingredients immediately added a refined taste and accent to the otherwise humble pocket sushi. It was an accidental discovery but was I happy with the extra twist. Since then, my go-to Inari Sushi always includes shiso leaf and seasoned nori! I hope you try adding shiso and nori next time when you prepare Inari Sushi.
If you are making Inari Sushi for parties and potluck and want to make it prettier, flip upside down and show the rice. Tuck in the edge of inari-age inside the bag, so it will have a round smooth edge. You can decorate the top with shredded egg crepe called Kinshi Tamago or any toppings you like!
The Perfect Sushi to Enjoy Anytime
I love packing Inari Sushi in the bento box with some vegetables for a simple quick lunch. For dinner, you can serve Inari Sushi with other sushi, along with soy sauce and wasabi as a dipping sauce. They make the perfect afternoon snack too!
Japanese Ingredient Substitution: If you want to look for substitutes for Japanese condiments and ingredients, click here.
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Made of vinegared rice tucked inside little deep-fried tofu pockets, Inari Sushi is easily one of the easiest sushi to make at home. It's vegetarian and vegan friendly too!
- 3 cup sushi rice (1 cup for approx 4 Inari Sushi)
- 1 Tbsp toasted white sesame seeds
- 12 Inari Age (seasoned fried tofu pouch) (See Notes for homemade recipe)
- The cooking liquid from Inari Age
- 12 Shiso leaves (Ooba)
- 12 nori (seaweed) (I used seasoned nori)
- pickled red ginger (beni shoga or kizami beni shoga) (to garnish)
-
Prepare sushi rice ahead of time and keep it at lukewarm/room temperature.
-
Gather all the ingredients.
-
Add sesame seeds to the sushi rice and mix together.
-
Carefully open the Inari-Age pocket (it's very thin, so it's easy to break or tear). Make sure you can see the bottom of the pocket as you need to stuff the sushi rice all the way.
-
Moisten hands with the liquid from Inari-Age. Take a small handful of rice and make a small rice ball. Do not make it too big otherwise, it won't fit in Inari-Age.
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Wrap each rice ball with shiso and a piece of nori and stuff the rice ball into the Inari-Age. Close the Inari-Age and place open-end down on a plate.
- Another method is to keep the bag open on top. Wrap each rice ball with a piece of nori and stuff the rice ball into the Inari-Age. Then place shiso on top.
-
Tuck in the edge of Inari-Age inside the pocket so you will have a nice smooth round edge. You can decorate the top as you like.
- Serve with sushi ginger.
Inari-age (deep-fried tofu pouch): Homemade recipe, click here.
Recipe by Namiko Chen of Just One Cookbook. All images and content on this site are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without my permission. If you’d like to share this recipe on your site, please re-write the recipe and link to this post as the original source. Thank you.
Editor’s Note: The recipe and photographs updated in February 2013.
Looking for more delicious sushi recipes?
- Temaki Sushi (Hand Roll Sushi)
- Sushi Rolls
- California Roll
- Your Ultimate Guide to Host a Sushi Party
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Hi Nami,
I just made this.
The flavour is soooo amazing with shisho leaves and seaweed. It really took one of my favourite comfort foods to the next level!
Hi Vivi! So happy to hear you liked it. The combination of shiso and nori is pretty amazing, isn’t it? 🙂
Hello!
I am so pleased to find your lovely website. Your writing, pictures, explanations, all so lovely, thoughtful and peaceful, just like tofu pocket sushi. I found your site looking for an inari recipe. I wanted to know if I could make the tofu pockets – or whether I had to buy them. I can do both, per you! I want so badly to make these and make them good and I thing your website is just the place to start. I love these tofu pocket sushi and I want to share them with my family and guests. So thank you for your work and lovely website. It is like a walk in a cool, flowering garden.
Ray
Hi Ray! I’m really happy to hear you liked my site. It’s always nice to know how readers found my site to. I hope you find some food you enjoy on my blog. Welcome, and thank you for your kind feedback! 🙂
I loved these when I was studying abroad in Japan and was thrilled to find a recipe here upon my return.
But I must be missing something…in which step do you use the saved cooking liquid from the inari age?
Thanks!
Hi Romy! Hope you had a wonderful time in Japan during your study abroad.
Sorry my English wasn’t probably clear, but in Step 4, it says “Moisten hands with the liquid from Inari-Age.” Instead of tezu (vinegar hand dipping water) we normally use for making sushi, we use leftover liquid so the rice will have some flavor. Hope this helps. 🙂
Hi there!
Can I prepare these a day ahead and refrigerate? Trying to save time for a party.
Thanks!
Dalila
Hi Dalia! Sure, you can! This is totally preference, but I don’t like the rice gets a little harder after refrigeration. So what I do is to wrap the inari sushi (or any rice dish) with kitchen towel over the plastic wrap to create more mild (or should I say “less cold”) temperature. Hope this helps! 🙂
Yup, leave it to Americans to mess it all up.
I love your suggestion of flipping the traditional presentation around. They look like little boats—so adorable!
Thank you Kimmi! 🙂
I am so pleased to find your lovely website. Your writing, pictures, explanations, all so lovely, thoughtful and peaceful, just like tofu pocket sushi. I found your site looking for an inari recipe. I wanted to know if I could make the tofu pockets – or whether I had to buy them. I can do both, per you! I want so badly to make these and make them good and I thing your website is just the place to start. I love these tofu pocket sushi and I want to share them with my family and guests. So thank you for your work and lovely website.
Hi Anna! I’m so glad you found my website too! Welcome! I’m glad to hear my Inari recipe brought you to my site. 🙂 I love this homemade inarizushi. Hope you enjoy!
Thank You
If the inariage is ready made how do you get the liquid?
Hi Michael, Inari Age package comes in liquid so you can use it to moisten your hands. Now I don’t know about the liquid from the inari age can (I’ve never used it before). If there is no liquid, don’t worry. It’s just additional use of the liquid instead of throwing away (and adds more flavor to the rice). You can just use water to moisten your hands. The ready made inariage tends to be sweeter and has more flavor in that sense that you’re not missing out much. 🙂
Thanks for the reply. Mine came in a plastic package with no liquid and is made by Misuzu. I live in Japan now so I am trying different recipes. Unfortunately, I do not speak Japanese (yet) and rely on Google Translator to make sure I am buying what I think I am. 🙂
Hi Michael! I see! You have more selections of Inari Age than ones we can get in the U.S. (imported or made locally). You have everything and all the ingredients that I use for my recipes! Awesome. Don’t worry about the liquid, as the ingari age has flavors already.
I’ve been wondering if anyone had figured out how to cook Japanese recipes in the Instant Pot. Just happened to be searching this morning and came across your website. Tottemo ureshii desu.
Hi Greg! I’m so happy to hear you found my site through your searching Instant Pot Japanese recipes! Welcome to JOC! More IP recipes coming this winter. Stay tuned (and subscribe) if you haven’t. 🙂 Yoroshiku onegai shimasu. 🙂