Inari Sushi

Inari sushi is a beloved dish in Japanese cuisine like tonkatsu, Japanese chicken curry, beef gyudon bowl, and Japanese milk bread rolls. It holds a special place in the hearts and stomachs. Also, it is a delightful appetizer, a light snack, or a satisfying meal like California rolls, spam musubi and Korean kimbap. You will love this inari sushi recipe. It is great to serve with miso soup, chicken udon stir fry, teriyaki crispy tofu and taiyaki. Let’s learn how to make this simple yet delicious homemade inari sushi for your meal, snack, or party gathering with step by step photos, tips and a video tutorial. 

Love Asian food? Check out these walnut shrimp, guava cheesecake, pineapple cake, cream bun, crispy noodles and pan fried buns recipes. 

What is inari sushi?

Inari sushi is a type of sushi from Japan. In America, Japanese descents often call it “football” because of the shape. It has a slightly sweet taste and soft texture, and it's often served as a snack or part of a sushi platter. It's popular in both Japanese cuisine and in sushi restaurants around the world. 

The seasoned sushi rice is stuffed into marinated pouches of fried tofu called "aburaage" or "inari." The tofu pouches are typically simmered in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, and mirin (a sweet rice wine) to give them a sweet and savory flavor.

Once cooked and seasoned the tofu pouches, let it cool off and cut it open up to create a pocket. Then, the sushi rice is packed into the pockets. Sometimes, it is topped with furikake (rice seasoning) or other topping ingredients like tuna, seaweed salad and fish roe. 

What does inari taste like?

Overall, the taste of inari sushi is a delightful combination of sweet, savory, and slightly tangy flavors. It is because the seasoned sushi rice typically contains a mixture of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt, which gives it a slightly sweet and tangy taste. Also, the aburaage (tofu pouches) adds a savory and sweet element with its deep fried tofu flavor and texture. If you add different toppings, the taste will be slightly different. 

What is the skin of inari sushi called?

How to eat inari sushi?

Typically, inari sushi is eaten with your hands or using chopsticks. Use your fingers to pick up the inari sushi pouch gently. Then, take a small bite from the inari sushi, ensuring you get a bit of both the seasoned rice and the flavorful tofu pouch. The soft rice contrasts nicely with the slightly chewy texture of the tofu pouch. If you like, you can also add a dab of soy sauce or wasabi for an extra burst of flavor, although traditional inari sushi is already seasoned and flavorful on its own. 

What to serve with homemade inari sushi?

It is great to serve with Japanese miso soup along with teriyaki crispy tofu, edamame, steamed or boiled young soybeans served with a sprinkle of salt. Besides, you can serve it with pan fried dumplings or boiled dumplings. 

Is Inari usually vegan?

Traditionally, inari sushi is vegan. The main ingredients in inari sushi are sushi rice and aburaage (fried tofu pockets), both of which are plant-based. The sushi rice is seasoned with vinegar, sugar, and salt. And, the aburaage is seasoned with soy sauce, sugar, and mirin. These ingredients are all vegan-friendly. Remember to choose and add topping ingredients that are vegan friendly if you like adding topping. However, adding topping is optional. 

What are the ingredients for homemade inari sushi?

Where to buy inari sushi pouches?

You can find inari sushi pouches, aburaage, at Asian grocery stores. They usually sell fresh or vacuum-sealed packs. If you don't have access to a local Asian grocery store, you can purchase online through various retailers that specialize in Asian ingredients. I got mine at the Asian store in the refrigerator section. 

What kind of rice do you use? 

The best is to use high quality short grain Japanese sushi rice for the best texture and flavor. However, if not you can use Homai California Calrose rice from Costco. 

Cooking tips for how to make inari sushi: 

• Use high quality short grain Japanese sushi rice for the best texture and flavor. If not you can use Homai California Calrose rice from Costco. 
• Choose fresh aburaage (fried tofu pouches) that are soft and easy for stuffing. I like to use the seasoned or marinated aburaage (fried tofu pouches). 
• Rinse the rice several times (at least 3 times) until the water runs clear to remove excess starch. I like to use an instant pot pressure cooker to cook rice because it is faster and tasty. However, you can use a rice cooker or stovetop method. 

Seasoning rice:

• While the rice is still warm, gently fold in a mixture of rice vinegar seasoning to season it. Do not over mix or mash the rice to maintain its individual grains.

Preparing aburaage:

• If using a packaged aburaage, cut open the package and drain the marinade sauce and gently squeeze out excess liquid. Then, put them on a plate and get ready to stuff the rice in. 

Stuffing pouches:

• Carefully open each aburaage pouch and fill each pouch with a generous amount of seasoned sushi rice (3 tablespoons), leaving some space at the top to fold the edges over.

Sealing pouches:

• Fold the edges of the aburaage pouches over the rice to enclose them securely. Press lightly to seal the edges, ensuring the rice stays inside the pouches.

Adding topping variations:

• You can add or fill different toppings like cooked vegetables, pickled radishes, fish or eggs for extra flavor and texture.

Storage: 

• If you are not serving immediately, store the inari sushi in the refrigerator in an airtight container to keep them fresh. Enjoy within a day or two for the best taste and texture.

Serving:

• Serve the inari sushi as part of a sushi platter, bento box, or as a standalone snack or appetizer like California rolls, spam musubi. Enjoy them at room temperature or slightly chilled for optimal flavor.

How long can you keep inari?

This inari sushi recipe can typically be kept in the refrigerator for up to two to three days if stored properly in an airtight container. Remember, its quality may start to deteriorate after the first day, as the rice may become dry and the flavors may not be as fresh. Therefore, it's best to consume inari sushi as soon as possible after making it for the best taste and texture. 

If you want to make inari sushi ahead of time, you can consider storing the seasoned sushi rice and aburaage separately. Then, assemble them just before serving to maintain their freshness.

Can you freeze inari sushi?

Yes, you can freeze inari sushi. However, it's best to freeze the components separately for better quality upon thawing. Freezing may affect the texture of the rice and aburaage (tofu pouches) slightly, but it's still a convenient way to preserve leftovers for later consumption.

If you have leftover aburaage (tofu pouches) that haven't been filled with rice yet, you can freeze them. Place the aburaage in an airtight container or freezer bag, making sure to remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Thaw in the refrigerator when you're ready to use them, then you can use them to fill with sushi rice.

When you have leftover inari sushi, you can freeze them as well. Place the filled inari sushi in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag, again removing as much air as possible. When you're ready to eat them, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight and enjoy it cold, at room temperature, or, you can warm them up in the microwave and cover it with a wet paper for 1 minute.  

How to reheat homemade inari sushi?

If you have leftover and refrigerated inari sushi, take them out and place it on a microwave safe plate and cover it loosely with a wet paper towel to help retain moisture. Then, microwave it for 1 minute. 

FAQs: 

Instructions for how to make homemade inari sushi: 

Rice preparation:

1. Put 2 cups of Japanese sushi rice into a bowl. 

2. Pour 4 cups of water into the bowl. Then, wash and rub the rice.

3. Next, drain the rice. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for at least 3 times.

Cooking rice:

4. Then, put the washed and drained rice into the instant pot pressure cooker. (You can use a rice cooker or stove top method, but you may need to adjust the amount of water.)

5. Add 2 cups of water and level off the rice to make sure water covers rice. Close the lid and vent. Push the manual button and adjust time for 6 minutes at high pressure. Then, naturally release the pressure. 

Making rice vinegar seasoning:

6. While cooking rice, work on rice vinegar seasoning. Put ½ cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt into a pot. 

7. After that, pour ½ cup of vinegar into the pot. Turn on a small fire and stir it until the sugar and salt melt. Once it starts bubbling, you can turn on the fire and let it cool off. (You only need ⅓ cup of rice vinegar seasoning, you can save the rest in a glass container.) 

Mixing rice and rice vinegar seasoning:

8. When the rice is done, scoop it out into a bowl. 

9. Pour ⅓ cup of rice vinegar seasoning from step 7 into the cooked rice step 8. Remember to add the rice vinegar seasoning while the rice is warm.

10. Add the rice vinegar seasoning a little bit at a time and mix the rice well. Let the rice cool off. 

11. Drain and put ½ of the pack (30 tofu pouches) the marinated fried tofu pouches, aburaage, onto the plate. (The pack of marinated fried tofu pouches that I got has 60 tofu pouches and it weighs 1.9 pounds. In this homemade inari sushi recipe, I used 30 tofu pouches.) You can half the recipe if you want to make less.  

Shaping rice:

12. Wear gloves and dip some water on the gloves. Scoop 3 tablespoons of seasoned rice and press it into an oval shape. 

Combining:

13. The following step, put the rice into the tofu pouch.

14. Fold and close the bottom of the tofu pouch. You can eat and enjoy it as it is. 

Topping optional:

15. Or, you can put toppings on the inari sushi by putting them upside down. I picked fish roe as one of the toppings in this homemade inari sushi recipe. Scoop ½  tablespoon of fish roe and put it on top of inari sushi. 

16. Also, I picked seaweed salad as one of the toppings. Put 1 tablespoon of seaweed salad on top of the inari sushi. 

Enjoy this simple yet delicious homemade inari sushi recipe! Also, check out these tom yum kung, kung pao chicken, teriyaki chicken rice bowl, orange chicken, kimchi fried rice and beef chow fun recipes. 

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