Servings
Font
Back
0 from 6 votes

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. 

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 10
Calories: 202 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Main Course , Appetizer , Snacks
Cuisine: Asian , Japanese

Ingredients

  • 30 Seasoned fried bean curd pockets (aburaage) (around 1 pound)
Cooking rice:
  • 2 cups Japanese sushi rice
  • 2 cups water
Rice vinegar seasoning:
  • ½ cup vinegar
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
Optional topping:
  • 8 oz seaweed salad (1 cup)
  • 3.5 oz fish roe

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  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.
  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. 
  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 are melted. 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.) 
  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 recipe, I used 30 tofu pouches.) You can half the recipe if you want to make less.  
  12. Wear gloves and dip some water on the gloves. Scoop 3 tablespoons of seasoned rice and press it into an oval shape. 
  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. 
  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. 

Notes

  • 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. 
  • 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). 
  • 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. 
  • 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. 
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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. 
  • 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. 
  • Carefully open each aburaage pouch and fill each pouch with a generous amount of seasoned sushi rice (2-3 tablespoons), leaving some space at the top to fold the edges over.
  • Carefully open each aburaage pouch and fill each pouch with a generous amount of seasoned sushi rice (2-3 tablespoons), leaving some space at the top to fold the edges over.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • You can add or fill different toppings like cooked vegetables, pickled radishes, fish or eggs for extra flavor and texture.
  • You can add or fill different toppings like cooked vegetables, pickled radishes, fish or eggs for extra flavor and texture.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Serve the inari sushi as part of a sushi platter, bento box, or as a standalone snack or appetizer like California rolls or musubi. Enjoy them at room temperature or slightly chilled for optimal flavor.
  • Serve the inari sushi as part of a sushi platter, bento box, or as a standalone snack or appetizer like California rolls or musubi. Enjoy them at room temperature or slightly chilled for optimal flavor.

Nutrition Information

Calories 202kcal (10%) Carbohydrates 40g (13%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 2g (3%) Saturated Fat 0.5g (3%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Cholesterol 58mg (19%) Sodium 386mg (16%) Potassium 61mg (2%) Fiber 0.5g (2%) Sugar 10g (20%) Vitamin A 90IU (2%) Calcium 40mg (4%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 202

% Daily Value*

Calories 202kcal 10%
Carbohydrates 40g 13%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 0.5g 3%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 58mg 19%
Sodium 386mg 16%
Potassium 61mg 1%
Fiber 0.5g 2%
Sugar 10g 20%
Vitamin A 90IU 2%
Calcium 40mg 4%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.