Vegan Inari Sushi

🍱 What Is Inari Sushi?

Inari sushi (稲荷寿司), also called Inarizushi, is a type of Japanese sushi. It consists of seasoned fried tofu pouches, called Inari Age, filled with sushi rice.

The thin tofu pouches are often seasoned with soy sauce and sugar or cooked in a dashi broth, resulting in a tender and juicy texture.

🥣 How to Make It

Inari sushi is probably my favorite type of sushi for two reasons. 1. It’s fuss-free and very easy to prepare. There is a need for a bamboo mat, just fill pouches, and you are done. 2. The tofu pouches add a ton of flavors and make it a portable and easy-to-eat meal.

Here is what you will need to make inari sushi:

• Sushi rice – Japanese short-grain rice works best. I highly recommend buying high-quality rice, not the supermarket kind.
• Sushi vinegar – Homemade or store-bought. Here, I made my own with just 3 ingredients: white rice vinegar, sugar, and salt.
• Inari age – These tofu pouches, often sold under the name of “seasoned fried bean curd,” can be found in most Asian stores. They sell them in cans or in packets. You can also buy inari age online.
• Additional toppings – Optional and versatile. Adding a topping is up to you!

The process of making inari sushi is quick and simple:

• Cook the sushi rice: Rinse the sushi rice 2-3 times or until the water is clear. Rinsing not only yields a better flavor but also prevents the water from bubbling over during cooking. Once your rice is clean, cook for 7-8 minutes covered or until no water remains. Next, remove it from the heat and let it steam for another 10 minutes.
• Prepare the sushi vinegar by heating white rice vinegar, sugar, and salt over medium heat. Once the sugar has melted, remove it from the heat and transfer it to the cooked rice. Let cool at room temperature.
• Fill the tofu pouches with the sushi rice. To do so, shape about 1/3 cup of the sushi rice into a long ball (use wet hands to prevent it from sticking) and stuff a pouch of tofu with the rice. Repeat with the remaining rice and pouches, and enjoy!

🥢 Toppings

Inari sushi is delicious as is, but adding toppings takes it to another level. Here, I am sharing 4 ways to make different inari sushi. Each one requires some preparation, so feel free to pick your favorite or make all of them if you have the time!

• Wasabi Mayo Meat Floss: Vegan mayo combined with wasabi paste for spiciness and topped with homemade vegan meat floss! Definitely my favorite!
• Jackfruit Tuna: Fish-y shredded jackfruit with seaweed and lime juice.
• Beet Pickle: Shredded beet soaked in a vinegar brine adds extra tanginess and earthiness to the sushi.
• Scrambled Tofu: Sautéed tofu infused with nutritional yeast, turmeric, and black salt and served with avocado slices.

💬 FAQ

• Where can I find tofu pouches? We can find tofu pouches in most Asian stores or online. The ones I usually get are sold in a packet and contain about 16 pouches.
• Can I make my own tofu pouches? It is possible, but it’s a long process and requires frying the tofu twice at different temperatures. I highly recommend buying the prepared tofu pouches instead.
• How long does vegan Inari sushi keep? Inari sushi is best served the same day but will keep for up to 1 day in the refrigerator. Remove from the refrigerator one hour before serving.
• How many calories are in a piece of Inari sushi? Tofu pouches are pretty low calorie, so one filled inari sushi without topping is approximately 115 calories.