Sushi is a well-known representative of Japanese cuisine, but have you ever heard of Inari sushi? Inari sushi, also known as “Oinari-san” or simply “Inari,” has been widely enjoyed in Japan for a long time. Since it is a type of sushi that doesn’t use seafood, it can be a great option for vegetarians and vegans if you make it without using fish broth.
I have loved Inari sushi since I was a child, and I sometimes made and ate it with my mother. Freshly made Inari sushi is especially the best.
Actually, the word “Inari” is also a word that represents a fox. Don’t you wonder why the word representing a fox is used for Inari sushi? This time, I would like to talk about the origin of the name of Inari sushi and its charm.
What kind of food is Inari sushi?
Inari sushi is made by stewing fried tofu pouches in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, sweet sake, and dashi (fish or kelp broth) or water, then filling them with sushi rice.
You can also find pre-seasoned Inari pouches in the supermarket, which makes the process even easier.
Depending on the recipe, it generally has a sweet flavor, so my American partner said it was more like a snack than a meal.
Name of Inari sushi
Why is Inari sushi a food with a name that also means a fox?
In Japan, foxes have long been regarded as messengers of a god, and with gratitude for the fact that foxes protect fields from rats that ruin crops, people offered fried tofu to foxes. From such, it seems that fried tofu came to be considered a favorite food of foxes and thus sushi using fried tofu is called inari sushi. Since the word Inari has the meaning of “God of food that controls five grains” in addition to the meaning of “fox”, it is a sushi with a wonderful name.
Arranging Inari sushi to your liking
It’s delicious to add pickled vegetables, edamame, corn, or chopped boiled vegetables to the sushi rice inside. Please develop your own favorite Inari sushi recipe!
Also, when I went to an Inari sushi specialty store the other day, I found “Mochi Inari”. It has mochi instead of sushi rice inside the pouch. It was so delicious and I was so impressed that I gave it as a gift to my parents and Taiwanese friends, and they were very happy with it.
Find and enjoy it!
Inari sushi has been widely enjoyed in Japan for a long time. I think you can find it at Japanese convenience stores and supermarkets. Also, since it is an easy dish to make, please try arranging it to your liking and enjoy it!
