Japanese

Inari Sushi (Seasoned Rice in Tofu Pockets)

Name: Inari Sushi (Seasoned Rice in Tofu Pockets)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Japanese

Sweet, soy-simmered fried tofu pockets filled with seasoned sushi rice. No raw fish, great for lunchboxes, and makes 10.

Serves

Prep

mins

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Ingredients

Pantry bits

Dashi (Japanese Soup Stock)

Soy Sauce

Mirin (Japanese Sweet Rice Wine)

Sake (Japanese Rice Wine)

Rice Vinegar

5 aburaage (fried tofu sheets)
250ml dashi
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp mirin
1 tbsp sake
1 1/2 cups (300g) Japanese short-grain rice
3 tbsp rice vinegar
1 1/2 tbsp sugar, extra
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

Wash the rice until the water runs almost clear and cook it with 400ml water (or in a rice cooker).
Meanwhile, roll a chopstick over each aburaage sheet, then cut in half to make 10 squares. Gently open each into a pocket. Pour boiling water over them in a colander to remove excess oil, then squeeze gently.
Put the dashi, soy sauce, sugar, mirin and sake in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add the pockets, cover with a small lid or a circle of baking paper and simmer on low for 10-12 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed. Cool in the pan.
Stir the rice vinegar, extra sugar and salt until dissolved. Fold through the hot rice with a cutting motion, then mix in the sesame seeds. Let it cool to room temperature.
Lightly squeeze each pocket. With damp hands, shape about 2 tablespoons of rice into an oval and press it gently into a pocket. Fold the edges under, or leave a few open to show the rice.

About this dish

Inari sushi is the friendly face of sushi: golden pockets of fried tofu, simmered in a sweet soy broth, then stuffed with seasoned rice. No raw fish and no rolling mat needed.

You can buy pre-seasoned inari pockets in tins or packets at Asian grocers, which takes this down to 30 minutes. Making the pockets from aburaage (thin fried tofu sheets) gives a juicier, less sweet result.

They travel well and are just as good at room temperature, so they're a favourite for bento boxes and picnics.