Inarizushi

Japan

Inarizushi is a type of sushi where rice is packed into inarizushi-no-moto. Inarizushi-no-moto are seasoned, thin deep-fried tofu pouches.

In Japan, there are Inari shrines found throughout the country. These shrines are dedicated to Inari, the god who is primarily known as the protector of rice and agriculture. At Inari shrines, Inarizushi is a common offering that is placed before the fox statues on the shrine grounds. Foxes are said to be the messengers of the god Inari. The offering is as a sign of gratitude towards the god Inari for good rice and crop cultivation.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of uncooked sushi rice, sushi rice vinegar (you can buy this pre-made or make it with rice vinegar, salt and sugar)
• 1 can of inarizushi-no-moto (Deep Fried Tofu Pouches) – this can be ordered online or is often found in asian supermarket.
• Optional ingredients: sesame seeds, any kind of cooked vegetable – carrots or shiitake mushrooms are popular cooked vegetables stuffed in inarizushi.

Description:

Cook the sushi rice. After the sushi rice is cooked, transfer it to a large flat dish. While the rice is still hot, fold in 1/4 cup of sushi rice vinegar (you can use pre-made or make it by boiling 4 tablespoons of rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt until the sugar and salt melt.). You don’t want to stir or smash the rice because that will make it mushy. Carefully open the individual inarizushi-no-moto and fill it with the cooked sushi rice and any optional ingredients of your choice. Enjoy! You can eat inarizushi with your hands. I decorated one of my inarizushi to look like a bear. The ears and nose are made from cheese and the eyes are made from nori (seaweed). The yellow decoration/side dish pictured is takuan, a type of pickled radish.

Submitted by:

Japan/America Society of Kentucky – www.jask.org