Stuffed sushi

inari zushi

This form of sushi uses cooked ingredients such as thin omelets, cabbage leaves, or deep-fried tofu as wrapping material for sushi rice and other cooked ingredients. Vegetarian stuffed sushi, especially the traditional inari zushi, which is made with delicious pouches of seasoned, deep-fried tofu, is great to take on a picnic—it is easy to transport and tends not to spoil quickly.

The Japanese prepare stuffed sushi at home and eat the tasty little parcels under cherry trees in spring, which are famous for their beautiful, fragrant blossoms. The fillings can vary from simple plain sushi rice mixed with a few chopped fresh herbs to whatever seasonal ingredients are available. There are no strict rules as to what you can or cannot use—I have included a recipe for one of my personal favorites, stuffed squid sushi. Because most types of stuffed sushi can be prepared up to six hours in advance, it also makes a convenient party food. The sushi sandwich, or onigirazu, is a new type of sushi that is a favorite in Japanese lunchboxes.