Savoring Early Summer – Inari Sushi with Tea Leaves
Hello everyone, this is Keko from the online team 😊
As May settles in and the days grow warmer, I always feel drawn to this seasonal recipe—
Inari sushi made with tea leaves.
After brewing fresh Japanese tea, don’t toss out those tea leaves just yet.
In early summer, they’re full of gentle aroma and vibrant green color—
and when mixed with rice and wrapped in sweet inari, they become a beautiful, flavorful dish.
🍙 A Perfect Seasonal Bite
This recipe combines fluffy vinegared rice, lightly dried tea leaves, and a touch of white sesame.
The sushi rice is gently packed into simmered tofu pouches, then topped with colorful seasonal ingredients.
With every bite, you get the soft, earthy notes of the tea leaves and the satisfying texture of inari.
It’s perfect for entertaining, picnics, or simply treating yourself at home 🍵
📋 Ingredients (For 10 Inari Sushi)
For Sushi Rice:
2 cups cooked rice
4 tbsp vinegar
3 tbsp sugar (A)
3 tbsp brewed tea leaves (from fresh sencha)
White sesame seeds (to taste)
For Inari Pouches:
5 pieces of abura-age (fried tofu)
Hot water (for oil removal)
1 cup dashi
3 tbsp sugar + 3 tbsp soy sauce + 3 tbsp mirin (B)
Toppings (optional):
Shrimp, lotus root, green beans, etc.
🥢 How to Make
1)Cook rice.
2)Spread the brewed tea leaves on a plate and microwave (600W) for about 30 seconds to reduce moisture.
3)Cut abura-age in half and blanch with hot water to remove excess oil.
4)Simmer the pouches in dashi + ingredients B for 10 minutes.
5)Mix vinegar + sugar (A) into the rice to make sushi rice.
6)Add tea leaves and sesame seeds, gently mix.
7)Stuff the rice into the pouches.
Decorate with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
🌱 Tea Leaves Are a Hidden Treasure
Freshly brewed tea leaves from new season tea (shincha) are still full of flavor.
Their soft texture and gentle bitterness go perfectly with rice,
offering an elegant twist on a traditional Japanese favorite.
🧘 A Bite of Quiet Joy
Whether you’re hosting guests or just making lunch at home,
this little seasonal inari brings the taste of early summer to your table.
Try it the next time you brew fresh tea—
you just might discover a new favorite way to enjoy your leaves 💚