Totoro Inari Sushi Edible Craft

attosa
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Totoro Inari Sushi Edible Craft - sushi on a plate with a piece of broccoli and three tomatoes Totoro is a Japanese animation character that is a cross between a raccoon, a cat, and an owl. My mother and I decided to turn him into a sushi treat just for fun. This sushi in particular is called "inari sushi". It is sushi rice wrapped in a lovely, delicately sweet fried tofu skin. You can purchase these skins in the refrigerated section next to tofu in some grocery stores, and online. This is a pretty easy to put together edible craft that is great for all ages.

We used mini segments of toothpicks to keep the eyes in place. If you want to make it 100% edible, cut uncooked spaghetti into little pieces and fry in a bit of oil.

Total Time: 45 minutes

Link: Inari tofu skin pouches

Supplies:

1 pack fried tofu skins
kitchen scissors
dried seaweed
1 stick string cheese
toothpicks
3 cups freshly cooked Japanese sushi rice
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt

Steps:

Add rice vinegar, sugar, and salt to cooked rice. Mix well. Cut tofu pockets in half, then cut little triangles off from the rounded corners to make ears.

Totoro Inari Sushi Edible Craft - cut tofu pockets in half and cut little triangles off the rounded corners for ears

Unfold and slightly fluff the small corners to shape into cat-like ears. Set aside.

Totoro Inari Sushi Edible Craft - unfold and slightly fluff to create cat ears

Slice the cheese stick thinly to make eyeballs. Cut the seaweed to make pupils for the eyes, mouths, and lines for Totoro's stomach.

Totoro Inari Sushi Edible Craft - cut cheese for eyes, and seaweed for pupils, mouths, and tummy lines

Use damp hands to roll about 3 tablespoons of rice into a packed ball. Press ball into one of the tofu skins halves and attach ears to the top. Add the eyeballs under the ears. Press the toothpicks down so they are flush with the top of the cheese discs.

Totoro Inari Sushi Edible Craft - roll rice flavored with vinegar, sugar, and salt into a ball, press into the tofu pocket, add ears, and cheese eyesballs

Lightly dampen the cheese discs then place the seaweed pupils in the centers. Dampen the space between the eyes and add a mouth. Dampen the exposed rice belly area and add the seaweed tummy detail as pictured. Continue with the rest of the rice to make more!