Abura Natto Fried Tofu Pockets Inari
Japan — aburaage and inari sushi documented since Edo period; fox shrine Fushimi Inari connection
Aburaage (油揚げ, fried tofu pouches) are the primary form of fried tofu in Japanese cuisine — thin slices of firm tofu deep-fried until puffed and golden, creating a pouch structure. The most important application is inari sushi (稲荷寿司): aburaage pouches simmered in a sweet soy dashi, then stuffed with sushi rice. The sweetness of inari sushi makes it a contrast to the savory fish sushi at traditional sushi counters. Aburaage also appears in miso soup, kitsune udon (fox udon — the name from folklore where foxes supposedly love aburaage), and is an important source of plant protein in Buddhist temple cooking.