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This Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice is one of my all-time favorite appetizers, especially during the warmer weather months!
This Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice is the perfect small bite to enjoy your favorite sushi flavors without having to worry about the technicality of making sushi. Since this recipe is so simple, both the texture of the crispy rice paired with the finely diced tuna and the blend of classic flavors can shine!
The base is leftover sushi rice fried in avocado oil. Then, the crispy rice squares are topped with delicious sushi-grade ahi tuna tossed in a flavorful sauce and green onions. This appetizer is finished with a sprinkle of Furikake and a thin slice of jalapeño. Yum!
Ingredients:
- Sushi Grade Ahi Tuna
- Green Onions
- Toasted Sesame Oil
- Soy Sauce
- Kewpie Mayo
- Sriracha
- Salt
- Sushi Rice
- Avocado Oil
- Jalapeno
- Furikake
Step-by-Step:
step one: make the spicy tuna
Mix all the spicy tuna ingredients in a bowl and chill in the fridge.
step two: prep the rice
Cut the day-old sushi rice into 1-inch squares, about 1/2 inch tall.
step three: fry the rice squares
Heat avocado oil in a skillet and fry the rice squares until golden brown and crisp (3-4 mins per side). Drain on a paper towel and sprinkle with salt.
step four: top and serve!
Top the crispy rice with spicy tuna, furikake, and a jalapeño slice.
recipe FAQs:
This recipe really works best specifically with sushi rice to get that perfect crispy texture when fried in the avocado oil. If you need to, you can try a different variation of white rice but it likely won’t stick together as well as the sushi rice does!
You can find sushi-grade ahi tuna at almost any fish market, and even many grocery store seafood counters will have it! Sometimes it will come frozen, but I promise it is great.
You can limit the sriracha added and skip the jalapeño slices, if you prefer!
Furikake is a Japanese condiment that typically consists of a mixture of dried fish, sesame seeds, chopped seaweed, sugar, and salt. If you can’t find, you can top with chopped seaweed or even just sesame seeds!
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this recipe! Make sure to comment below after you try it.
Looking for more sushi-inspired recipes? Try these!
Hawaiian-Inspired Spicy Tuna Poke
Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice
Ingredients
For the Spicy Tuna:
- 8 ounces sushi grade ahi tuna diced fine
- 2 green onions minced
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons kewpie mayo
- 2 tablespoons sriracha
- Salt to taste
For the rest:
- 1 cup prepared sushi rice cooled and stored for 1-2 days (see note)
- Avocado oil
- Thinly sliced jalapeno
- Furikake
Instructions
- Mix all the spicy tuna ingredients in a bowl and chill in the fridge.
- Cut the day-old sushi rice into 1-inch squares, about 1/2 inch tall.
- Heat avocado oil in a skillet and fry the rice squares until golden brown and crisp (3-4 mins per side).
- Drain on a paper towel and sprinkle with salt.
- Top the crispy rice with spicy tuna, furikake, and a jalapeño slice.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Food Photography and Styling by Eat Love Eats.
Can you use salmon instead of tuna?
Yes, but it needs to be sushi grade to ensure it is as fresh and high-quality as possible to ensure safe consumption while raw. Ask your fish monger at your grocery store to advise on what type is best!
Where do you get day old sushi rice?
I just use leftover pre-cooked rice that I made myself! You can get uncooked sushi rice from the grocery store near all of the other rice.
Can this be made in advance, keeping tuna separate from rice until serving?
Made this the other day, it was really good. Although my rice didn’t stay in a square shape, more oval…our guests loved it, and told me, this should be a keeper! Thanks Alex!
Glad you enjoyed it!!