Nothing beats these homemade spicy tuna crispy rice bites made with fresh ahi tuna and sushi rice. Cook the crispy rice on the stovetop or in the air fryer, for the perfect appetizer! They're healthy, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
The best homemade spicy tuna crispy rice bites
When I go out to get sushi, I always order spicy tuna on crispy rice. It is by far my favorite dish! There is just something magical about the crunchy rice paired with perfectly seasoned ahi tuna. That's why I am so excited to share this recipe with you!
Introducing the very best homemade spicy tuna crispy rice bites! They are quick and easy to make with step-by-step instructions and so delicious.
Each little crispy rice bite is heaven: crunchy, flavorful, tangy, and so tasty! The spicy tuna is seasoned with simple ingredients like soy sauce, lime, and sriracha. It's refreshing and packs a flavor punch.
Seriously, everyone will love this appetizer. You can serve them at a dinner party, on a birthday, or for any special event and guarantee yourself handfuls of compliments. I first tested this recipe on Christmas, and it was such a hit I had to make it five more times.
Why you'll love this recipe:
- Quick and easy to make.
- Spicy tuna crispy rice is flavorful and tangy.
- This recipe makes for the best appetizer.
- The sushi rice is super crispy, and you can cook it on the stove or in an air fryer.
- Feel fancy eating these at home!
- Sushi rice is gluten-free.
- Easily make this recipe dairy free too.
Ingredients in spicy tuna on crispy rice
Homemade spicy tuna on crispy rice bites are really easy to make with a handful of ingredients. They make for the perfect healthy appetizer. You'll need sushi-grade ahi tuna, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sushi rice, and a few other pantry staples. Here is a quick list so you are prepared:
- Sushi-Grade Ahi Tuna: First up, you'll need sushi-grade ahi tuna. It is super important that it is sushi grade.
- Mayonnaise: You only need 1 Tablespoon of regular, dairy-free, or kewpie mayonnaise to make this homemade spicy tuna super creamy and delicious.
- Soy Sauce: For the best taste, add soy sauce, tamari (if you are gluten free), or coconut aminos.
- Sriracha: My personal favorite addition to this spicy tuna. This makes it slightly spicy and really delicious.
- Sesame Oil: Trust me, a dash of sesame oil goes a long way for an authentic and traditional taste.
- Lime: For a fresh tangy flavor.
- Sushi Rice: For the homemade crispy rice bites, you'll cook 1 cup of sushi or short-grain white rice. We will add a few ingredients to it after to make it sticky!
- Rice Vinegar: This adds a great flavor and also helps make the rice sticky (authentic homemade sushi rice).
- Granulated Sugar: To make this authentic, you need 2 teaspoons of sugar. It makes the sushi rice sticky when it mixes with the rice vinegar.
- Cooking Oil: This is needed to cook the crispy rice bites if you are using the stovetop method. I like to use olive oil.
Kitchen tools required
They require a few different kitchen tools. Here is a list, so you are prepared and ready to cook!
- Frying Pan or Air Fryer
- Tongs
- 2 Mixing Bowls
- Measuring Tools: ½ teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, 1 Tablespoon, and 1 cup.
How to make spicy tuna crispy rice
Trust me when I say spicy tuna crispy rice is easy to make. Just follow these instructions, and you'll be set! We start by making the homemade crispy sushi rice, followed by preparing the spicy tuna, and, finally, we assemble the snack bites. Here are step-by-step instructions:
How to make crispy sushi rice:
Step 1: Wash the sushi rice under cold water for 1 to 2 minutes.
Step 2: Then, in a small-to-medium-sized pot, bring 1 ½ cups of water to a boil. Check the package instructions to make sure this is what they recommend (if not, follow those instructions). Add in rinsed sushi rice, reduce to a low simmer, cover with a lid, and cook for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare spicy tuna (instructions below).
Step 3: Once the rice is ready, remove it from heat, keep covered, and let the rice sit for 5 minutes. Then add in rice vinegar and sugar; gently mix and fluff the rice (it should be sticky). Let the rice cool completely so you can handle it with your hands.
Step 4: Then, form 12 - 14 bites by wetting your hands and pressing about 2 Tablespoons of cooked rice into rectangles. Firmly pack the rice into the shapes so the bites do not fall apart when cooking. You may need to wet your hands a few times as you make all of them. Alternatively, you can use a sushi rice mold.
Step 5 Pan Frying: After that, add oil to a large frying pan and heat over medium-high. Once ready, carefully add the rice rectangles to the pan. Cook for 2 - 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Carefully flip them with a spatula to make sure they don't break in half. Do not overcrowd the pan! Remove from pan and transfer to a paper towel.
Step 5 Air Frying: If you are air frying the crispy rice, preheat the air fryer to 400°F and lightly brush both sides of the sushi rice rectangles with oil or spray with non-stick olive oil. Then, evenly space out in preheated air fryer and cook for 15 - 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Just remember to check at 15 minutes and keep them longer if you want them crisper.
How to make spicy tuna:
Step 1: First, add all the ingredients (except the lime juice) into a mixing bowl and gently mix to combine.
Step 2: Place in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble everything.
How to assemble:
Finally, remove spicy tuna from the refrigerator and mix in the lime juice. Then, top each crispy rice patty with about 1 to 2 tablespoons of spicy tuna. Garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and/or thinly sliced green onion.
Is sushi rice gluten-free?
Yes, sushi rice is gluten-free. It is short-grain white rice that is sticky, making it ideal for sushi. Typically, it's made sticky by adding rice vinegar and a dash of sugar to the rice.
Ingredient substitution suggestions
If you are missing an ingredient or two, don't worry, I am here to help. Here is a list of ingredient substitution suggestions:
- Sushi Rice: Use short-grain white rice.
- Mayonaise: Use a dairy-free alternative or traditional kewpie mayo.
- Soy Sauce: Use coconut amnios or tamari if you are gluten-free.
- Sriracha: Use chili garlic sauce. Find this in any Asian or global ingredient aisle in the grocery store.
- Rice Vinegar: Use white wine vinegar instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is spicy tuna?
Some of you might be wondering: what exactly is spicy tuna? Long story short, spicy tuna is a Japanese-style preparation of raw tuna. Specifically, it is small pieces of sashimi ahi tuna mixed with soy sauce, mayonnaise, and a few other seasonings.
What is the difference between sushi-grade ahi tuna and regular ahi tuna?
Sushi grade means the ahi tuna is safe to be eaten raw. This is very important since this spicy tuna recipe is enjoyed raw.
Is it safe to eat raw tuna?
Yes! Just make sure you buy sushi-grade ahi tuna from a reputable fish market or grocery store you trust.
Can I store leftovers?
These spicy tuna crispy rice bites are best eaten within 20 minutes of making them. They are best enjoyed fresh.
Can I air fryer the rice bites?
Yes! You can air fry crispy rice rather than pan-frying. Just follow the instructions below.
What's an alternative to sushi rice?
If you don't have sushi rice, you can use short-grain white rice. Do not use long-grain rice because it will not hold form or stay together when cooked.
If you loved this recipe, try these next!
- Teriyaki Salmon Bowls
- Air Fryer Tilapia
- Healthy Zucchini Fritters
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon Bites
- Shrimp Poke Bowl
Did you make this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don't forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
📖 Recipe
Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice
Ingredients
Spicy Tuna:
- 4 oz sushi-grade ahi tuna, finely cut into small pieces
- 1 tablespoon regular or kewpie mayonnaise, dairy-free if needed
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- Juice of ½ a lime
- Salt, to taste only if using low-sodium soy sauce
Crispy Rice:
- 1 cup uncooked sushi rice or short-grain white rice
- 1 ½ cups water, + more for rinsing
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 2 - 4 tablespoon of cooking oil of choice, I used olive oil
Garnish Options:
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Thinly slices green onion
Instructions
Crispy Rice:
- Wash the sushi rice under cold water for 1 to 2 minutes.
- In a small-to-medium-sized pot, bring 1 ½ cups of water to a boil. Check the package instructions to make sure this is what they recommend (if not, follow those instructions). Add in rinsed sushi rice, reduce to a low simmer, cover with a lid, and cook for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare spicy tuna (instructions below).
- Once rice is ready, remove from heat, keep covered, and let the rice sit for 5 minutes.
- Then add in rice vinegar and sugar; gentle mix and fluff the rice. It should be sticky. Let the rice cool completely so you can handle it with your hands.
- Form 12 - 14 bites by wetting your hands and pressing about 2 Tablespoons of cooked rice into rectangles. Firmly pack the rice into the shapes, so the bites do not fall apart when cooking. You may need to wet your hands a few times as you make all of them. Alternatively, you can use a sushi rice mold.
- Pan Frying: Add oil to a large frying pan and heat over medium-high. Once ready, carefully add the rice rectangles to the pan. Cook for 2 - 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Carefully flip them with a spatula to make sure they don’t break in half. Do not overcrowd the pan! Remove from pan and transfer to a paper towel.
- Air Frying: Preheat air fryer to 400°F and lightly brush both sides of the sushi rice rectangles with oil or spray with non-stick olive oil. Evenly space out in preheated air fryer and cook for 15 - 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Check at 15 minutes and keep longer if you want them crisper.
Spicy Tuna:
- Add all the ingredients (except the lime juice) into a mixing bowl and gently mix to combine.
- Place in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble everything.
Assembly:
- Remove spicy tuna from the refrigerator and mix in the lime juice.
- Top each crispy rice patty with about 1 to 2 tablespoons of the spicy tuna. Garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and/or thinly sliced green onion.
Notes
Nutrition
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Molly says
Unbelievably delicious! So easy to make and very tasty.
Helina says
Crazy how good this recipe is! Thanks for sharing. We made them on a Saturday for Date Night and gobbled them up. The crispy rice is certainly my favorite part.
Audrey says
This was a great recipe. I did the air fry method and it was super super crispy. The tuna was great too!
Bea says
The picture drew me in — the taste won me over! Must try!
Abigail says
Absolutely delicious. We used the pan frying method and the bites turned out great. The rice was nice a crisp and the tuna has a lot of flavor. We ate them for dinner but you can totally eat them for an appetizer too. Served mine with some soy sauce. Thanks for the recipe!