Skip to Content

Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll

Make this Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll at home instead of going out to expensive sushi places. This recipe for spicy tuna roll utilizes fresh ahi tuna that is of sashimi-grade quality, creamy avocado, a topping made of crunchy Panko crumbs, seasoned sushi rice, and a fragrant Sriracha sauce. It has a good number of the same components as one of our most popular bowls, the Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl.

Who Came Up With The Idea For This Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll?

Despite being one of the most popular sushi rolls outside of Japan, it was most likely conceived in the 1980s in Los Angeles by Jean Nakayama of Maneki restaurant. It was most likely the development of negitoro, a traditional Japanese sushi roll filler created by scraping tuna flesh from the stringy sections of the tuna belly. Negitoro, on the other hand, is neither seasoned nor hot, which is the fundamental difference.

Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll
Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll

What’s In A Spicy Tuna Roll?

this Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll come in a variety of flavors, but the majority of them include mincing up raw tuna that can’t be sliced and combining it with a chili paste, such as sriracha sauce, as well as spices like sesame oil, soy sauce, salt, scallions, and occasionally mayonnaise. This filling is then wrapped in nori and topped with seasoned sushi rice.

Ingredients That You’ll Need:

Here are the ingredients you need to make Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll:

  • Fish – Ahi tuna raw (Sushi or sashimi-grade tuna must be labeled.).
  • Base – Rice with a short grain that is used for sushi and dried nori sheets. (Alternatively, if you don’t like the taste of seaweed, you may always substitute soy paper.).
  • Vegetables – Slices of creamy avocado and English cucumber.
  • Pantry Staples – Seasoned rice vinegar, mayonnaise, sriracha, and soy sauce for dipping (optional: wasabi or horseradish sauce).
  • Toppings – Sesame seeds and panko.

Is Sushi A Healthy Food To Eat?

So, is sushi good for you? The ultimate line is that sushi is, in fact, nutritious. It has high-quality protein and omega-3 fatty acids from fish, as well as a good mix of vitamins and minerals. Because it is paired with fat and protein, white rice delivers carbohydrates for energy while without raising your blood sugar too high.

Is The Salmon Cooked Or Raw In This Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll?

Raw salmon is used in the classic Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll recipe. If this is your intention, you’ll need to get sashimi-grade salmon. It’s usually available in a Japanese grocery shop or a local fish market. Place the fish on ice before cooking, and consume it the same day if possible. To make rolling easier, cut the salmon into 1/2-inch strips.

If you don’t want to consume raw fish, try smoked salmon, canned salmon, or cooked salmon.

How To Make Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll

Sushi Rice (Stovetop or Rice Cooker):

  • Rinse the sushi rice in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water until it flows clear.
  • In a rice cooker, combine the rinsed rice and water. Cook, covered, according to the manufacturer’s directions.
  • In a small saucepan placed over medium heat, combine the washed rice and water. Bring the water to a boil, then lower it to low heat. Cook for 15 minutes, or until the rice is cooked, covered.
  • Place the cooked rice in a shallow dish or platter. Pour the rice vinegar over it and gently fold it in. Place the rice in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to chill.

Sushi Roll:

  1. If you have a sushi mat, wrap it in plastic before rolling the sushi. If you don’t have a mat, use plastic wrap instead.
  2. On a chopping board, place a sheet of nori, rough side up. Wet your hands with cold water (this will help the rice not adhere to your hands) and distribute it around the edges, leaving a 1″ border on the side farthest away from you. If you compact the rice too much, it will turn mushy.
  3. Flip the nori over so the rice is facing down for a rice-outside roll. Leave the rice facing up for a rice-inside roll. For novices, rice-inside rolls are advised since they are easier to wrap and seal.
  4. Arrange a few avocados, cucumber, and tuna slices in a straight line on the side nearest to you. Then, over the contents, sprinkle a few pinches of panko.
  5. Roll the nori around the fillings as firmly as you can, beginning with the side nearest to you.
  6. Brush the nori with water and roll to seal when you reach the end without rice. Cut 1″ pieces of sushi using a very sharp knife. Running the knife under cold water (without drying it) can assist in preventing the rice from adhering to it.
  7. Steps 2-6 should be repeated with the remaining three rolls. Serve with sesame seeds and spicy mayo (recipe follows) and/or soy sauce.
  8. Sushi is best served right away.

Spicy Mayo:

  1. In a small mixing dish, combine the mayo, water, and sriracha. If required, add more water to get the desired consistency.
  2. Serve with the sushi rolls.
Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll
Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll

Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll Variations

  • Perfect Fried California Roll: You’ll be gently frying your sushi roll for an extra crispy outside with this option. After preparing your roll (but before cutting it into pieces), dip it in a combination of whisked egg, sriracha, and soy sauce. Panko breadcrumbs should be used to coat the moist roll. In a pan, heat 2 inches of oil to 350 degrees F and cook the roll for 2-3 minutes. Just enough to crisp up the outside of the roll without really frying it. Transfer to a cooling rack to drain the excess oil. Dip a very sharp knife in the sushi vinegar before slicing to prevent sticking.
  • Boston Roll: The Boston roll is a delectable poached shrimp version of the California roll. Jumbo shrimp are poached in water that has been seasoned with salt, parsley, and lemon juice. The soft, aromatic shrimp are mixed with creamy avocado and crisp cucumber strips.
  • Canned Tuna Sushi: If you don’t have access to or the cash for fresh sushi grade tuna, use canned tuna for the ahi tuna. If you don’t like eating raw tuna, this is an excellent option.
  • Albacore Tuna Sushi: If you wish, replace the ahi tuna with albacore tuna. There are no further changes needed to this crispy tuna wrap.

How To Store Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll Leftover?

Saturate two dish towels with water, squeeze out the towels to remove any extra water, then lay one of the towels out flat over a plate. After placing the Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll on top of the towel, cover the sushi with the second moist towel to keep it from being ruined. Cover the entire Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll with plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator.

How To Reheat Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll Leftover?

To reheat leftover Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll, microwave it for 30 seconds on medium (500-watt power) next to a glass of water. Always heat in 10-second bursts and do a touch test before choosing whether to continue heating. The margins of fish and other fillings are easily dried out.

Recipe Tips

  • Check out our raw fish FAQs for buying and storing recommendations.
  • Perfect practice makes perfect! Our first few attempts at making sushi rolls were not successful. This was before YouTube, in the year 2000. Remember that no matter how sloppy the crispy spicy tuna roll is, it still tastes the same! Have fun and enjoy yourself!
  • The hot sriracha sauce is used to make the spicy sauce. If you prefer non-hot tuna rolls, leave off the spicy mayo in the spicy avocado roll recipe.

FAQ Section

How Do You Roll Sushi Without A Sushi Mat?

A sushi mat or makisu is recommended for Uramaki and Hosomaki. Handrolls and Gunkan do not necessitate the use of a mat. If you don’t have a mat, you may build Uramaki or Hosomaki with parchment paper or plastic wrap, but it will be difficult to get a uniform thickness from end to end.

Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll
Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll

Can I Make A Vegan Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll?

Although it is not technically “tuna,” I use the same process of poaching carrots that I use in my vegan “tuna” poke dish. The carrots may then be minced and used in place of the tuna in this Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll recipe.

What Do I Serve With This Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll?

Pickled sushi ginger and wasabi are traditional accompaniments for this Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll, but it would also go well with seaweed salad, Kani salad, or edamame.

Is A Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll Safe During Pregnancy?

In fact, the FDA recommends that pregnant women consume two to three portions of low-mercury fish each week. So what about those prepared sushi rolls, like the Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll? If the fish is low in mercury and has been roasted to 145 degrees Fahrenheit, it is perfectly safe to consume while pregnant.

Try More Recipes:

Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving

  • Calories 427
  • Total Fat 19g
  • Saturated Fat 3.8g
  • Trans Fat 0g
  • Cholesterol 50mg
  • Sodium 434mg
  • Potassium 411mg
  • Total Carbohydrate 39g
  • Dietary Fiber 1g
  • Sugars 4.5g
  • Protein 23g
  • Vitamin A 4.5%
  • Vitamin C 6.7%
  • Calcium 4%
  • Iron 12%

Nutrition Facts Source: Source

Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 15 minutesCook time: 15 minutesRest time: 15 minutesTotal time: 45 minutesServings:4 servingsCalories:427 kcal Best Season:Available

Description

Make this Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll at home instead of going out to expensive sushi places. This recipe for spicy tuna roll utilizes fresh ahi tuna that is of sashimi-grade quality, creamy avocado, a topping made of crunchy Panko crumbs, seasoned sushi rice, and a fragrant Sriracha sauce. It has a good number of the same components as one of our most popular bowls, the Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl.

Ingredients

    Sushi Rice:

  • Sushi Roll:

  • Spicy Mayo:

Instructions

    Sushi Rice (Stovetop or Rice Cooker):

  1. Rinse the sushi rice in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water until it flows clear.
  2. Rice Cooker Instructions: In a rice cooker, combine the rinsed rice and water. Cook, covered, according to the manufacturer’s directions.
  3. In a small saucepan placed over medium heat, combine the washed rice and water. Bring the water to a boil, then lower it to low heat. Cook for 15 minutes, or until the rice is cooked, covered.
  4. Place the cooked rice in a shallow dish or platter. Pour the rice vinegar over it and gently fold it in. Place the rice in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to chill.
  5. Sushi Roll:

  6. If you have a sushi mat, wrap it in plastic before rolling the sushi. If you don’t have a mat, use plastic wrap instead.
  7. On a chopping board, place a sheet of nori, rough side up. Wet your hands with cold water (this will help the rice not adhere to your hands) and distribute it around the edges, leaving a 1″ border on the side farthest away from you. If you compact the rice too much, it will turn mushy.
  8. Flip the nori over so the rice is facing down for a rice-outside roll. Leave the rice facing up for a rice-inside roll. For novices, rice-inside rolls are advised since they are easier to wrap and seal.
  9. Arrange a few avocados, cucumber, and tuna slices in a straight line on the side nearest to you. Then, over the contents, sprinkle a few pinches of panko.
  10. Roll the nori around the fillings as firmly as you can, beginning with the side nearest to you.
  11. Brush the nori with water and roll to seal when you reach the end without rice. Cut 1″ pieces of sushi using a very sharp knife. Running the knife under cold water (without drying it) can assist in preventing rice from adhering to it.
  12. Steps 2-6 should be repeated with the remaining three rolls. Serve with sesame seeds and spicy mayo (recipe follows) and/or soy sauce. Sushi is best served right away.
  13. Spicy Mayo:

  14. In a small mixing dish, combine the mayo, water, and sriracha. If required, add more water to get the desired consistency.
  15. Serve with the sushi rolls.

Notes

  • Check out our raw fish FAQs for buying and storing recommendations.
  • Perfect practice makes perfect! Our first few attempts at making sushi rolls were not successful. This was before YouTube, in the year 2000. Remember that no matter how sloppy the crispy spicy tuna roll is, it still tastes the same! Have fun and enjoy yourself!
  • The hot sriracha sauce is used to make the spicy sauce. If you prefer non-hot tuna rolls, leave off the spicy mayo in the spicy avocado roll recipe.
Keywords:Perfect Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll
Nutrition Facts

Servings 4


Amount Per Serving
Calories 427
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 19g30%
Saturated Fat 3.8g19%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 50mg17%
Sodium 434mg19%
Potassium 411mg12%
Total Carbohydrate 39g13%
Dietary Fiber 1g4%
Sugars 4.5g
Protein 23g46%

Vitamin A 4.5 IU
Vitamin C 6.7 mg
Calcium 4 mg
Iron 12 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.