Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice (Print Version)

Golden crispy rice topped with spicy tuna and avocado offers a vibrant, flavorful bite.

# What You'll Need:

→ Crispy Rice

01 - 1 cup sushi rice
02 - 1 1/4 cups water
03 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
04 - 1 tablespoon sugar
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - Vegetable oil for frying

→ Spicy Tuna

07 - 6 ounces sushi-grade tuna, finely diced
08 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (preferably Kewpie)
09 - 1 tablespoon Sriracha
10 - 1 teaspoon soy sauce
11 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
12 - 1 teaspoon finely chopped green onion
13 - 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

→ Topping & Garnish

14 - 1/2 avocado, sliced or diced
15 - 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds (optional)
16 - Thinly sliced green onion (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Rinse sushi rice under cold water until clear. Combine rice and water in a saucepan, bring to boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest covered for 10 minutes.
02 - Mix rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small bowl and microwave for 20 seconds to dissolve. Gently fold the mixture into the cooked rice and allow to cool to room temperature.
03 - Line an 8x8-inch pan with plastic wrap. Press cooled rice evenly into the pan to about 3/4 inch thickness. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set.
04 - Combine diced tuna, mayonnaise, Sriracha, soy sauce, sesame oil, green onion, and sesame seeds in a bowl. Mix gently and refrigerate until ready to use.
05 - Remove rice slab from pan and cut into 16 equal-sized squares.
06 - Heat vegetable oil to 1/2 inch depth in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Fry rice squares in batches for 2–3 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels and cool slightly.
07 - Top each crispy rice square with a spoonful of spicy tuna. Add avocado pieces, then garnish with black sesame seeds and sliced green onion as desired. Serve immediately.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • They're crispy on the outside and creamy within—a textural contrast that hits different every time.
  • The spicy tuna mixture comes together in minutes, making these feel fancier than they actually are.
  • You can prep everything ahead and fry them just before guests arrive, which means less stress and more time enjoying people.
  • They work equally well as an appetizer at a dinner party or as a sneaky midnight snack straight from the fridge.
02 -
  • Rinsing the rice isn't optional—skip it and you'll end up with a gluey, dense base that won't crisp up properly no matter how hot your oil gets.
  • The chilling step is where the magic happens; cold, firm rice fries into actual crispy squares instead of collapsing into soft mush.
  • Fry in batches and resist the urge to crowd the pan, because the temperature drops significantly and you'll end up with greasy instead of crispy.
03 -
  • Let the rice chill overnight before frying if you want maximum crispiness and the most satisfying shatter—patience pays off here in a way that feels almost magical.
  • A sharp knife and quick, confident cuts make cleaner pieces; hesitant sawing motions drag and compress the rice, which affects how it fries.
Go Back