Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice (Printable)

Crispy rice topped with spicy tuna and avocado for an irresistible bite-sized appetizer.

# 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 (approximately 1/2 inch depth)

→ Spicy Tuna

07 - 6 oz sushi-grade tuna, finely diced
08 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
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 water runs clear. Combine rice and water in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest, covered, for 10 minutes.
02 - In a small bowl, combine rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Microwave for 20 seconds to dissolve. Gently fold mixture into cooked rice and cool to room temperature.
03 - Line an 8x8-inch pan with plastic wrap. Press cooled rice evenly into pan, about 3/4 inch thick. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour to firm up.
04 - In a bowl, combine diced tuna, mayonnaise, Sriracha, soy sauce, sesame oil, green onion, and toasted sesame seeds. Mix gently and refrigerate until needed.
05 - Remove rice slab from pan and cut into 16 equal rectangles or squares.
06 - Heat vegetable oil to a depth of 1/2 inch in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Fry rice pieces in batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels and let cool slightly.
07 - Top each crispy rice square with a spoonful of spicy tuna, a slice or dice of avocado, and optionally sprinkle with black sesame seeds and green onion. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They come together faster than most appetizers, leaving you time to actually enjoy your guests instead of sweating in the kitchen.
  • The combination of textures—crispy rice, creamy tuna, soft avocado—keeps your palate interested with every single bite.
  • You can prep the tuna mixture and rice ahead, so last-minute assembly is genuinely relaxed.
02 -
  • The rice absolutely must be cold and firm before frying, or it will stick to itself and fall apart in the oil—overnight chilling is your insurance policy against disaster.
  • Don't skip the resting period after cooking the rice; those 10 minutes allow carryover heat to finish cooking the center while the edges can set properly.
  • Sashimi-grade tuna is non-negotiable here since there's no cooking to kill potential bacteria; a regular grocery store tuna won't be cold enough for raw consumption.
03 -
  • If your oil isn't hot enough, the rice will soak up oil instead of crisping up—wait until it's properly shimmering and test with a single square first.
  • Save the rice trimmings from cutting your squares; they fry up into crispy snacks that disappear immediately at parties.
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