4.60 from 15 votes

Spicy Tuna with Crispy Rice (Budget Recipe)

Jump to Recipe
These are a budget recreation of the Nobu inspired spicy tuna and crispy rice bites that are trending all over the internet.
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
£1.38
Makes: 4
mains, Snack
Japanese

Table of Contents

  1. Why I created this recipe
  2. Ingredients
  3. How to make the spicy tuna with crispy rice
  4. FAQ
4.60 from 15 votes

Spicy Tuna with Crispy Rice (Budget Recipe)

Jump to Recipe
These are a budget recreation of the Nobu inspired spicy tuna and crispy rice bites that are trending all over the internet.
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
£1.38
Makes: 4
mains, Snack
Japanese

Why I created this recipe

For a while, I’ve seen these ‘nobu sushi inspired crispy rice’ recipes, topped with sushi grade salmon that look so so good. I never thought that it was a recipe that I could post or develop though as the recipes require sushi grade fish.

Then I realised this recipe wouldn’t just work with sushi grade tuna. I knew it would definitely work canned/tinned tuna, as everyone knows a winning combination is canned tuna and  mayo.

The spicy tuna dressing works so well to top our crispy rice with, I honestly prefer it to regular sushi rolls. You have got to try my take on the spicy tuna with crispy rice trend!

Close up of 5 small rectangular pieces of the rice topped with the tuna, mayo and Sriracha mix with spring onion slices in a bowl..

Ingredients

Canned tuna

I used tuna in water as we’re adding a lot of delicious fats in the spicy dressing but any oil tuna would also work here. 

Sushi Rice

The sushi rice is key here to ensure that the rice sticks together, when placed in the compact container. We don’t want the rice to fall apart, when we add it to the oil! 

Sriracha 

The sweet, tangy, spiciness to the spicy tuna with crispy rice is thanks to the sriracha. 

Mayonnaise + Rice wine vinegar 

To make this recipe more budget friendly, I use a combo of mayonnaise and rice wine vinegar instead of kewpie mayo. Use full-fat mayo here for the best flavour – I love Hellmans. 

Soy sauce

For a burst of umami. 

Ingredients to make Spicy tuna with crispy rice laid out on a grey background and labelled.

How to make the spicy tuna with crispy rice

Season the cooked rice with a splash of rice wine vinegar and salt, then transfer the rice into an 8 by 10 inch container. Using a wooden spoon, firmly press the sushi into the container until compact.

Sushi rice in rectangular metal container.

Then add some foil onto the top of the container and continue to press. Pop in the fridge for a couple of hours or leave overnight.

Sushi rice covered with metal foil in a rectangular container.

Then add the tuna, sriracha, mayonnaise, soy sauce and rice wine vinegar to a bowl and mix together. Also add ⅔ of the thinly sliced spring onion, while reserving some for garnish later.

Tuna mixed with spring onion, rice wine vinegar, mayonnaise and soy sauce in a blue bowl.

When you are ready to make your sushi bites, remove the foil and flip the container onto a chopping board and tap until the rice falls out in one piece. Slice into around 20 pieces.

Sushi rice on wooden board cut into small rectangles.

Using a non stick frying pan, add rapeseed oil and increase the heat to high. In batches, fry the rice squares/rectangles for 2 minutes (or until golden and crispy) on each side.

Sushi rice rectangles browning on non stick frying pan.

Top the crispy rice with the spicy tuna and garnish with the reserved spring onion. Delicious!

Close up of hand holding a piece of spicy crispy tuna rice over a bowl.

FAQ

Can I meal prep this recipe/make this recipe ahead of time?

I would make this recipe fresh, as you want the rice to be crispy and tuna to be mixed into the dressing fresh out of the can. The spring onion would also get wilted as a topping. 

You could prep the rice a couple days in advance, as long as it’s kept refrigerated and compact in it’s container. 

Can I switch the tuna for a different fish?

If you wanted to replicate the spicy tuna with crispy rice , you could use smoked salmon sliced into little pieces instead of the canned tuna. 

Can I make this vegetarian/vegan?

A substitute for tuna, that I love is smashed chickpeas so you could use 1 can, drained, rinsed and smashed to substitute the 2 cans of tuna. 

Sunny shot of 4 crispy rice bites topped with tuna in a blue bowl topped with spring onion slices..

Other tuna recipes…

Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake

Tuna-Mayo Courgette Salad ⁠

Tuna and Courgette Burgers

Other rice recipes…


Viral Salmon Rice Bowl (Tiktok Recipe)

Creamy Green Risotto with Crispy Bacon and Mushrooms

Chicken and Chorizo Paella

Spicy Tuna with Crispy Rice (Budget Recipe)

Print Pin It
4.60 from 15 votes
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
£1.38
mains, Snack
Japanese
Servings: 4
These are a budget recreation of the Nobu inspired spicy tuna and crispy rice bites that are trending all over the internet.

Ingredients

  • 200 g sushi rice, cooked according to packet instructions (£2.12)
  • 290 g (2 tins) drained tuna (£0.59x2)=(£1.18)
  • 3 spring onion, thinly sliced (£0.40)
  • 2 tbsp Sriracha (£1.80)

Cupboard Essentials

  • 4 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp rapeseed oil

Method

  • Start by seasoning the cooked sushi rice with a splash of rice wine vinegar and salt.
  • Pour the rice into an 8 by 10 inch container. Using a wooden spoon, firmly press the sushi into the container until compact. Add foil onto the top of the container and continue to press. Pop in the fridge for a couple of hours or leave overnight.
  • Next, remove the foil and flip the container onto a chopping board and tap until the rice falls out in one piece. Slice into around 20 pieces.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine the tuna, sriracha, mayonnaise, rice wine vinegar and soy sauce. Also add ⅔ of the thinly sliced spring onion, reserving some for garnish later.
  • Add rapeseed oil to a non-stick frying pan and increase the heat to high. In batches, fry the rice squares for 2 minutes (or until golden and crispy) on each side.
  • Top the crispy rice with the spicy tuna and garnish with the reserved spring onion

Nutrition

Servings: 4 servings
Fat: 18g
Calories: 418kcal
Carbohydrates: 42g
Protein: 22g
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Thank you so much for trying my recipe! I hope you loved it. I’d be so grateful if you could leave a comment/rating - it makes my day hearing your feedback!

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