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Pickled Plum Food And DrinksPickled Plum Food And Drinks

A food blog with hundreds of easy and tasty recipes with step-by-step photos, easy to follow instructions and recipe variations.

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Spicy Tuna Roll (Poor Man’s)

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A kid friendly Poor Man’s Spicy Tuna Roll Recipe you can easily make with everyday pantry ingredients! Ready in 15 minutes from start to finish.

Poor Mans Spicy Tuna Roll Recipe - Learn how to make these easy homemade spicy tuna rolls in your kitchen! Diy sushi ready in no time that your kids will love. #sushirecipe #japanesefood #homemade #healthysnacks | pickledplum.com

SPICY TUNA ROLL (POOR MAN’S)

When it comes to ordering sushi rolls (or maki), I have two favorites.

Negitoro is fatty tuna mixed with scallions, and is the first thing my eyes find when scanning any sushi menu. Seriously, I’m automatically drawn to those words – almost like your name being printed in the middle of a full roster of names and somehow, magically seeing your own first.

A very close second would be the spicy tuna roll. I really can’t get enough of the spicy-mayo laden tuna, wrapped in Japanese rice and delicate toasted nori (seaweed) sheets. This poor man’s spicy tuna roll was born of late-night watching-a-movie-hunger.

We had just started streaming Zoolander (for, like, the millionth time) and were craving sushi – but, alas, I had no sashimi grade tuna just lying around in the fridge.

But I did have rice, seaweed sheets and canned tuna. It was a Chopped moment for sure! And my mystery basket didn’t let me down. The flavor of the this improvised spicy tuna roll was on point – just not raw.

washing-rice rice-washed

How To Make Spicy Tuna Roll

Rolling maki (sushi rolls) for the first time can be a bit of a challenge. Too loose, and the rolls are sloppy and won’t stick together. Too tight, and the fillings get squeezed out of the ends, or your delicate sheets of nori rip apart.

Nevertheless, it won’t take more than a little bit of trial and error before you’re rolling your very own homemade spicy tuna roll with the confidence of a sushi master. Most sushi rice has a bit of vinegar added to it while cooling – however, I left it out to keep this spicy tuna roll an easy recipe to whip up using leftover rice and a few pantry staples.

If you’re cooking rice from scratch for your own spicy tuna maki, check out this post on how to make Japanese rice. Whether you’re using a rice cooker or prefer the stovetop method, it’s a breeze!

Just make sure you use short grain Japanese rice as it’s stickier than medium grain. You should also rinse the rice well under water, in a Japanese rice strainer preferably (like the one in the picture above), swishing it around with your fingers until the water runs clear. This makes the texture of the rice stickier. 

Once the Japanese rice is cooked, transfer it to a large bowl and let it cool to room temperature.

While the rice is cooling you can set up your work station. You are going to need a bowl of tepid water to dip your hands into it to prevent them from getting too sticky. Place your spicy tuna mix next to it and a sushi bamboo mat next to the bowls.

Now let’s make some spicy tuna rolls!

  • Place a nori sheet, shiny side down, on the mat and spread about 1/4 cup to one side of the sheet.
  • Spread the rice using your fingers so it’s flat and covers about half of the sheet.
  • Add a line of spicy tuna mix in the center of the rice and lightly spread it.
  • Grab the bamboo from both ends of the side with the nori sheet and start rolling.

  • Roll it tight enough so the rice feels tight but no so tight that the tuna mixture spills out from the ends. Keep rolling until there is a little nori sheet left.
  • Wet your fingers and lightly run them across the edge of the nori sheet. Continue rolling until the mat comes off.
  • Wet a sharp knife and slice the roll in half. Slice into bite size pieces and cut off the ends if you want the roll to look neater.

Congratulations, you just made spicy tuna rolls!

how-to-make-spicy-tuna-roll-steps-2

What Is In A Spicy Tuna Roll

I think there are many different recipes for spicy tuna roll as I’ve noticed the flavor varying slightly from restaurant to restaurant. So the answer to this question would be – it depends where you get it!

Some serve the tuna in one piece while others chop it up.There can also be crunchy tempura bits added to the roll or chopped scallions, or neither. But there is one thing that remains the same in all the rolls I’ve had – the spicy sauce made with sriracha and mayonnaise. What you decide to add to the sauce after is up to you. I like mine with a dash of rice vinegar and chili oil for extra heat.

And because this is the poor man’s version, I’m using canned tuna instead of fresh tuna.

This poor man’s spicy tuna roll is a great way to introduce people, that might be a little squeamish about eating raw fish, to the wonderful flavors of sushi. Plus, it’s a lot cheaper to make than to eat the real thing – but just as good and satisfying.

Small steps, right?

Poor Mans Spicy Tuna Roll Recipe - Learn how to make these easy homemade spicy tuna rolls in your kitchen! Diy sushi ready in no time that your kids will love. #sushirecipe #japanesefood #homemade #healthysnacks | pickledplum.com

The perfect healthy evening snack

As the movie played on, we devoured the creamy, toasty and spicy tuna rolls with abandon. They were absolutely delicious! What made them even better was a slight dip (not too much!) in a ramekin of soy sauce and wasabi.

There’s always time to work your way up to devouring uni, ikura and hotate nigiri in the future. Also, this is a fun food project moms and dads can do with the kids that is totally tasty and might present an opportunity for a little bonding in the kitchen.

Look at this spicy tuna roll recipe as a model-airplane-assembly session with the kids – but with yummy food!

Other simple and delicious healthy evening snacks:

  • Onigiri (Japanese rice balls)
  • Homemade sweet and salty masala popcorn
  • Honey sriracha roasted chickpeas
  • Peanut butter protein balls
  • Oven baked za’atar fries

Poor Mans Spicy Tuna Roll Recipe - Learn how to make these easy homemade spicy tuna rolls in your kitchen! Diy sushi ready in no time that your kids will love. #sushirecipe #japanesefood #homemade #healthysnacks | pickledplum.com Poor Mans Spicy Tuna Roll Recipe - Learn how to make these easy homemade spicy tuna rolls in your kitchen! Diy sushi ready in no time that your kids will love. #sushirecipe #japanesefood #homemade #healthysnacks | pickledplum.com

Did you like this Poor Man’s Spicy Tuna Roll Recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share? Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below!

Serve this recipe with a side of Japanese rice. Watch our video on How To Make Japanese Rice the stove top or rice cooker method!

This recipe is one of many included in my ecookbook!

These recipes constantly make “best dish” lists on sites such as Country Living, Self, Shape, Bon Appetit, The Cooking Channel, Men’s Fitness and Woman’s Day. They are favorites among my readers, friends and family!

51 of the best appetizers, sides, stir fries, main, noodles & rice, desserts & drinks from the blog.

Simple and easy dishes made healthier, with calories and fat content provided. Tried and tested by my readers and loved by everyone!


Print

Spicy Tuna Roll (Poor Man’s)

★★★★★

5 from 4 reviews

A kid friendly Poor Man’s Spicy Tuna Roll Recipe you can easily make with everyday pantry ingredients! Ready in 15 minutes from start to finish.

  • Author: Caroline Phelps
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 people 1x
  • Category: Rice
  • Cuisine: Japanese
Scale

Ingredients

  • 5 ounces can tuna in water (well drained)
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons scallions (finely chopped)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons light mayonnaise
  • 6 nori sheets (seaweed)
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked Japanese rice (room temperature)

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, mix tuna, sriracha sauce, chili oil, rice vinegar, scallions and mayonnaise.
  2. Place a sheet of nori on top of a bamboo mat (sushi roller).
  3. Set a small bowl of water next to the sushi roller and wet your fingers. Add ¼ cup cooked rice to one side of the nori sheet and spread it by pressing down (you may need to add more rice – just make sure it’s thinly spread out). Continue until at least 3/4 of the nori sheet is covered.
  4. Add a line of spicy tuna mix to the center of the rice (about 1½ tablespoons, or more if you like bigger rolls).
  5. Roll up the bamboo mat (starting with the side with the rice and spicy tuna). You have to roll it tight enough that the rice feels condensed, but not so tight that the tuna mixture spills out (or the nori sheet breaks). You’ll get the hang of it after doing it a couple of times. Keep rolling until there is only a bit of nori left visible.
  6. Wet your fingers and run them across the inside edge of the nori sheet. This will seal the end of the roll. Keep rolling and delicately remove the bamboo mat.
  7. Wipe a sharp knife with a wet cloth and cut the roll into bite size pieces.
  8. Serve with soy sauce and wasabi.

Notes

This Spicy Tuna Roll Recipe is:
Low in saturated fat
Low in cholesterol
Low in sodium
Very low in sugar
High in selenium

Keywords: recipe, appetizer, side, seafood, sushi

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. J says

    November 10, 2019 at 3:48 pm

    I had a terrible time rolling so I gave up, poured the spicy tuna over a bowl of rice, and added seaweed chips on the side and served it to my hubby as “Deconstructed Tuna Roll.” It’s now a staple!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Caroline Phelps says

      November 11, 2019 at 11:23 am

      I do the same sometimes when I’m feeling lazy, it’s just as good! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Liz says

    January 29, 2019 at 6:16 pm

    Thank you so much for this recipe! I’m currently six months pregnant and can’t go out for sushi because there’s a terrible snowstorm ! (Michigan) I need a piece of sushi like my life depends on it, making this for dinner. Looks amazing

    Reply
  3. Crystal says

    January 6, 2018 at 7:46 pm

    I tried it with canned salmon today (all I had in the pantry), and it was delicious!! For a little crunch, I’d definitely mix in breadcrumbs or roll some cucumber in next time. Thank you for saving me $15 on sushi delivery ^_^

    Reply
  4. Melissa says

    November 15, 2017 at 2:21 am

    I used this recipe but swapped the tuna for chickpeas & used vegan mayo. My husband & I loved it! Super easy & delicious vegan sushi!

    Reply
    • Caroline Phelps says

      November 15, 2017 at 3:59 pm

      What a great idea Melissa, I’ve never tried chickpea and vegan mayo for a sushi filling. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  5. MattyS says

    October 21, 2017 at 11:52 pm

    Rice vinegar, salt, and sugar should be added to the rice after cooking for proper sushi rice (sake and/or mirin can also be used if you can get hold of them)

    Reply
    • Caroline Phelps says

      October 29, 2017 at 11:24 am

      That’s right Matty, I love the taste of sushi rice when it’s perfect otherwise it can be too acidic!

      Reply
  6. Tim says

    April 2, 2017 at 3:55 pm

    I’ve made these twice now and absolutely love them. Many thanks for posting the recipe. They really are superb, fantastically tasty and easier and much cheaper than using sashimi grade tuna. Great recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Caroline Phelps says

      April 2, 2017 at 4:06 pm

      Thank you Tim, I’m so glad them as much as I do! 🙂

      Reply
  7. mush says

    January 7, 2017 at 3:14 pm

    Chili oil. Brilliant idea! I’ll be making these tonight.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  8. Estralita Bassett says

    August 24, 2016 at 10:13 am

    Will try this recipe definitely. Since I live in Vegas I miss our local food.

    Reply
  9. LittlFrenchy says

    July 23, 2016 at 6:22 am

    So yummy. I add some cucumber to freshen it up, since it was so hot outside.
    Thank you so much for the idea.
    I come daily to your website to watch for more 🙂
    LittlFrenchy

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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