Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Bites (Printable)

Crispy rice squares topped with spicy tuna and avocado make for a flavorful appetizer or snack.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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)

# Directions:

01 - Rinse sushi rice under cold water until clear. Combine rice and water in a saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest covered for 10 minutes.
02 - Mix rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small bowl. Microwave 20 seconds to dissolve. Fold gently into cooked rice and cool to room temperature.
03 - Line an 8x8-inch pan with plastic wrap. Press rice evenly about 3/4 inch thick into pan. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour to firm.
04 - Combine diced tuna, mayonnaise, Sriracha, soy sauce, sesame oil, green onion, and toasted sesame seeds in a bowl. Mix gently and refrigerate until ready to use.
05 - Remove chilled rice slab from pan and cut into 16 equal rectangles or squares.
06 - Heat 1/2 inch vegetable oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Fry rice pieces in batches 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, a slice or dice of avocado, then optionally sprinkle black sesame seeds and green onion. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They taste like restaurant-quality sushi appetizers but come together in under an hour with ingredients you can find at any grocery store.
  • The crispy-outside, creamy-inside contrast is genuinely addictive, and you can make them ahead and reheat them briefly.
  • They're naturally pescatarian and can be customized with different proteins depending on what you have on hand.
02 -
  • Overcrowding the pan when frying will drop your oil temperature and produce soggy, greasy rice instead of crispy rice—fry in batches and give each piece space.
  • The rice must be completely cool before frying, or it will fall apart; this is worth the wait and planning ahead.
03 -
  • If your rice isn't crispy enough, your oil wasn't hot enough or your rice wasn't cold and compressed enough—temperature and texture matter equally here.
  • Black sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onion aren't just pretty—they add visual contrast and a final burst of freshness that elevates the whole bite.
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