Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Cakes Recipe - WhitneyBond.com (2024)

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Crispy soy rice cakes are topped with homemade spicy tuna and diced chives for a delicious, Japanese dish, perfect for a sushi dinner!

Welcome to the second recipe from what I now lovingly refer to as “Ahi Week”!

After purchasing a large amount of Ahi Tuna at the Whole Foods Del Mar grand opening, I first headed home and whipped up these delicious Mango Avocado Ahi Poke Fillo Baskets.

Next on the list to make was my sushi restaurant favorite and yours, Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Cakes.

And just how do I know they’re your favorite? Because I worked at a sushi restaurant in college and trust me, they are everyone’s favorite!

This post contains the making of three different recipes:

  1. Spicy tuna
  2. Sushi rice
  3. Crispy rice cakes

At the end, they will all be combined into these delicious little sushi favorites!

Spicy Tuna Ingredients

  • 1 lb sushi-grade ahi tuna
  • 2 tbsp sriracha
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp hot chili oil
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise orVegenaiseSpicy Tuna Crispy Rice Cakes Recipe - WhitneyBond.com (5)
  • 1 tbsp chives (chopped)

Spicy Tuna Instructions

Begin by gently dicing the ahi tuna, then add it to a bowl with the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

Place in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to allow the spicy flavors to soak into the ahi.

Meanwhile, prepare the sushi rice, then rice cakes.

Sushi Rice Ingredients

(Recipe adapted fromFood Network)

  • 2 cups sushi or short grain rice
  • 2 cups water, plus extra for rinsing rice
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce (for the rice cakes)
  • 2 tbsp sesame oil (for cooking rice cakes)

Begin by rinsing the sushi rice well, then combining the rice and 2 cups of water in a medium pot. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook for 15 minutes, then remove from the heat, keep the rice covered away from the heat for 10 minutes.

Next, combine the rice vinegar, sugar and salt in a small bowl and microwave for 30 seconds.

Place the cooked rice in a glass bowl and add the vinegar mixture to the rice, combining well.

Allow the rice to cool, then form the rice into small rectangles using your hands, a cookie cutter or this sweet little contraption, also known as a sushi rice mold.

This nifty little tool was part of the “Sushi Party Kit” I picked up at the Japanese Market for $3.50. Have I mentioned how much I love that place?

Once the rice is formed into tight rectangular shapes, cook them lightly on each side over medium heat with 1 tbsp of sesame oil.

Remove from the skillet and dip the rice cakes into the soy sauce.

Next, cook the rice cakes for an additional 2-3 minutes in 1 tbsp sesame oil on each side or until crisp and golden brown.

Remove from the skillet and top with the spicy tuna, then garnish with additional chopped chives.

These scrumptious little bites are just as good as the ones you get in the restaurant and probably even better because of all the tender, love and care that you put into making them at home! 😉

Try these with other sushi restaurant favorites such as shish*to peppers and miso japanese eggplant.

Favorite Whitney Bond Recipes

  • Bacon Meatloaf
  • Thai Yellow Curry
  • Chili Seasoning Recipe
  • Buffalo Chicken Pasta
  • Shish*to Pepper Recipe
  • Pumpkin Spice Cookies Recipe
  • Pumpkin Cresent Rolls
  • Candy Cake Recipe

Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Cakes Recipe - WhitneyBond.com (19)

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Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Cakes

Crispy soy rice cakes are topped with homemade spicy tuna and diced chives for a delicious, Japanese dish, perfect for a sushi dinner!

Servings: 24 spicy tuna rice cakes

Prep Time: 45 minutes mins

Total Time: 45 minutes mins

Author: Whitney Bond

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: Japanese

Ingredients

Spicy Tuna

  • 1 lb sushi-grade ahi tuna
  • 2 tbsp sriracha
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp hot chili oil
  • 1/4 cup vegenaise, or mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp chives, chopped

Sushi Rice

  • 2 cups sushi or short grain rice
  • 2 cups water, plus extra for rinsing rice
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar, or white wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt

Rice Cakes

Instructions

Spicy Tuna

  • Gently dice the ahi, then adding the rest of the ingredients to the tuna and mixing well.

  • Place in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes.

Sushi Rice

  • Rinse the rice well, then combine the rice and 2 cups of water in a medium pot.

  • Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low and cover.

  • Cook for 15 minutes, then remove from the heat, keep the rice covered away from the heat for 10 minutes.

  • Combine the rice vinegar, sugar and salt in a small bowl and microwave for 30 seconds.

  • Place the cooked rice in a glass bowl and add the vinegar mixture to the rice, combining well.

Rice Cakes

  • Allow the rice to cool, then tightly form into small rectangles.

  • Cook them lightly on each side in a skillet over medium heat with 1 tbsp of sesame oil.

  • Remove from the skillet and dip the rice cakes into the soy sauce.

  • Cook the rice cakes for an additional 2-3 minutes in 1 tbsp sesame oil on each side or until crisp and golden brown.

  • Remove from the skillet and top with the spicy tuna, then garnish with additional chopped chives.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 123kcal (6%)Carbohydrates 14g (5%)Protein 5g (10%)Fat 4g (6%)Cholesterol 7mg (2%)Sodium 612mg (26%)Potassium 71mg (2%)Sugar 1g (1%)Vitamin A 420mg (8%)Vitamin C 0.9mg (1%)Calcium 5mg (1%)Iron 0.6mg (3%)

Did you make this recipe?Tag @WhitneyBond on Instagram and hashtag it #WBRecipes!

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Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Cakes Recipe - WhitneyBond.com (2024)

FAQs

Are rice cakes supposed to be crispy? ›

Crispy rice has a revered place in many cultures. These rice cakes, which work well as a side dish to a piece of grilled meat or fish, offer the delicious crunch of Korean nurunji or Middle eastern hkaka, with some of the herbed cheesy goodness of Italian arancini.

Are rice cakes Japanese? ›

Mochi (もち, 餅) [motɕi] is a Japanese rice cake made of mochigome (もち米), a short-grain japonica glutinous rice, and sometimes other ingredients such as water, sugar, and cornstarch. The steamed rice is pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape.

How to make store bought rice cakes? ›

Prepare the rice cakes according to packaging directions. Per my rice cake instructions: wash rice cakes with cold water. In a large pot of boiling water, add 1 tbs salt. Add rice cakes and cook for 10 minutes.

Is spicy tuna crispy rice gluten free? ›

Nothing beats these homemade spicy tuna crispy rice bites made with fresh ahi tuna and sushi rice. Cook the crispy rice on the stovetop or in the air fryer, for the perfect appetizer! They're healthy, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

Do you need to soak rice cakes before cooking? ›

If the rice cakes are freshly made and soft they do not need to be soaked. Otherwise, soak them in warm water for 10-20 minutes to rehydrate them a bit. Some rice cakes that have been refrigerated or frozen are very dry. These can be soaked for a few hours to overnight.

How do you keep rice cakes crispy? ›

Place the rice cakes into an airtight container.

Leaving the rice cakes exposed to air will make them crunchy and hard.

Are rice cakes junk food? ›

Most people consider rice cakes to be a safe diet food because they do not have fat or many calories. They tend to be free from saturated fat. The total calories will vary based on the brand and type of rice cake.

Why do Chinese eat rice cakes? ›

Nian gao translates to “year cake”, and its pronunciation in Mandarin sounds similar to another phrase that means “a more prosperous year”. The food is associated with good luck and prosperity, making it a popular gift during the new year.

What does mochi mean in English? ›

mo·​chi ˈmō-chē : a doughlike mass made from cooked and pounded glutinous rice used in Japan as an unbaked pastry.

Are rice cakes worth it? ›

In short, yes, rice cakes are a healthy snack. They are simple and allergen-friendly, so you can enjoy them whether you are gluten-free, nut-free or soy-free. They contain no animal products, making them perfect for vegans and vegetarians too.

How do you keep rice cakes from falling apart? ›

Over the last twenty years, I've fed pro riders rice cakes that were tightly wrapped in parchment foil and held in ziplock bags in a cooler for races that lasted as long as 10 hours without issue.

Should rice cakes be refrigerated? ›

How to store and eat your rice cakes | Bokrice. If cannot be consumed within one day, you must freeze the rice cakes. If stored in fridge, the rice cakes will dry out.

Which sushi fish is healthiest? ›

Mackerel is a good source of omega-3 fats, as is salmon, tuna and eel. Sushi rolls with avocado are also good sources of monounsaturated fat, another heart-healthy fat that can reduce bad cholesterol.

Why is spicy tuna not gluten-free? ›

Soy Sauce and Other Added Ingredients

“Spicy” rolls, such as spicy tuna or spicy salmon rolls, may also contain hidden gluten ingredients and spices, depending on how they are made. With wasabi, which adds a spicy kick, the version used in the United States is often not the real thing and may contain gluten.

Are rice cakes supposed to be hard or soft? ›

“When cooked correctly, it's soft, pillowy, chewy, starchy,” Kim said. “Very fun to chew.”

What are rice cakes supposed to feel like? ›

The time-consuming process of transforming these grains into rice cakes generally falls into one of five broad categories: pounding, steaming, shaping, boiling, and frying. Depending on the technique, the texture can range widely from soft and powdery, to thick and chewy, to light and crispy.

How do you know when rice cakes are done? ›

Test for doneness: To ensure the rice cakes are properly cooked, take one out and taste it. It should be soft and chewy with no hard center. If they are still too firm, continue boiling for an additional few minutes.

Why did my rice cakes get hard? ›

Using old or expired rice cakes: Rice cakes can become hard if they are expired or old. Make sure to check the expiration date before using.

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