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 crunchy? ›

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.

How to cook 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.

Where did crispy rice and spicy tuna come from? ›

This recipe is inspired by the crispy rice and spicy tuna dish at the famed modern Japanese restaurant, Nobu. This dish was created by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa in the 90's and has been recreated in so many different ways at numerous chefs at restaurants around the globe.

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.

Are rice cakes healthier than chips? ›

Rice Cakes Nutrition

First off, they are low in calories and fat and offer a healthier crunch than many less healthy snack foods, such as potato chips. However, aside from the lower calorie content, they are pretty much devoid of anything else.

Why do you soak rice cakes before cooking? ›

Soak the rice cakes: Soaking the rice cakes in cold water for at least 30 minutes before cooking can help soften them and make them less likely to break apart.

Are store bought rice cakes healthy? ›

Rice cakes offer very little nutritional value and are low in calories, fiber, and protein. Consuming rice cakes with an additional source of protein and fiber can balance out the increased blood sugar they may cause.

Are rice cakes healthy? ›

Rice cakes are generally a healthy snack if you opt for whole-grain options, especially when paired with avocado, fruit, or nut butter. Cynthia Sass is a nutritionist and registered dietitian with master's degrees in both nutrition science and public health.

What's the point of eating rice cakes? ›

High Carbohydrate Content: Rice cakes are primarily composed of rice, which is a complex carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are the body's preferred source of energy during endurance activities. They provide a steady release of energy and help sustain performance over a longer duration.

What to add to rice cakes? ›

Try pairing rice cakes with:
  1. A nut butter, cottage cheese or yogurt with fruit slices.
  2. Caprese style (tomato slices, basil, and mozzarella)
  3. White bean spread with veggie slices.
  4. Tuna or chicken salad.
  5. Avocado toast style (mashed avocado, fried egg, EBTB)
Jan 31, 2024

How many rice cakes should I eat in a day? ›

Rice cakes mostly contain carbohydrates, most often from processed white rice that is considered mostly a source of “empty calories.” While one or two cakes won't contribute a very high amount of carbs to your diet, eating more than this amount can, especially if you choose a sweetened rice cake product that's made ...

Why is it called spicy tuna? ›

A spicy tuna roll is a makizushi roll that usually contains raw tuna, and spicy mayo or sriracha. The roll is often seasoned with Ichimi togarashi (ground red chile powder). The roll was invented in Seattle, Washington in the 1980s and is one of the more popular sushi rolls in the United States.

What is tuna from Hawaii called? ›

Hawaiian Name: Ahi. Japanese Name: Kihada. In Hawaii, “ahi” refers to two species, the yellowfin tuna and the bigeye tuna.

Why do Japanese eat tuna? ›

Japanese taste American influenced

By this time, the American occupiers' preference for fatty meat and fatty fish had already become established in Japan. So tuna was no longer taboo. Okazaki had observed that people in Tōkyō had developed a taste for tuna on sushi.

What texture should rice cakes be? ›

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.

Are rice cakes supposed to be really chewy? ›

They have a slight chewy texture and they are a versatile ingredient in Asian cuisine. Serve them plain with sauce on the side, stir fried, or in stews! This Asian rice cakes recipe came from Mama Lin's attempt to make Korean rice cakes, specifically the kind used in tteokbokki.

Are rice cakes very chewy? ›

I can't eat too much of it at once because they are so chewy that my jaw gets tired. 😂 That's why they're perfectly paired with ramen.

Can rice cakes be crisped up? ›

Pan fry – Heat about 1/4 cup of the oil in a large non-stick pan over medium high. Place in half the rice cakes – they should sizzle gently. Lower heat to medium. Cook for 4 minutes until really golden and crispy.

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