Description
A quick and easy recipe for a vibrant Spicy Tuna Stack featuring sushi-grade ahi tuna layered with fresh cucumbers, avocado, and sushi rice. It’s dressed in a flavorful soy-sesame marinade and topped with a spicy mayonnaise, making it a perfect appetizer or light meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Tuna Mixture
- ½ pound ahi tuna (sushi-grade, cubed)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ small jalapeno (seeds removed and finely chopped, optional)
- 2 tablespoons pickled ginger (finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoons green onions (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (divided)
Vegetables
- 1 cup Persian cucumbers (cubed)
- 1 avocado (cubed)
Base & Garnishes
- 2 cups sushi rice (cooked and chilled)
- 2 nori sheets (cut into strips for serving)
Spicy Mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Kewpie Japanese mayonnaise (or regular mayonnaise)
- 1 teaspoon sriracha (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or tamari)
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
Instructions
- Prepare the Tuna Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine the cubed ahi tuna, soy sauce, sesame oil, finely chopped jalapeno (if using), pickled ginger, green onions, and sesame seeds. Gently toss everything together to ensure the flavors meld without breaking down the tuna cubes.
- Season the Vegetables: Chop the Persian cucumbers and avocado into cubes roughly similar in size to the tuna. Place each in separate small bowls and season each with half of the kosher salt to enhance their flavors.
- Layer the Stack: Using a 1-cup measuring cup as a mold, start by spooning in a few spoonfuls of the tuna mixture. Next, add a layer of cubed cucumbers, followed by avocado, and finally top it all with a layer of sushi rice. Gently press down on the layers to flatten and compact the stack.
- Make the Spicy Mayonnaise: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sriracha, soy sauce, and lime juice until smooth. Taste and adjust the heat by adding more sriracha if desired.
- Assemble and Serve: Carefully invert the measuring cup onto a serving plate to release the tuna stack. Repeat this process to make four stacks in total. Drizzle the spicy mayonnaise over each stack, sprinkle with additional sesame seeds, and serve alongside nori strips or crunchy wonton chips for added texture.
Notes
- Use sushi-grade tuna to ensure safety and best flavor when consuming raw.
- Adjust the amount of jalapeno and sriracha based on your preferred spice tolerance.
- Chilling the sushi rice before assembling helps maintain the stack’s structure.
- For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- These stacks make excellent appetizers or light entrees.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes (for cooking and chilling sushi rice)
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Japanese
Keywords: Spicy tuna stack, sushi appetizer, ahi tuna recipe, no-cook seafood dish, quick sushi stack
