Spicy Tuna on top of crispy crunchy pan-fried rice with avocado, green onions, and unagi sauce. This is the perfect appetizer that’s easy to make and will elevate any party.
Viral Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice
Crispy Rice became a big trend on TikTok and Instagram in 2022, and I finally tried it! It was so delicious and so worth it! I love the mix of textures with the crispy rice, creamy avocado, and spicy tuna. Drizzling Unagi sauce added a sweet and salty touch. Plus, they look fancy, but they’re pretty simple to make!
There are endless toppings you can try! I’ve seen everything from salmon to canned tuna or even chicken. It’s ideal for a bite-sized snack or appetizer. Personally, I went for a spicy ahi version since it’s my favorite!
Ingredients
- Rice: I used regular cooked white rice but sushi rice is also a good option!
- Spicy Ahi: I used my Spicy ahi recipe but feel free to make your own or get it premixed!
- Avocado: Optional but I love a good avocado and tuna combination.
- Green onion: I cut mine into long strips and placed it in an ice bath so it curls but you can just cut it normally. I just did it for the presentation.
- Neutral oil: Canola or Vegetable for frying.
- Unagi sauce: Usually can get this at most grocery stores, if not check local asian grocery store.
How to Make Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice
I began by flattening my rice in a small pan lined with wax paper to make it easier to separate. I chose regular rice, but sushi rice could also be a great option. Once I placed the rice on the baking sheet, I covered it with additional pieces of wax paper and placed another baking sheet on top. Then, I put it in the freezer and added some heavy frozen groceries on top to weigh it down. This process compacts the rice, ensuring the squares remain intact when frying.
I removed them from the freezer after 30 minutes to an hour and trimmed the ends to ensure they were even. Then, I cut them into 10 pieces, but you can adjust the size based on your preference for each rectangle. Next, I heated a non-stick skillet with a shallow layer of hot oil. It’s important not to fill the pan with too much oil as the rice may break apart if deep-fried. Once cooked, I drained each piece on a paper towel to remove any excess oil.
I arranged my toppings (feel free to customize them to your preference) and began layering them onto the crispy rice. Starting with slices of avocado, I then added the spicy ahi, green onions, and drizzled some unagi sauce over the top. This was so good because I love all the textures and flavors mixed. It’s also a different way to eat spicy ahi and makes it feel new and refreshing again! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Tips/Tricks
- Sushi rice may work better because it’s stickier and holds its shape better.
- Make sure you flatten the rice very tightly to ensure the rice stays together.
- Test out frying with one rice square first to see when the oil is ready for frying.
How to Serve It
This makes for the perfect appetizer at dinner parties! It’s incredibly versatile and conveniently bite-sized. I recommend serving it immediately to ensure everything is fresh and delicious. With countless topping options available, feel free to get creative and personalize it to your liking!
If you are looking for other appetizers try my Tuna Bombs! They’re the perfect size and very similar to crispy rice but served in sweet inari shells. If you need a sweet dessert, check out Banana Lumpia! It’s the perfect way to end any meal.
Delicious Spicy Tuna Appetizer with Crispy Pan-Fried Rice
Equipment
- 2 baking sheets or something similar to flatten the rice in the freezer
- wax paper
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked white rice or cooked sushi rice
- 1 lb spicy ahi
- 2 avocado
- 1 stalk green onion chopped
- Vegetable oil or natural oil for frying
- Unagi sauce optional
Instructions
- Spread your cooked rice over wax paper that is on a baking sheet. Make sure its evenly spread and about 1 inch thick. Place another wax paper on top and another baking sheet on top of that. Place in freezer and put something on top to weigh it down for about 1 hour.
- Take rice out of freezer and remove both baking sheets. Plae rice on wax paper on cutting board and cut ends off first. Then cut into even pieces.
- Pour oil in pan so it only covers the entire bottom and heat on medium until ready to fry. Place rice in oil and fry until golden crispy brown on both sides. The darker the color the crispier it will become and that will make it hard to bite.
- Place finished crispy rice on napkin to drain excess oil for about 10 minutes.
- Assemble toppings and place sliced avocado on top then spicy ahi and green onions. Keep doing this until you have no more left. Lightly drizzle unagi sauce on top if you'd like. ENJOY!