This spicy tuna recipe is one of the easiest sushi-inspired dishes to make at home. Made with sushi-grade fish, spicy mayo, sesame oil, and sriracha, it’s perfect for sushi bowls, spicy tuna rolls, crispy rice, or serving as a light appetizer.
More sushi recipes to check out: tuna crudo, salmon crudo, Hawaiian poke, and crunchy spicy tuna roll.
What Is Spicy Tuna?
Spicy tuna is a sushi-style mixture made with finely diced sushi-grade tuna, spicy mayo, sesame oil, and sriracha or chili sauce.
The best spicy tuna has a clean, fresh flavor, a creamy spicy sauce, and small pieces of tuna that hold their texture without becoming mushy.
While this recipe is commonly used for spicy tuna rolls and sushi appetizers, it can also be served poke-style over rice with fresh toppings and sauces.
Ways To Serve Spicy Tuna
Spicy ahi makes a light appetizer, easy lunch recipe, sushi roll filling, or quick seafood bowl. Serve the diced tuna over sushi rice for a filling meal, or spoon it onto crackers, cucumber slices, or crispy rice for a party-style appetizer.
You can also use this spicy tuna mixture as a filling for tuna rolls, hand rolls, crispy rice bites, or poke-style bowls. If you love spicy sushi rolls, try our Spicy Krab Roll.
Ingredients
This spicy tuna recipe uses a short list of simple ingredients. The most important part is starting with high-quality sushi-grade or sashimi-grade tuna.
- High-quality raw tuna, such as ahi tuna or bigeye tuna
- Sriracha sauce or chili sauce
- Toasted sesame oil
- Spicy mayo
- Sesame seeds, green onions, or other garnishes
Pro Tip: Keep the tuna very cold until right before serving. Cold tuna holds its texture better and gives spicy tuna the clean, restaurant-style texture you get at sushi bars.
How To Make Spicy Tuna
This recipe comes together in just 10 minutes with three simple steps: dice the tuna, fold in the sauce, and garnish before serving.
Use a sharp knife to dice the tuna into small, even pieces. Gently fold the tuna with the spicy sauce until coated, then top with sesame seeds, green onions, spicy mayo, or your favorite garnish.
Spicy Tuna Bowl Ideas
Turn this recipe into a spicy tuna bowl by serving it over sushi rice and adding crunchy, creamy, spicy, and fresh toppings. A bowl is also one of the easiest ways to stretch spicy tuna into a full meal.
For a balanced dish, pair the rich tuna with crisp vegetables, creamy avocado, and a bright or spicy sauce.
- Sliced avocado
- Cucumbers
- Pickled ginger
- Kani salad
- Spicy cucumber salad
- Pickled red onions
- Mango
- Wonton strips
- Edamame
- Wasabi
- Seaweed salad
- Microgreens
- Tobiko or masago
For even more sushi bowl inspiration, check out this Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl recipe.
Sushi Sauces
This tuna recipe can stand on its own, but a drizzle of sauce can add extra flavor when serving it as a bowl, appetizer, or sushi filling.
- Soy sauce
- Ponzu sauce
- Eel sauce
- Sweet soy glaze
- Yuzu ponzu
- Spicy ponzu
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Expert Tips
- Place the tuna in the freezer for 10 minutes before cutting to make it easier to dice cleanly.
- Slice the tuna across the grain using one smooth swipe of a sharp knife instead of a back-and-forth sawing motion.
- Wipe and lightly wet the knife between cuts to help keep the fish from sticking.
- Cut the tuna into small, even pieces, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, for the best texture.
- Mix the tuna gently instead of aggressively stirring it. Overmixing can break down the fish and create a mushy texture.
- Serve immediately after mixing for the freshest flavor and best texture.
- If serving for a party, prep the tuna in one bowl and the sauce in another. Toss them together right before serving.
- Plan on serving about 4 to 6 ounces of spicy tuna per person for bowls or appetizers.
- Use the freshest sushi-grade tuna you can find for the best flavor and texture. Look for fish labeled sushi-grade or sashimi-grade.
- Check your local Asian market or trusted fish market for sushi-grade ahi tuna. Frozen sushi-grade tuna can also work if fresh tuna is not available.
- Raw tuna is best enjoyed the same day it is purchased. The flavor becomes stronger and fishier the longer it sits.
Shortcut Tip: While sushi-grade ahi tuna delivers the best restaurant-style flavor and texture, you can use drained canned tuna for a quick budget-friendly version. The texture will be softer and less silky, but it still works well for spicy tuna bowls, wraps, and sushi-inspired appetizers.
Raw Fish
Always purchase sushi-grade or sashimi-grade tuna from a trusted fish market or grocery store with high seafood turnover. If you have questions about safely consuming raw fish, consult your fishmonger or healthcare provider.
Raw fish is not recommended for pregnant women, elderly individuals, immunocompromised individuals, or anyone advised to avoid raw seafood.
If you’re new to buying and handling raw fish, check out our guide to buying and handling raw fish.
More Popular Seafood Recipes
Here are a few more seafood recipes to check out:
Drink Pairings
Spicy tuna pairs well with crisp, refreshing drinks that balance the rich tuna and spicy sauce. Try sauvignon blanc, riesling, champagne, citrus IPA, or sake.
For more pairing tips, check out our Best Wine With Sushi guide.
Spicy Tuna Recipe
Spicy Tuna
Ingredients
SPICY MAYO
- 2 tbsp sriracha sauce
- 2 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise (*Note 1)
SPICY TUNA:
- 8 oz sashimi grade tuna (*Note 2)
- ¼ cup thinly sliced chives (*Note 3)
- 3-4 tbsp sriracha sauce (*Note 4)
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- ½ tsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- ¼ tsp OPTIONAL: finely grated ginger
Instructions
- Combine the Sriracha sauce and Japanese mayo in a small bowl and mix to combine. Set aside.
- Pat the tuna dry with a paper towel and dice into ¼-½" cubes.
- In a medium size bowl, add the diced tuna and fold in the chives, Sriracha, sesame oil, and rice vinegar until well combined. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Transfer to servings bowls and top with sesame seeds and a drizzle of spicy mayo. Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.