How to Make Spicy Ahi Tuna (for Crispy Rice, Bowls & Salads)
on Aug 19, 2025
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Spicy Ahi Tuna is one of those special dishes that is a restaurant-order staple, but can also be recreated at home. All you need is high-quality sashimi-grade sushi, mayo, and a few other pantry staples. You can serve spicy tuna on top of crispy rice, in a rice bowl, on a salad, or in sushi rolls.
If you’re looking for our top recipes that use Spicy Tuna, check out The Best Spicy Tuna with Crispy Rice Recipe and 15 Minute Spicy Ahi Tuna Tartare.
If you want another fun fish variation, try our Spicy Salmon Crispy Rice.
What is Spicy Tuna?
Spicy tuna is a type of raw tuna that is minced really finely, almost into a paste texture, and mixed with a spicy sauce.
The sauce is usually a mixture of mayo and sriracha, but you can mix and match with sugar, soy sauce, or toasted sesame oil, too! This recipe is a great base for many recipes to pair with it.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Spicy tuna is a special balance of creamy, spicy, brightness, and that comes together in minutes. You can mix and match with any sort of seasonings to your preference, too, and pair in any way you prefer!
- This recipe is under 10 ingredients
- No cooking required
- Easy prep by adding all the ingredients to the sheet pan and letting it roast!
- Extremely versatile! It can be paired in bowls, salads, on top of crispy rice, in a handroll or cut roll.
- Ready in under 30 minutes
- It’s customizable, you can add avocado, cucumber, scallions, toasted sesame seeds, really anything you like!
Recipe Ingredients
Below are the ingredients you need to make this recipe, including all our tips and substitutions.
- Sashimi-grade tuna: You can use any type of raw fish available to you, ranging from bluefin tuna, toro tuna, ahi tuna, or yellowfin tuna. Ensure the fish is sushi-grade.
- Spicy mayo base: The spicy mayonnaise base is a mix of mayo (preferably Kewpie Japanese mayonnaise), sriracha sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, a pinch of sugar, and green onions/scallions.
- Toasted sesame seeds: Tossed into the spicy tuna for added flavor, nuttiness, and aroma.
The full list of ingredients with exact quantities can be found on the recipe card below.
Tips and Substitutions
- To make this recipe gluten-free, you can substitute tamari or coconut aminos.
- To make this recipe vegan, you can swap in some tomato or watermelon instead of the fish, and vegan mayo for the spicy sauce.
- For another fish variation, you can also use canned tuna.
- Storing: Store up to 24 hours in an airtight container in the fridge. Best served fresh!
How to Make Spicy Ahi Tuna
Step 1: Mince and chop your sushi-grade tuna into a fine paste, depending on your preferred texture.
Step 2: In a separate bowl, mix mayo, sriracha, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, white granulated sugar, and sliced green onions.
Step 3: Pour the sauce over your minced sushi-grade tuna and mix well.
Step 4: Set aside in the fridge until ready to use. Serve on top of crispy rice, in a leafy green salad, sushi rice bowl, spicy tuna roll, or hand roll.
The full detailed instructions can be found on the recipe card below.
Serving Recommendations
Looking for some ideas to serve with this spicy ahi tuna? We have you covered!
- Top the spicy tuna on our Best Spicy Tuna with Crispy Rice
- Use this base for our 15 Minute Spicy Ahi Tuna Tartare, topped with cucumbers.
- Serve on top of crispy rice, in a leafy green salad, rice bowl, tuna cut roll, or hand roll.
Spicy Tuna FAQs
Yes, you can prep the ahi tuna mixture up to 24 hours in advance.
You can swap with vegan mayo, or omit the mayo altogether and just make the sauce with the sriracha.
Serve on top of crispy rice, in a leafy green salad, rice bowl, tuna cut roll, or hand roll.
More Fish Recipes
If you do make this Spicy Tuna recipe, leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, we would love to hear what you think! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram, we love to see what you’re making! If you’d like to stay in touch and get the latest in your inbox, sign up for our Newsletter. We can also be found on YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest!
How to Make Spicy Ahi Tuna (for Crispy Rice, Bowls & Salads)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound sushi-grade ahi tuna, minced or finely cubed
- 1/4 cup Kewpie mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sriracha, more for taste
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- pinch of white granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions, adjust to your preference if you prefer less
- toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- Mince and chop your sushi-grade tuna into a fine paste, depending on your preferred texture.
- In a separate bowl, mix mayo, sriracha, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, white granulated, sugar, and sliced green onions.
- Pour the sauce over your minced sushi-grade tuna and mix well.
- Set aside in the fridge until ready to use. Serve on top of crispy rice, in a leafy green salad, sushi rice bowl, spicy tuna roll, or hand roll.
Notes
- To make this recipe gluten-free, you can substitute with tamari or coconut aminos.
- To make this recipe vegan, you can swap in some tomato or watermelon instead of the fish, and vegan mayo for the spicy sauce.
- For another fish variation, you can also use canned tuna.
- Storing: Store up to 24 hours in an airtight container in the fridge. Best served fresh!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
A special base recipe that I always have in my backpocket for crispy rice, salads, rice bowls, and tuna cut rolls! I hope you enjoy!