Crispy Rice Sushi Bites (Copycat Nobu Recipe)

Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Description

Make these easy, trendy crispy rice sushi bites at home as a copycat recipe for the popular Nobu appetizer.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups prepared sushi rice
1/2 cup neutral-flavored oil, such as grapeseed or canola
1 pound sushi grade tuna, finely diced
3 tablespoons Japanese mayonnaise (such as Kewpie®)
2 tablespoons Sriracha, plus more for serving
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon lime juice, or more to taste
1 avocado, thinly sliced
1/2 jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced
sesame seeds, for garnish

Directions

1 Tightly pack the sushi rice into a square 8x8-inch cake pan lined with plastic wrap. Chill for 2 to 3 hours in the refrigerator or 30 minutes in the freezer.
2 Heat 1/2 cup oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cut the rice into thick, rectangular shapes, about 2 to 3 inches in length and 1 inch in width. Carefully move the pieces to the hot oil and fry until they reach a deep golden brown color, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels.
3 Combine diced tuna with mayonnaise, Sriracha, soy sauce, sesame oil, and lime juice in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed.
4 To assemble, place fried sushi rice on a serving platter. Top with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the spicy tuna mixture. Layer a few slices of avocado on top of each piece. Garnish with a thin drizzle of Sriracha, a jalapeño slice, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.