How To Make Tuna Sushi Rolls

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Learn how to make Tuna Sushi Rolls using canned tuna are a delicious kid-friendly lunch or dinner idea. Learn to make your own sushi rolls at home in just a few simple steps.

I live in the midwest where our supply of fresh seafood is limited, to say the least.

However, I didn't always love sushi.  In fact, I didn't really eat much seafood until I was well into my 20's.  Maybe it was lack of fresh seafood available, maybe it was the way seafood was presented as a child, who knows...

I do remember the first few times eating sushi, wanting desperately to like this trendy food, but being very overcome with doubt.  It took a while to come around.

The tuna sushi rolls recipe today is both delicious and fun to make with kids.  

While I have been eating sushi for years now, I have never made sushi at home. Referring back to the fact that I live in the midwest where our lakes are frozen for half the year, I settled on canned tuna.

After buying a bag of sushi rice and pulling out my favorite canned tuna, I was set.

If you're not a big fan of canned tuna, I'm here to say that not all canned tuna is created equal.  I used to dislike the stuff until I found that I was simply buying the wrong kind.  Look for solid albacore tuna and you will be amazed at the difference. 

I used the Solid White Wild Albacore Tuna in Water, but you could choose the solid albacore tuna in olive oil as well.

How to make homemade tuna sushi at home?

After thorough research on the topic, I learned all about the art of sushi making which I'm sharing with you today. While it takes years of perfecting to become a professional, these were much easier than I expected and taste amazing! They were delicious straight out of the fridge for lunch the next day too.

I did the research so you can simply follow the directions below to make homemade Tuna Sushi Rolls.

It all starts with the rice.

Grab a bag of sushi rice and a bottle of seasoned rice vinegar.  You do need to use sushi rice - this rice is sticky rice that holds the roll together.  I found this rice in our small local grocer, so I'm guessing you should be able to grab it at most stores.

Follow the directions on the back of the bag of sushi rice.  Mine said to rinse the rice until the water ran clear, then soak for 30 minutes, then cook which is what I did.

Related: Tuna Pasta and Salmon Patties

However, I seemed to have taken a wrong step that resulted in fantastic rice the next day!  Everything I read about sushi rice suggests you needed to use it right away or the rice gets hard.  I got to thinking about why I hated taking leftover sushi home, and it was due to the hard rice the next day.

My rice wasn't hard, which I think is due to not rinsing the rice quite good enough.  I did rinse the rice for a minute or 2, but when I went to soak the rice, the water was just a touch cloudy still.  I went with it.

After cooking the rice, add 2-3 tbsp. of seasoned rice vinegar.  It must be rice vinegar, not regular vinegar or apple cider vinegar whose flavors are too strong for rice.  Seasoned rice vinegar is just rice vinegar with a little sugar and salt added for flavor.

Rice vinegar is needed to help with the consistency of the rice and when using raw fish, it helps balance the acidity.  I liked the flavor it added to the rice.

After you have the rice cooked and cooled, you're ready to get rolling!

If you don't have a sushi mat, which I didn't, you can simply use a kitchen towel topped with plastic wrap.  Place a sheet of Nori on top of the plastic wrap, shiny side down.

Next, place your sushi rice on top, leaving an area at the top without rice.

Choose what additions you want in your tuna sushi roll, I chose cucumbers and avocado.

Next up, add the canned tuna!

Now you're ready to roll the homemade sushi.

Start by slowly wrapping the bottom of the nori around the section with the fish and vegetables.  Gently, roll tightly around, using the wrap to pull snug.

Continue rolling, removing plastic wrap as you go.

When you get to the end, dip your finger in water and get the end a little wet.  Roll up completely, the end is sealed with the water.

Slice the tuna sushi in half, then into thirds.  Serve with soy sauce, ginger, and chopsticks if desired and enjoy!

My family loves dinners and snacks that are finger foods like these sushi rolls.   For a delicious appetizer you can pick up and eat, check out my Chicken & Veggie Pinwheels and for lunch this fun Turkey "Sushi" Rolls are always a hit! 

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