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.
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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!
How To Make Tuna Sushi Rolls
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups cooked sushi rice
- 2-3 tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar
- 2 sheets nori
- 1 can Wild Selections Solid White Albacore Tuna in water
- 1/2 cucumber cut into strips
- 1/2 avocado cut into strips
Instructions
- Lay nori, shiny side down, on a sushi mat or plastic wrap
- Mix seasoned rice vinegar into the sushi rice using a sideways chopping motion
- Spread 3/4 cup rice mixture onto each sheet of nori, leaving a little space without rice on top
- Top each roll with a horizontal line of cucumber, avocado, and tuna
- Roll nori tightly around veggies and tuna
- Dip your fingers in water and run them along the top portion of the nori, finish rolling. The water seals the roll
- Using a sharp knife, slice roll in half, then into thirds. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Jillian says
my husband will really love trying this one out!
Create Kids Club says
It is a really fun recipe to make – I hope he enjoys it as much as I did, Jillian!
Rebecca says
So good I need to do this with my husband haha! BTW what plugin are you using for your recipe cards? Looks great!
Create Kids Club says
Thanks, Rebecca! I am using the WP Tasty Plugin by Food Blogger Pro. So far I love it! To get the nutrition info, I use Nutrifox which is also from the people over at Food Blogger Pro. Nutrifox can be used with lots of recipe plugins if it’s the nutrition info your looking for. 🙂
Katie says
They’re beautiful!! Sounds delicious
Create Kids Club says
Thanks, Katie!
Jodi Robinson says
This is genius and such a money-saver! I love making homemade sushi :).
Create Kids Club says
It really is a money-saver, Jodi! It was not nearly as hard as I thought it would be either. What kind of sushi do you make at home?!
Katie Pfeffer says
I LOVE making sushi at home! Will definitely need to try this healthier brand of canned tuna! Thanks, Jodi!
Create Kids Club says
Thanks, Katie! I’m so happy I tried it as well. I didn’t realize how easy it was to make! And you won’t go wrong with Wild Selections. So delicious!
Whitney E, R.D. says
I absolutely love sushi and tuna! These rolls looks absolutely amazing. I am most definitely going to try out this delicious recipe 🙂
Create Kids Club says
Thanks, Whitney! They are such a yummy lunch or dinner idea and make for delicious leftovers too! 🙂
Shannon says
Love the step by step instructions with the photos- thanks for making it so easy to follow with this recipe!
Create Kids Club says
I’m happy you found them helpful, Shannon! 🙂
Abbie Gellman says
Fun! Great idea for the kiddos
Create Kids Club says
Thanks, Abbie!
Jess says
I love how simple this delicious recipe was!