This Ahi Tuna Sushi Stack is a modern twist on traditional sushi, featuring layers of sushi rice, ahi tuna, and creamy avocado all elegantly stacked into a tower. Each bite offers a gorgeous combination of flavors and textures!
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox! You will also receive other new recipes in your inbox weekly!
The Best Ahi Tuna Sushi Stack Recipe
The trick to making delicious and easy sushi at home is to stack it up instead of roll it up! Rolling is a whole process that can honestly be skipped. I love thinking of innovative ways to enjoy all of the flavors of sushi without actually making sushi, like with my salmon sushi bowls!
This time I am using ahi tuna with a spicy mayo dressing and layers of sushi rice, avocado, and furikake seasoning on top for that touch of seaweed flavor! I like to sear my tuna so I don’t have to worry about the dangers of eating raw tuna. It also adds a nice flavor, in my opinion!
You can enjoy this spicy ahi tuna sushi stack with a fork, or pair it with some crispy fried wontons!
Ingredients Needed
Sushi Rice
- Sushi Rice: You have to specifically use sushi rice here, which is a short grain of rice that will stick together well!
- Water: To cook the rice!
- Rice Vinegar: Adds a little extra flavor to the rice after you cook it.
- Honey: Is used to flavor the rice. Along with the rice vinegar it’s the perfect sweet and tangy combo!
Spicy Tuna
- Oil: Use a neutral, high-smoke point oil like vegetable or canola oil.
- Tuna Steaks: We will cook the tuna steaks to get a nice sear on them, but they should end up with some pink in the middle!
Assembly
- Avocado: For the smashed avocado layer.
- Spicy Mayo: Make you own spicy mayo! It is super easy!
- Fried Wontons or Chips: I like to serve my ahi tuna sushi stacks with fried wontons, but you can also serve them with some tortilla chips instead.
- Furikake Japanese Seasoning: Furikake is a mixture of dried fish, sesame seeds, seaweed, sugar, and salt! It adds an umami flavor that takes these sushi stacks up a notch!
How to Make an Ahi tuna stack
- Prep the Rice: Add rice to a bowl and cover with water. Let sit for 1-2 minutes then strain to remove the starch from the rice. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear and is no longer cloudy.
- Cook the Rice: Add rice and water to a small saucepan. Bring to a sinner, cover and cook for 16 minutes or until all of the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.
- Cool / Season Rice: Immediately transfer the rice to a sheet tray. Sprinkle vinegar and sugar over the rice and toss to coat the rice in the seasoning. Allow the rice to cool before handling.
- Cook the Tuna: Meanwhile, cook the tuna. Heat a large skillet over high heat with oil. When the pan is smoking add in the tuna steaks and cook for 2 minutes on each side or until each side has a nice golden brown crust on it.
- Chop & Mix with Spicy Mayo: Transfer to a cutting board and allow it to rest for a few minutes, then cut into bite sized pieces. Toss the cubed tuna in 3 tbsp of spicy mayo.
- Start Assembly: Layer some sushi rice on a plate and form into a mound. You could also use a greased cup to help form a nice circle.
- Add Avocado & Tuna: Top the rice with the mashed avocado, then some spicy tuna. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and Furikake seasoning.
- Fry Wonton Wrappers: If desired, you can fry up some wonton wrappers and serve with your ahi tuna sushi stack! Otherwise, serve with tortilla chips!
- Serve and Enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Swap the tuna steaks for salmon or shrimp! These sushi stacks would also be delicious with salmon or shrimp, if you prefer it over tuna. Cook the salmon or shrimp as you usually would, dice it up, and follow the recipe as normal.
- Add extra veggies! You can add an extra layer into your stack of diced cucumbers or edamame!
- You can use a sushi stack mold to stack the layers, or simply stack them on your own like I did!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I have to rinse rice?
Sushi rice has a very high starch content, which is what gives it its signature sticky texture. If you don’t rinse the sushi rice first, it will be too sticky! Rinsing the rice until the water runs clear is key to making perfectly cooked and slightly sticky sushi rice.
How should I serve ahi tuna sushi stacks?
You can serve them on their own with some crispy wonton wrappers or tortilla chips! Or, try serving them with a spread of steamed edamame, crab rangoon, pickled ginger, and a side of soy sauce for dipping!
More Asian-Inspired Recipes to Try
Ahi Tuna Sushi Stack
Ingredients
Sushi Rice
- 1 cup sushi rice
- 1 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp honey or granulated sugar
Spicy Tuna
- 1 tbsp oil
- 2 small tuna steaks
Assembly
- 1 avocado, mashed
- spicy mayo
- fried wontons or tortilla chips
- Furikake Japanese Multi-Purpose Seasoning
Instructions
Sushi Rice
- Add rice to a bowl and cover with water. Let sit for 1-2 minutes then strain to remove the starch from the rice. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear and is no longer cloudy.
- Add rice and water to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 16 minutes or until all of the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.
- Immediately transfer the rice to a sheet tray.Sprinkle vinegar and sugar over the rice and toss to coat the rice in the seasoning.Allow the rice to cool before handling.
Ahi Tuna
- Meanwhile cook the tuna. Heat a large skillet over high heat with oil.When the pan is smoking add in the tuna steaks and cook for 2 minutes on each side or until each side has a nice golden brown crust on it.
- Transfer to a cutting board and allow it to rest for a few minutes then cut into bite size pieces.
- Toss the cubed tuna in 3 tbsp spicy mayo.
Assemble
- Layer some sushi rice on a plate and form into a mound. You could also use a greased cup to help form a nice circle.Top the rice with the mashed avocado, then some of the spicy tuna. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and Furikake seasoning.
- Serve immediately with fried wontons or chips! Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Did you make this?
I’d love to hear your feedback! Leave a review and make sure to share your pictures on social media! Don’t forget to follow @thechefsavvy.
