A spicy tuna roll is a sushi classic, and with good reason. The dish combines fresh tuna with a spicy sauce, all rolled up with rice and nori for a bite-sized piece of sushi heaven. The Spruce Eats notes that this recipe should be made with sashimi grade tuna, which is typically bluefin but can also be yellowfin or albacore. The key ingredient that gives the spicy tuna its zing is ichimi togarashi, which is simply ground red chili peppers.
To make the spicy tuna, cubes of raw tuna are mixed with mayonnaise and ichimi togarashi in a bowl. The ingredients are then spread onto a sheet of sushi rice, which should be prepared using the correct water-to-rice ratio and adequate seasoning. The rice should also be refrigerated for a bit so it is firmer.
Once the tuna is spread on the rice, a row of cucumber and avocado is positioned next to it. Then, a small amount of cream cheese is added in a row above that. The fillings are then tightly rolled up, and the bottom edge of the nori is folded over the rest of the roll. The mellow flavor of the cream cheese provides a nice contrast to the spiciness of the tuna.
Wet the uncovered edge of the nori with Tezu, a hand dipping liquid that is made from 1/4 cup water and 2 teaspoons of rice vinegar. This will prevent the sushi from sticking to your hands as you roll it.