While thinking about appetizers and snacks for my New Year’s Eve party I could not help but think of making something healthy, to get a head start on those New Year’s resolutions, and I just had to make these Spicy Tuna and Avocado Cucumber Sushi Bites treats! The basic idea was to take my favourite sushi, spicy tuna, and instead of rolling it up in that carbalicious sushi rice that I would serve it on a slice of cucumber, which is nice and juicy and healthy and it makes it perfect finger food! The sushi grade tuna is seasoned with soy sauce for saltiness, sriracha for the spicy heat, mirin for a touch of sweetness, green onions and sesame oil and seeds. The final component is of course cool and creamy avocado which rounds things out when combined with the juicy cucumber! Not only are these bite sized ‘sushi’ appetizers ridiculously tasty but they are also super easy to make, so much easier than rolled sushi, so they are a great for entertaining! If you are looking for a healthy and addictively tasty way to ring in the New Year, these Spicy Tuna and Avocado Cucumber Sushi Bites bites are just what you have been looking for!
If you like your sushi covered in sauces feel free to drizzle on some teriyaki sauce and sriracha or sriracha mayo!
There are lots of options with this! I mixed some mayo into these ones and sprinkled on some chopped macadamia nuts and a bit of teriyaki sauce! Yum!
Spicy Tuna and Avocado Cucumber Sushi Bites
Light and healthy spicy tuna ‘sushi’ with seasoned tuna on cucumber slices along with cool and creamy avocado!
ingredients
- 1/2 pound ahi tuna (sushi-grade), finely diced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sriracha (or to taste)
- 2 teaspoons mirin (optional)
- 2 tablespoons green onions, finely sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons black sesame seeds, toasted (optional)
- 1 cucumber, sliced thinly
- 1 avocado, thinly sliced
directions
- Toss the tuna with the mixture of the soy sauce, sriracha, mirin, green onions, sesame oil and sesame seeds and place on the cumber slices and avocado and enjoy!
Option: Add 1 tablespoon mayonnaise.
Option: Add 2 tablespoons finely chopped macadamia nuts. (This is amazing!)
Option: Drizzle on teriyaki sauce.
Option: Sprinkle on panko bread drums for crunch.
Option: Sprinkle on shichimi togarashi (Japanese chili pepper mix).
Option: Sprinkle on crumbled toasted seaweed. (The sheets that sushi rolls are rolled with.)
These look great, Kevin! Thanks for sharing it! Do you have a good place to get sushi-grade fish in Toronto? Please share your insider knowledge. 🙂
Melissa Cee: I get it at the St Lawrence Market.
Wow, great little bites!
Beautiful! Thanks for all the great recipes and have a Happy New Year!!
These look fantastic! Thanks for all the great recipes and happy new year!
these are beautiful and I love the little crushed macadamia nuts on top!
These sushi bites look amazing and they're so bright and colorful too! I hope you have a fantastic NYE party! 😀
Omg, the tuna looks SO fresh and vibrant. I need these bites in my life!
Absolutely lovely! I'm out to get tuna in a few minutes since this is my must have to eat NOW food.
I made something similar last night at our party! I used cucumber, nori, spicy tuna, crunchy panko and sesame seeds with eel sauce. Delicious and much easier than fiddling with sushi rice especially when making so many other items! I'll have to try your recipe next time. Happy New Years!!!
This was an excellent new year’s eve app for my group. It’s pricey with sushi-grade tuna… but you can’t eat this any other way. I added a little salt to taste and made a sriracha mayo to drizzle. The avocado adds a beautiful, creamy texture and the black sesame seeds are absolutely necessary. Don’t skimp on ingredients or substitute. Make as is. Perfect. Thank you for a keeper!
I’m making this again tonight as it’s a hot day here. I think I’ve made it about 6 times and it always gets rave reviews. I’ve also sent friends the link. Thanks for one of my favourite recipes!
My boys love fresh sushi. I am going to have to try this for them.
These would be great apps for the next time we have company.
You’re consistently fabulous with your simple, yet delicious recipes, Kevin. Thank you for sharing with all of us!
Best and Happy New Year, Sandra
One of your suggestions is to roll (or more likely sprinkle) the tuna with panko to add some crunch. I love it! What do you think about toasting the panko first? Would it crunch or taste any different than plain old “raw” untoasted panko?
You can use regular (untoasted) panko, which works well, or you can toast it for even more crunch. You can toast it in a pan by itself or lightly toss it with oil or melted butter as you toast it!