Easy Tuna Nigiri Recipe

Rating 5.0
| 6
| Last Updated on February 26, 2024
Tuna nigiri, also known as maguro nigiri, features a thinly sliced piece of tuna over a perfectly rectangular seasoned rice ball. Nigiri means two fingers in Japanese, which is where this small and delicious treat gets its name from.
Utensils Dinner
Globe Asian
9
ingredients
11
steps
40
minutes
Chef Vivian and Chef Michi are a husband and wife dynamic culinary duo, each bringing more than 30 years of professional culinary experience to the table. Chef Vivian is a highly respected and lauded private chef, caterer and cooking class instructor. Chef Michi is a master of all things authentic Japanese sushi. Together, Chef Vivian and Chef Michi are a culinary force to be reckoned with in the kitchen.

Ingredients

Servings:
4
2 cup(s)
sushi rice
2 cup(s)
water
3 tbsp
rice vinegar
2 tbsp
sugar
1 tsp
salt
2 oz
yellowfin or bluefin sushi-grade tuna
soy sauce or tamari, for serving
wasabi, for serving
pickled ginger, for serving
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Directions 11 steps | 40 Minutes

Step 1

Prepare the sushi rice. Wash the sushi rice thoroughly with cool water.

Easy Tuna Nigiri Recipe: Prepare the sushi rice.
Step 2

In a covered pan or in the bowl of a rice cooker, combine the sushi rice and water. Cook the sushi rice on low heat for 20 minutes.

Easy Tuna Nigiri Recipe: In a covered pan or in the bowl of a rice cooker, combine the sushi rice and water.
Step 3

Prepare the sushi rice seasoning. In a small bowl, mix the rice vinegar, sugar and salt until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside.

Easy Tuna Nigiri Recipe: Prepare the sushi rice seasoning.
Step 4

Transfer the cooked rice into a flat bowl or container.

Easy Tuna Nigiri Recipe: 
Transfer the cooked rice into a flat bowl or container.
Step 5

Slowly add the sushi rice seasoning while the rice is still hot. Continuously mix the sushi rice with a rice spoon until the rice comes to room temperature.

Easy Tuna Nigiri Recipe: 
Slowly add the sushi rice seasoning while the rice is still hot.
Step 6

On a cutting board with a sushi knife or very sharp knife, thinly slice the fish against the fiber (lines), at a 45° angle. The fish should not be too thin or too thick. The size of the cut should be ½-inch wide and 2-inches long.

Easy Tuna Nigiri Recipe: On a cutting board with a sushi knife or very sharp knife, thinly slice the fish against the fiber (lines), at a 45° angle.
Step 7

Have a bowl of water next to you, wet your hands and start shaping the rice balls for the nigiri. Each rice ball should not exceed 25 grams.

Easy Tuna Nigiri Recipe: Have a bowl of water next to you, wet your hands and start shaping the rice balls for the nigiri.
Step 8

Shape a rectangle out of the rice balls first. Then cradle the rice ball in your palm and push down on it with your index finger and rotate until your rice ball looks like a well-defined rectangle.

Easy Tuna Nigiri Recipe: 
Shape a rectangle out of the rice balls first.
Step 9

Place the thinly sliced fish in your hand at the base of your fingers and add a small dab of wasabi to the center of the fish.

Easy Tuna Nigiri Recipe: 
Place the thinly sliced fish in your hand at the base of your fingers and add a small dab of wasabi to the center of the fish.
Step 10

Next, place the rice on top of the fish and press down gently with your index finger. Flip the piece of sushi over so that the fish-side faces up. Repeat the same steps with the remaining ingredients: shape first and cradle, then rotate and serve.

Easy Tuna Nigiri Recipe: Next, place the rice on top of the fish and press down gently with your index finger.
Step 11

Plate by placing a small amount of wasabi and pickled ginger on the right side of your plate. Enjoy with your favorite soy sauce or tamari.

Easy Tuna Nigiri Recipe: Plate by placing a small amount of wasabi and pickled ginger on the right side of your plate.
Nutrition Per Serving
View All
CALORIES
397
FAT
0.7 g
PROTEIN
10.3 g
CARBS
84.3 g
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6 Comments
6 Comments
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Gianluca B.

Gianluca

05 Mar 2024

Super fun recipe and very easy to follow. It was my first time attempting nigiri sushi and it came out amazing.

Reply to this comment
Sandra G.

Sandra

04 Mar 2024

So easy and fun to make. Delicious!

Reply to this comment
Kimiko S.

Kimiko

04 Mar 2024

Who knew it was so simple to make nigiri sushi?! I don't have fresh tuna (it's a Monday, after all!), but I'll be making sweet egg omelette nigiri for my vegetarian friends!

Reply to this comment
Fred M.

Fred

04 Mar 2024

Another recipe on the Cozymeal site, that made me feel like a pro!

Reply to this comment
Eddie B.

Eddie

01 Feb 2024

Such a great and easy tuna nigiri recipe! Turned out so delicious!

Reply to this comment
Sam S.

Sam

08 Sep 2022

This is such a great recipe, thanks for sharing!

Reply to this comment