Tuna and rice wrapped in crispy and savory nori is one of my favorite combos to make for lunch. It doesn’t sound like anything special but once you try it you’ll understand why I love it so much. Think of it as an improvised hand roll. It couldn’t be simpler to whip up on short notice. When I was working, I would share it with a small group of friends at lunchtime. We all sat around the table and oohed and aahed as we ate our little tuna nori wraps.
Savory and tangy Kewpie mayonnaise replaces the usual Best Foods mayonnaise I use for tuna sandwiches. The velvety texture and rich flavor is perfect for this recipe.
With a plethora of canned tuna available these days it’s easy to find a good brand. Wild Planet does not have added water or broth which means it’s not going to be a mushy mess when you open the can.
A side of crispy cucumbers with chili crisp, kimchi or takuan and fresh fruit are the perfect pairing to complete your lunch. A drizzle of sriracha mayo over the tuna adds a nice kick to the nori wraps.
Easy and delicious nori wraps are quick to prepare!
Ingredients
1 rice cooker cup short or medium grain rice, cooked according to manufacturer’s instructions
1 (5 ounce) can tuna in sea salt, such as Wild Planet)
Kewpie mayonnaise
2-3 teaspoons finely chopped celery
2 teaspoons finely chopped sweet onion
2 teaspoons finely grated carrot
2 teaspoons thinly sliced green onion
1 teaspoon roasted sesame seeds
1-2 packets Korean-style seaweed snacks, depending on size
Directions
- Once rice has cooked, transfer to a bowl and gently mix in roasted sesame seeds. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside allowing rice to cool to room temperature.
- In a medium bowl, flake the tuna with a fork. Mix in Kewpie mayonnaise (enough to moisten tuna generously, tuna should not look dry), celery, onion, and carrot. Transfer to a smaller bowl for serving.
- Set out nori (just before serving to keep crisp), tuna salad, and rice. Make mini nori wraps by placing a small amount of rice on the nori, followed by tuna. Top with sriracha mayonnaise if using, and green onions. It’s best to make the nori wraps as you eat them so the nori stays crispy. Serve with your favorite side dishes such as potato salad, fresh fruit, kimchi and takuan pickles.
This looks wonderful! Thank you.
Aloha Addie! Mahalo for your comment! It is the simplest meal to whip up on short notice without any fancy ingredients. Yummy!