How to Make Bluefin Tuna Sushi at Home

Southern Bluefin Tuna is one of the most sought-after seafood delicacies in the world, and the first choice for high-end Japanese restaurants.

Perfect for sushi, Bluefin Tuna offers a delicate combination of succulent fish and vinegared rice.

While making sushi at home might sound intimidating, with a bamboo mat, a little practice, and the following steps, you can create your own sushi masterpieces.

Wooden board with dry nori sheets, rice, soy sauce and chopsticks on white background

Essential Ingredients for Making Bluefin Tuna Sushi

Before you start, gather the following essential ingredients:

Southern Bluefin Tuna: Dinko’s Southern Bluefin Tuna loins are perfect for sushi.
Sushi Rice: This short-grain rice is sticky and perfect for sushi. It’s usually seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt.
Rice Vinegar: For seasoning the sushi rice, giving it a distinctive flavour that complements the freshness of the fish.

Nori: Seaweed sheets used for wrapping sushi rolls. For the best results, buy pre-toasted nori sheets.
Vegetables (optional): To add a little more flavour, cucumber, avocado, and/or pickled radish are perfect additions to Bluefin Tuna sushi.
Soy Sauce, Wasabi, and Pickled Ginger (optional): Condiments are served on the side to enhance the flavour of your sushi.

Step 1: Preparing the Sushi Rice

The key to great sushi is properly cooked rice. Follow these steps for the perfect sushi rice:

Rinse the Rice: Place the sushi rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse it under cold water until the water runs clear. This helps remove excess starch.
Cook the Rice: Cook the rice in a rice cooker or on the stovetop according to the package instructions. The ratio of rice to water for most sushi rice is typically 1:1. For example, 1 cup of water to 1 cup of rice.

Season the Rice: While the rice is still hot, combine rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool to room temperature.
Mix the Rice: Gently fold the vinegar mixture into the cooked rice using a paddle or wooden spoon. Let the rice cool to room temperature, and it’s ready to use.

Step 2: Preparing the Fillings

While your rice is cooling, prepare the fillings for your sushi:

Bluefin Tuna: Using a sharp knife, thinly slice Dinko’s Southern Bluefin Tuna loins, against the grain. Aim for slices that are about 0.5cm thick. As the tuna is very delicate, slice it while still slightly frozen to avoid tearing.
Vegetables (optional): For a sushi roll, thinly slice cucumber, avocado, and pickled radish into long strips.

Step 3: Making Sushi Rolls

Maki sushi (rolled sushi) is a popular choice for beginners. Here’s how to roll sushi using a bamboo mat:

Set up your rolling station: Lay your bamboo sushi mat on a clean surface. Place a sheet of nori, shiny side down, on the mat.
Spread the Rice: Wet your fingers with water to prevent the rice from sticking, then spread a thin layer of sushi rice over the nori, leaving about an inch of nori at the top.
Add Fillings: Lay your Southern Bluefin Tuna loins, vegetables, and any other fillings horizontally along the centre of the rice.

Roll the Sushi: Lift the edge of the mat closest to you and gently roll it away from you while keeping the fillings tightly in place. Roll until you reach the exposed edge of the nori. Use a little water to seal the roll.
Slice the Roll: Using a sharp knife, slice the roll into bite-sized pieces. Wet your knife between cuts to prevent the rice from sticking.
Serve and Enjoy: Once your sushi is prepared, serve it with a side of soy sauce, pickled ginger, and wasabi.

Tips for Perfect Sushi

Making sushi at home is a fun and rewarding activity that can be done with a little practice and the right ingredients. With the steps above, you can create delicious rolls and nigiri to impress your friends and family. Remember, sushi-making is as much about creativity as it is about technique—feel free to experiment with different fillings and combinations to make perfect sushi for your taste! Here are some handy tips to make the process a bit easier:

Use high-quality tuna. The quality of your fish and produce will greatly affect the taste of your sushi.
Practice makes perfect: Rolling sushi takes some practice, but don’t worry if your first few rolls are imperfect. The more you make, the better you’ll get!

Use Sharp Knives: When slicing your sushi rolls or fish, use a sharp knife to get clean, neat cuts.

Ready to try it out? Give this Spicy Bluefin Tuna sushi recipe a try!

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How to make Bluefin Tuna sushi at home