Tuna Mayo Sushi - A Japanese Home Favourite

Tuna mayo is one of those classic fillings that always feels familiar and easy. These slim sushi rolls are simple to make at home and are especially good for lunchboxes or a light meal. The creamy tuna and fresh cucumber make a combination that is simple, but very satisfying.
Cook: 20min
Total: 20min
1 servings
Tuna Mayo Sushi - A Japanese Home Favourite

Ingredients

  • 210 g sushi rice (cooked and seasoned, makes 3 rolls)

  • 1/2 cucumber

  • mixed leaves, as needed

  • 1 can tuna (drained)

  • 1 tbsp mayonnaise

  • 1½ nori sheets (halved)

Instructions

  1. 1

    Drain the tuna well, then mix it with the mayonnaise in a small bowl. Trim both ends of the cucumber, then cut it lengthwise into 7 to 8 mm strips.

    Step 1 - 1
  2. 2

    Place a half sheet of nori on your sushi mat. Spread the sushi rice evenly over the nori, leaving about a 1 cm gap at the top.

  3. 3

    Lay the mixed leaves across the centre of the rice, then add the tuna mayo and cucumber on top, as shown in the photo.

    Step 3 - 1
    Step 3 - 2
  4. 4

    Roll it up firmly using the sushi mat. Wrap the roll in cling wrap and let it rest for a few minutes so the nori softens and settles. Then slice it into 5 even pieces.

    Step 4 - 1

Tomoka's Note

For me, the part that matters most in any sushi roll is the rice. Try to use sushi rice or Japanese short-grain rice, and make sure it is properly seasoned with vinegar, sugar, and salt. That balance is what gives sushi its familiar flavour and makes even a simple filling taste right. If you would like the full method, I have shared the basic sumeshi recipe here. One small tip that helps when rolling: for slim sushi rolls like this, I often use 2/3-size nori sheets because they feel much easier to handle. It also helps to spread the rice a little more thinly than you think you need. This makes the roll easier to close neatly without the filling spilling out. In Japan, when people say “mayonnaise,” they usually mean Japanese mayonnaise like Kewpie. It is very common in Japanese home cooking and is often used for dishes like tuna mayo. You can often find it in the Asian foods aisle at supermarkets in Australia, so it is quite easy to try at home. You may notice that some Kewpie mayonnaise sold in Australia is made in Thailand. These are still official Kewpie products, but the flavour can be slightly different from the Japanese version. I hope this becomes an easy little sushi roll you can come back to for lunchboxes, light meals or quiet days at home.

Serve It With

The Inspiration

Nadia