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Blackfin Tuna Sushi Roll

Zachery Dyke

Zachery Dyke

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What Is Blackfin Tuna Sushi?

Blackfin Tuna sushi is a sushi preparation made with fresh blackfin tuna, a species commonly found throughout Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean. Known for its firm texture and rich flavor, blackfin tuna is often served as sashimi, nigiri, poke, or in specialty sushi rolls. Its meat is typically deep red to pink in color and offers a clean, slightly sweet taste that is milder than some larger tuna species while still providing the rich flavor sushi lovers enjoy.

blackfin tuna sushi roll
Blackfin Tuna Sushi Rolls

Because of its excellent texture and flavor, blackfin tuna is highly regarded as a sushi-grade fish when properly handled and prepared. Many anglers consider fresh blackfin tuna one of the best eating fish in the ocean, especially when served raw shortly after being caught and chilled. Paired with soy sauce, wasabi, ponzu, or fresh citrus, blackfin tuna sushi highlights the natural quality of the fish while delivering a fresh, buttery seafood experience.

Blackfin Tuna Sushi Roll Recipe

Can You Make Sushi With Blackfin Tuna?

Yes, Blackfin Tuna makes absolutely delicious sushi rolls! This is a recipe I’ve been very excited to write about for a long time, because it truly is one of my favorites. Although I’ve never speared a Blackfin Tuna, I’ve been catching them on rod and reel for many years. Every once in awhile I do hear about someone shooting one, but it’s definitely not something super common, at least in South Florida. The other day, I saw KeyWestWaterman spear one on YouTube and it made me think about putting this recipe up.

Spicy Blackfin Tuna Roll
Blackfin Tuna Sushi Roll

If you’ve seen any of my other recipes, you know I love making sushi! This recipe is actually a combination of a few I found many years ago. Spicy Tuna Rolls were always my favorite when Brittany and I used to go out for sushi, so when I started catching my own tuna I knew I had to figure out how to make them at home! Through some trial and error, I eventually settled with this recipe.

Components Of Blackfin Tuna Sushi

The Sushi Rice

The first component, as I stated in my Spicy Black Grouper Sushi Roll recipe, is the sushi rice. You want to make sure you use a good quality rice. I’ve always used some sort of rice that is suitable for sushi, for this particular recipe I used this Nishiki Medium Grain Rice. Making sure you season your rice properly, is also a major factor and will have a major impact on the final product.

The Nori

The second component is the nori. You want to find nice dark green sheets. If you buy them from an Asian market they will probably have a good selection. Sometimes big box stores don’t have huge selections and the nori sheets they do have aren’t great quality.

Blackfin Tuna

The Blackfin Tuna Sushi Roll Mixture

The third component is what we are going to be using to make our Spicy Tuna Roll. In this case sriracha, soy sauce, white sugar, sesame oil, and green onions. The sriracha is going to add a flavorful heat. The soy sauce is going to add some saltiness and help balance out the sweetness of the white sugar. The sesame oil is going to add a little bit of nutty flavor to the roll, but not too much. The green onion is going to give the tuna roll a little bit of a fresh crunch, especially if you use the stems of your green onion.

The Blackfin Tuna

The final component is the tuna itself. As stated above, we’re using Blackfin Tuna for this particular recipe, but just about any type of fresh tuna will do. I have also made this recipe with Mutton Snapper, Yellow Jack, and Wahoo before, with similar results. One note I will make about the tuna is to make sure there are no gristly parts in the fillets you will be using.

Common Mistakes When Making Blackfin Tuna Sushi

  • Not bleeding the tuna right after you catch it
  • Not seasoning the rice properly
  • Not using a sharp knife to cut the rolls

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, blackfin tuna is excellent for sushi and is commonly used for sashimi, nigiri, poke bowls, and sushi rolls because of its rich flavor and firm texture. When properly handled, bled, and chilled immediately after being caught, blackfin tuna can make incredibly fresh and high-quality sushi.

Yes, Blackfin Tuna that has been properly handled is generally considered safe to eat raw, however please read our disclaimer below.

RAW FISH DISCLAIMER: Consuming raw or undercooked fish, shellfish, or seafood may increase your risk of food-borne illness, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, immunocompromised, elderly, or have certain medical conditions. Always source seafood from reputable suppliers, keep it properly refrigerated, and follow safe handling practices. If you are unsure whether a fish is safe to eat raw, cook it thoroughly to the recommended temperature before consuming.

The Shun Classic 9″ Slicing Knife is our preferred knife for making sushi in the Spearos Kitchen. This is the knife that we used to prepare this Blackfin Tuna Sushi recipe.

This recipe can absolutely be made with other types of fish! Some of our favorites include cero mackerel, mutton snapper, yellow jack, and wahoo! The filling for this blackfin tuna sushi roll recipe can also be used in a variety of ways for other recipes!

Other Blackfin Tuna Recipes You Might Like

We have a full database of recipes that would be suitable for preparing Blackfin Tuna, we also have a few species specific recipes on the recipes tab of this page. Every part of the fish is delicious, make sure to check out our recipes for all the different parts!

blackfin tuna sushi roll
5 from 2 votes

Blackfin Tuna Sushi Roll

by zachery dykeZachery Dyke
This blackfin tuna sushi roll recipe can easily be made at home with your fresh caught fish! Make restaurant quality sushi in your kitchen!
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 2
Calories: 241kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For The Sushi Rice

  • 1 cup Short Grain Sushi Rice (rinsed)
  • 1 ½ cups Water
  • 1 tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar
  • ½ tbsp White Sugar
  • ½ tsp Salt

For The Spicy Tuna

  • 6 oz Blackfin Tuna (or any other tuna)
  • 2 tsp Sriracha
  • 1 tsp Soy Sauce
  • ½ tsp White Sugar
  • ½ tsp Sesame Oil
  • 1 Green Onion

Other Ingredients For The Roll

  • 2 Nori Sheets
  • Cucumber (optional)
  • Avocado (optional)
  • Sesame Seeds (optional)

Instructions 

For The Sushi Rice

  • Measure out 1 cup of rice, rinse thoroughly, and add to your small pot.
    1 cup Short Grain Sushi Rice
  • Measure out 1 ½ cups of water and add to your small pot.
    1 ½ cups Water
  • Bring your rice to a boil, reduce heat to low and cover.
  • Once your water level gets below the rice remove from heat.
  • Keep covered for 20 minutes.
  • Remove lid, fluff with a fork, and transfer to a large bowl.
  • In a separate small bowl, add your rice wine vinegar, white sugar, and salt.
    1 tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar
    ½ tbsp White Sugar
    ½ tsp Salt
  • Microwave for 15 seconds and stir. Make sure the sugar is melted. Microwave longer if needed.
  • Add this mixture to your rice, doing your best to spread it around evenly.
  • Set aside.

For The Spicy Tuna Roll

  • Finely chop your tuna into small pieces. It helps to cut into strips first.
    6 oz Blackfin Tuna
  • Add to your medium bowl.
  • Finely chop your green onion.
    1 Green Onion
  • Add in your sriracha, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and green onion.
    2 tsp Sriracha
    1 tsp Soy Sauce
    ½ tsp White Sugar
    ½ tsp Sesame Oil
  • Mix thoroughly and set aside.

Rolling The Sushi

  • Wrap your sushi mat with plastic wrap so the rice doesn't stick.
  • Cut your nori sheets in half or ¾.
    NOTE: You should be able to make 3-4 rolls with this depending on how much tuna you use for each.
    2 Nori Sheets
  • Place your nori on your mat smooth side down.
  • Add rice evenly. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if you would like.
  • Flip over and add your filling. Add any of the other optional ingredients.
    Cucumber
    Avocado
  • Roll your your sushi while applying pressure evenly with your mat.
  • Top with sesame seeds or anything else you would like. Or serve as is.
    Sesame Seeds
  • Cut into 8-10 pieces.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 241kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 409mg | Potassium: 279mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2055IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
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