Easy Spicy Tuna-Mayo Rice Ball (Onigiri)

A Note on This Recipe

Got a can of tuna, some leftover rice, and a food container? Then you’re ready to whip up onigiri like a pro.

Onigiri is a Japanese-style rice ball that’s formed into a triangle shape, then wrapped in a piece of seaweed. You can customize it as much as you want with a variety of fillings and extras. Complete your meal with a bowl of miso soup and a side of green salad for a well-rounded meal.

How to Make It

Spicy tuna mayo filling mixed in a bowl.

Prepare the Tuna Filling

In a bowl, finely chop pickled jalapeños with shears. Drain the liquid from the tuna can and add to the bowl with the rest of the ingredients. Break up the tuna with a fork and mix to combine. Adjust the salt amount depending on the type of canned tuna you use.

Cooked rice seasoned with sesame oil, sesame seeds, and salt for onigiri.

Season the Rice

If the rice is hot, cool it down to room temperature. Season the rice lightly with salt, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. Gently and quickly mix until the grains are evenly coated and seasoned. If preferred, you can skip the seasoning step and use plain rice.

Add the Filling

Take a handful of rice and form it into a thick disk. Then add the tuna salad in the center and shape it into a ball, completely enclosing the filling.

Shape the Onigiri

Place the rice ball into the corner of the food container and gently mold it into a triangle. Remove from the container and wrap the bottom with a strip of seaweed.

Breakfast for One

Easy Spicy Tuna-Mayo Rice Ball (Onigiri)

A fun twist on Japanese onigiri filled with a spicy tuna mayo salad — easy to make with pantry staples and perfect for a quick breakfast, snack, or light meal.
Yield: 2 Rice Balls
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup steamed rice room temperature
  • ¼ seaweed sheet
  • 1 tsp sesame oil optional
  • Sesame seeds optional
  • Salt
Spicy tuna-mayo salad
  • 1 can tuna drained
  • 1-2 tbsp pickled jalapeños chopped
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp sriracha sauce
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Mix the drained canned tuna with chopped pickled jalapeños, mayonnaise, sriracha, salt, and pepper until combined.
  • Cool the rice to room temperature, then season lightly with salt, sesame oil, and sesame seeds, mixing gently to coat.
  • Take a handful of rice, flatten into a thick disk, place a spoonful of tuna filling in the center, and shape into a ball enclosing the filling completely.
  • Press the ball into the corner of a food container to mold it into a triangle, then wrap the bottom with a strip of seaweed.

Watch the Recipe

Notes

A food container is the easiest way to get a clean triangle shape without an onigiri mold — press gently rather than packing too tightly so the rice stays fluffy. Adjust the jalapeño and sriracha amounts to your spice preference. Salt levels in canned tuna vary by brand, so taste the filling before adding extra salt.

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Hi, I’m Kim—I love coffee, quiet mornings, and the little joys a good bite brings. I share simple, thoughtful recipes inspired by my life living in different countries and the flavors I’ve gathered along the way.

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