Paleo Cauliflower Rice Sushi Rolls Recipe - Spicy Tuna | Wicked Spatula (2024)

I LOVE cauliflower rice sushi… so I made them into one of my fave kinds – spicy tuna rolls! What I don’t love is the fact that many sushi restaurants use ingredients with nasty fillers, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Often times you can even find gluten lurking in naturally gluten-free ingredients. No, thanks! Fortunately, this paleo sushi recipe is gluten-free… and just as delicious as regular sushi.

When I first started eating a paleo diet, I thought I was done eating my coveted spicy tuna rolls. Of course, I’m not one to give up on my favorite foods, so this cauliflower sushi recipe was born. It meets all our sushi needs – no rice needed!

Sushi with cauliflower rice tastes just like regular sushi, only with much fewer carbs! I can’t wait to show you how to make cauliflower sushi without rice. The method is actually almost identical to making regular spicy tuna rolls, except these are grain-free.

What Are Spicy Tuna Rolls?

Spicy tuna rolls are typically made from tuna, rice, and vegetables wrapped in a sheet of nori.

With this paleo sushi recipe, we’ll skip the rice and use cauliflower rice instead. You might be thinking that rice is gluten-free and you’d be correct. However, making sushi with cauliflower rice keeps it both low carb and paleo friendly.

How To Make Sushi Rolls At Home

Don’t be intimidated by making paleo sushi rolls at home. It’s super simple!

The first step is to make the cauliflower rice. Preheat the oven and begin pulse pieces of cauliflower in your food processor until it looks like rice.

TIP: Cut up the pieces of cauliflower before putting them in the food processor, so it chops up easily and fast.

Spread the cauliflower rice on a baking sheet covered in aluminum foil. Sprinkle with olive oil and roast for 30 minutes. I usually try to stir it a couple of times, so it doesn’t burn.

Next, mince the tuna into small pieces and combine with mayonnaise, sriracha, and salt.

Thinly slice the cucumber into long thin strips. Slice up the avocado.

Now you’re ready to start assembling the cauliflower sushi. Lay a piece of nori out and cover with cauliflower rice, leaving a 1-inch gap furthest from you.

PRO TIP: I used a sushi roll mat because I like working with it. You could also use a towel if you don’t have a sushi mat on hand.

Lay down the nori, then spread a bit of rice over it and leave a 1 inch gap at the end farthest from you. Then, layer your toppings on the end closest to you like the picture below.

Finally, wet the end without rice with a bit of water and just use the mat or towel to roll it up.

TIP: The water step is important! It helps the nori sheet stick to itself when you roll it.

Now, you’re ready to slice into 6 or 8 pieces and dig in!

That wasn’t so hard, was it? Once you make cauliflower sushi a few times, you’ll be like an old pro… promise!

Is Cauliflower Sushi Healthy?

Yes, this recipe for cauliflower sushi is healthy. When you go to a restaurant and order sushi, you need to be careful because many of them have fillers, preservatives, artificial colors, and artificial flavors. This is why I prefer to make cauliflower rice sushi at home.

When I make homemade sushi with cauliflower rice, I know that there isn’t any gluten and the ingredients are paleo.

Do I Need To Use Fresh Or Frozen Tuna To Make Cauliflower Rice Sushi?

It’s important to use sushi grade tuna when making homemade cauliflower rice sushi. It should be frozen when you buy it and only thaw it once you’re just about to use it.

You might be thinking that sushi grade tuna shouldn’t be frozen. It’s supposed to be fresh right? Yes, but freezing the fish destroys parasites that may be in the meat. You want it to be frozen.

I want you to enjoy every bite of this paleo sushi recipe, not end up sick over it!

Sushi With Cauliflower Rice Variations

There’s all kind of variations you could do for this paleo sushi recipe. Here are some ideas:

• smoked salmon + cucumber + avocado
• buffalo chicken + celery + carrots
• shrimp + cucumber + asparagus
• fresh salmon + avocado

How Do You Store Spicy Tuna Rolls

Spicy tuna rolls can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Like most sushi recipes, paleo sushi tastes best fresh or at least within 24 hours, but from a safety standpoint it’s fine for a few days.

More Paleo Main Dish Ideas

If you can’t get enough of this cauliflower sushi recipe, you should also try these other ideas:

• Easy Paleo Honey Sesame Chicken
• Spicy Paleo Kung Pao Chicken
• Paleo Shrimp Tom Kha Gai