7 of the Best Types of Tuna Sushi

Whether it is in the form of sushi or sashimi, you can’t argue that tuna doesn’t have a big place in the world of sushi.

Tuna is one of the most popular species of fish to be used inside sushi, with over half of all sushi lovers preferring to order it over salmon and eel. It can be paired with other types of fish or just stand alone as a star in its own right. Even if you have never had these other types of tuna, it can be something wonderful to try for the future.

If you want to know the seven types of tuna sushi to get at a restaurant or make at home, then keep on reading.

1. Toro Sushi

You may have heard of toro, but what is it? Toro is the Japanese term for the belly of the tuna fish. What is great about toro tuna is that it is fattier than lean tuna, making it feel like the fish is melting in your mouth when you take a bite.

If you want your toro tuna to slightly fatty but not too much, try getting chutoro tuna. This type of tuna has a fifteen to twenty percent fat content and is taken from the belly and back of a tuna fish. On the other hand, otoro is the fattiest variety of toro, taken from the fish’s underbelly.

Because of its scarcity due to the proportions of the fish, toro can be expensive.

2. Ahi Tuna

You may hear this tuna referred to as “ahi” or yellowtail. In truth, “ahi” is the Hawai’ian term for this fish. Ahi tuna is considered to have a lighter, fresher taste than other sushi types of tuna and is one of the most commonly caught types of tuna. Ahi is very low on fat and very lean.

Ahi tuna can get added to a typical sushi roll, a poke bowl, or even made into an ahi tuna “steak”.

3. Spicy Tuna Rolls

Spicy tuna rolls have routinely gotten called one of the most popular types of sushi rolls — and it is not hard to see why. With the simplicity of its ingredients being just sushi rice, raw tuna, and spicy mayo or sriracha, it gives a more flavorful alternative to types of tuna sushi rolls that only rely on the flavor of the fish.

If you want more ingredients inside it, you can add tempura flakes, sesame seeds, or sesame oil. Though this sushi roll was invented in the United States, it has captured sushi lover’s hearts worldwide.

4. Bluefin Tuna

One interesting fact about this type of tuna is that there are two varieties of it that are the most popular tuna cuts to use in sushi. The two types are pacific bluefin and southern bluefin.

Pacific bluefin tuna is caught from the Atlantic and Mediterranean waters and is typically the fish you will most likely find at sushi restaurants in Japan. Meanwhile, southern bluefin tuna is caught in the Indian Ocean, leading it to be known as “Indian tuna” in Japan. What type of bluefin tuna is best does depend on the season, where pacific bluefin is not as good in summer so southern bluefin becomes the choice fish.

5. Tuna Hand Rolls

Tuna does not have to be reserved for sushi rolls or sashimi. You can use slices or cubes of tuna in order to make tuna hand rolls. Hand rolls are one of the most well-known types of tuna sushi rolls because of the unique way it is wrapped triangularly and that, unlike other methods of sushi, you can pick them up to eat.

The choice of items to put in tuna hand rolls is endless. The items you add can be either your own special creation or a recreation of a dish in your favorite sushi restaurant.

6. Sushi Grade Tuna

You may have heard of the term “sushi grade”, but what is it? Sushi grade is when fish undergoes a freezing process that treats the fish with extra care to limit the risk of foodborne illnesses.

Sushi grade tuna is considered safe enough to consume raw with minimal processing because the fish is highly resistant to parasites. Types of sushi grade tuna that are safe to eat raw include:

• Albacore
• Bigeye
• Bluefin
• Bonito
• Skipjack
• Yellowfin tuna

When trying to find sushi grade tuna, keep an eye out for these varieties.

7. Canned Tuna

If you do not have a lot of fresh tuna in your fridge or you find it too expensive, canned tuna is an easy and cheaper option you can go for when making your sushi rolls. The good thing about canned tuna is that you can buy it in bulk and it will last in your pantry for a long time. Thus, you will always have it in stock when you don’t have sushi grade tuna or salmon to use.

They can be great for making tuna salad sushi rolls and pairing them with chopped onions, mayonnaise, and vegetables like cucumbers. If you need something on the fly, canned tuna is the best type of sushi tuna to use.

Try These Types of Tuna Sushi Next Time You Eat

Tuna is one of the most common types of fish to get used in sushi. As an essential fish in this Japanese meal, it would be a shame to not broaden your fish palate. Why not try any of these types of tuna sushi the next time you go out?

We hope you learned something new about the types of tuna that can be used in sushi. To learn about more food and cooking tips, check out our site.