If you love sushi, you’re going to adore this dish. Tekka Don is a Japanese rice bowl topped with marinated raw tuna. I usually cook just a single portion for a quick and easy work lunch – and if you have leftover sushi rice to use, the whole thing takes less than 5 minutes. The marinated tuna makes it feel like a wonderfully luxurious and indulgent treat in the middle of a busy day.
What’s the Trick for Perfect Tekka Don
What makes tekka don different from a sushi bowl is that in this recipe, the rice is served warm. This means you get a delightful contrast of temperatures as the cold tuna mixes with the warm rice in your mouth. And as the rice slowly warms up the fish, it releases additional flavors and aromas.
Whether you are making the rice especially for this dish or using leftovers, the trick is in getting the timing perfect, so that the tuna marinates for just long enough to meet the rice at the perfect temperature. If you are cooking the rice fresh, then start off by putting the rice on. You can prepare everything else while the rice is resting. Once the rice is ready, it will stay warm for the 2-3 minutes you need to marinate the tuna.
If you’re reheating rice, I suggest using the microwave. Prepare everything else while the rice is heating through. As soon as the microwave pings, add the tuna to the marinade. The rice will cool slightly in those 2-3 minutes, but that’s okay – you want it warm rather than piping hot.
Raw Tuna and the Marinade
You need to get hold of sashimi-grade tuna for this dish. If you’re not sure, ask your fishmonger and be sure to explain that you will be eating the fish raw. To make the marinade, it’s as easy as mixing all the ingredients together. You can get a bit creative here if you want. My suggestion is for a classic, simple marinade, but if you want, you can add some other ingredients as well. Chili sauce or chili oil, sesame oil, black rice vinegar, yuzu or lime juice, even orange juice are all interesting and delicious additions.
Making Tekka Don for a Lunchbox
If you want to make this to take to work or school, it’s super-easy to prepare.Place the rice in a microwave-proof sealable container. Mix the marinade ingredients together and put into a small sealed container. Add the diced tuna to a separate container and all the other topping to a third. Then all you need to do at lunchtime is heat up the rice in the office microwave then add the toppings as detailed above.
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Conclusion
Next time you’re looking for the perfect quick and delicious lunch, I highly recommend trying out my tekka don recipe. It’s the ideal break food, being light on the stomach as well as fresh-tasting and indulgent. I bet all your coworkers will be jealous! Give it a try and let me know how you get on.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups cooked sushi rice lightly seasoned
- 5 oz fresh tuna sashimi grade, cut into cubes
- 1/4 tsp sesame seeds toasted
- 1 scallion sliced
- 1 tbsp nori seaweed shredded
- 1 sprig shiso or basil leaves shredded
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sake
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 1/4 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Cook the sushi rice according to packet instructions. Season lightly.
- Reheat the rice, if necessary.
- Mix the soy sauce, sake, rice vinegar and sugar together. Add the tuna and leave to marinate for 2-3 minutes.
- Place the warm rice in a bowl. Top with the marinated tuna and scatter over the sesame seeds and scallions.
- Add the shredded nori and shiso leaves. Serve with the rest of the marinade liquid on the side.
1 Comment
Mimi Rippee
April 7, 2025 at 9:12 pmSounds wonderful!