Surimi, or imitation crab meat, is made of another white fish - usually Alaskan pollack. The fish is flavored and shaped to look like crab. This is the crab meat most often seen in your local Japanese restaurant that serves a California roll. It usually comes in imitation crab sticks (sometimes called kani crab stick), chunk style or flake style. Any style works in this dish.

Can I use real crab instead of surimi for this dish?

Certainly! Real crab meat would be delicious in the spicy mayo sauce.

What is kewpie mayonnaise?

Kewpie is a brand of Japanese mayonnaise that is richer and more yellow than American mayo, thanks to the super-orange egg yolk magic famous in Japan. US mayo uses whole egg to make mayo, Kewpie uses all egg yolks. It also brings a sweeter note due to using sweeter vinegars than regular mayo in the US, which mostly relies on white distilled vinegar. It really is a wonder and it's worth your time to track it down. If you can't find it in any of your local grocery stores or Asian market, you can make a similar mayonnaise substitute by combining 1 cup of regular mayonnaise with two tablespoons of rice vinegar and one tablespoon of sugar. Mix well and use for this recipe.

Will basmati rice work for this recipe?

I've only used sushi rice in this recipe, and I wouldn't recommend basmati, jasmine rice or any other kind of rice, particularly a long grain rice.

Can I make a sushi roll with this spicy crab salad?

Absolutely - just skip the shaping and crisping of the rice. Leave it as seasoned sushi rice, then grab a bamboo sushi mat and a pack of nori seaweed sheets and go to town! Spicy sushi rolls with this imitation crab salad are similar to a spicy kani roll, which is another good way to serve this spicy crab salad as a main dish.

What should I serve with these little bites of magic?

They are the perfect appetizer for a happy hour. If hosting raw sushi lovers at your sushi night, they are a great complement to spicy tuna crispy rice sushi. Team up with Korean veggie pancakes with shrimp, and you'll have a real party on your hands. If you're looking for another sauce for the sushi bites, additional sriracha is always an option. If you need a sweet balance to the spicy salad, eel sauce or teriyaki sauce is the perfect note.

What can I do with leftovers?

If "someone" eats all of the crunchy rice cakes before the spicy crab salad is finished, "someone" will make a poke bowl with rice and all of the crispy toppings for a quick lunch. "Someone" enjoys this very much.

Spicy Crab Salad Sushi with Crispy Rice

Name: Spicy Crab Salad Sushi with Crispy Rice
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups sushi rice; 1 1/2 cups water; 3 tablespoons rice vinegar; 4 teaspoons sugar; 1 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt; 12 ounces surimi (imitation crab meat); 1/4 cup kewpie mayo; 2 tablespoons sriracha; 2 tablespoons fresh chives or green onions, diced; 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, diced, optional; 1 ripe avocado, diced; 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds

Ingredients

Scale

For the sushi rice:

1 1/4 cups sushi rice

1 1/2 cups water

3 tablespoons rice vinegar

4 teaspoons sugar

1 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

For the spicy crab salad sushi:

12 ounces surimi (imitation crab meat)

1/4 cup kewpie mayo

2 tablespoons sriracha

2 tablespoons fresh chives or green onions, diced

3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, diced, optional

For garnish:

1 ripe avocado, diced

1 tablespoon black sesame seeds

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Instructions

For the sushi rice: Rinse the sushi rice 2-3 times, until the water runs clear. Transfer the rice and 1 1/2 cups of water to a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Place over medium-high heat until boiling, then cover the pan and lower the heat to low. Cook until all the water is absorbed and the short-grain white rice is tender. Remove from heat. While the rice is still hot, mix the rice vinegar, sugar and salt. Pour over the rice and use a plastic or wooden spoon to gently toss the cooked rice in the seasoned sushi vinegar. Line a small pan or baking dish (I used a 9-inch loaf pan) with plastic wrap and spray with nonstick spray. Press the sticky rice into the pan until it is compressed well. Place rice in the refrigerator and leave for 3 hours or in the freezer for 1 hour. Once cold and fully set, turn the rice block out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Slice into uniform rectangles.
For the spicy crab salad sushi: Dice or shred the surimi into small pieces. Combine kewpie mayo and sriracha. If using the cilantro and chives, add now. Mix the dressing ingredients well. Pour the spicy mayonnaise dressing over the surimi. Mix well. Cover and rest in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to marinate.
For the crispy rice cakes: heat a large frying pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add about 1/4 cup vegetable oil (or any neutral oil) to the pan - enough to create about 1/4 inch of oil across the bottom. Once the oil is hot, add the rice squares carefully, being cautious about oil splashing. Fry the rice for about 90 seconds, until deep golden brown, then turn in the pan, frying the second side for the same time. Once crispy, move the fish from the pan to a plate with paper towels or to a cooling rack, to allow any excess oil to drain. Pan fry the rice cakes in batches until all are crisped.
For assembly and service: Dice avocado. Build the crispy rice sushi bites by layering spicy crab salad, diced avocado and sesame seeds.

Notes

Use flake style or chunk style surimi in this recipe.

Omit sriracha for a mild sushi crab salad.

Prep Time: 35
Cook Time: 15
Category: Appetizer, Dinner, Happy Hour, Lunch
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American, Japanese