Learn how to make a plant based version of Maguro Donburi (Tuna Sashimi Rice Bowls) with tomatoes! This tomato ‘tuna’ bowl is easy, refreshing and perfect for the summer.
If there’s one thing I miss the most since going vegan, it’s def fish. Sashimi rice bowls were a summer time fav especially when we visited Japan in smack middle of summer … when it was h o t. 😵💫
🍅 Inspired by a tomato tuna poke bowl I had awhile back, I used a similar concept for these tomato ‘tuna’ rice bowls!
🍚 There are two styles of tuna rice bowls: zuke don & tekka don. Zuke don has marinated tuna pieces over white rice and tekka don is not marinated but served over sushi vinegared rice. So if you prefer a sushi-style bowl you can mix in some sushi vinegar and have sauce on the side.
Ingredients (+Substitutions) for Tomato ‘Tuna’
The ingredients used are very simple and similar to what would be used for traditional tuna sashimi bowls! If you cannot have alcohol, you can omit it but please take note that the flavour will change.
- Roma Tomatoes: Are smooth skinned and long in shape, perfect for making tuna-like shapes.
- Soy Sauce: For umami and flavour. Substitute tamari for gluten free.
- Sake: Helps remove some of that tomato-ey flavour and for flavour. However, it can be omitted.
- Mirin: For a bit of sweetness and flavour. Substitute with 1/4 amount of sugar if needed.
- Neutral oil: Gives it some fattiness and texture.
- Rice vinegar: For flavour.
- Kombu dashi granules: Gives it seafood flavour.
- Nori (seaweed): Again for seafood-like flavour.
To serve, you’ll also need some cooked rice, scallions, toasted sesame seeds and more nori.
How to Make Tomato Tuna
- Make marinade: Add soy sauce, mirin, sake, rice vinegar, neutral oil and kombu dashi granules to a shallow dish and mix to combine.
- Cook tomatoes: Bring a pot of water to a boil. In the meantime, score the top of the tomatoes and prepare a large bowl of ice water. Add the tomatoes to the pot and cook for 45-60 seconds or until you see the peel slightly coming off. Rotate the tomatoes so that it heats evenly while boiling. Do not overcook. Remove the tomatoes and add to the ice water.
- Skin & cut: Once cooled, peel the skin off the tomatoes. Slice into half and then into quarters. You should have a total of 8 pieces (or 10-12 if you have a large tomato). Remove the inside using a kiwi spoon or melon ball scooper. You should have a total of 200-240g of tomato flesh.
- Marinate: Add the tomatoes to the marinade. Then add ripped pieces of nori on top and mix. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or preferably overnight).
- Serve: When ready, add cooked rice into a bowl and top with nori. Optionally, you can slice the edges of the tomatoes to give it a more tuna-like appearance. Place pieces of tomato tuna over the nori rice and then top with scallions and sesame seeds. Serve with a side salad and miso soup, and enjoy!
Serve alongside a fresh salad and miso soup for a complete refreshing meal!
More vegan seafood recipes to try:
- Vegan Unagi Donburi
- Vegan ‘Salmon’ Teriyaki
- Oyster Mushroom Kaki Fry (Fried Oysters)
- Vegan Oyster Sauce
SAVE IT FOR LATER! ↓
If you recreate this Vegan Tomato ‘Tuna’ Sashimi Bowl recipe let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and rating below or by tagging me on Instagram @Okonomikitchen, I love seeing all of your tasty recreations!
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Vegan ‘Tuna’ Tomato Rice Bowls
- Total Time: 16 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
Description
Learn how to make a plant based version of Maguro Donburi (Tuna Sashimi Rice Bowls) with tomatoes! This tomato ‘tuna’ bowl is easy, refreshing and perfect for the summer.
Ingredients
Tomato ‘Tuna’
- 2 medium roma tomatoes
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (30ml)
- 4 tsp sake (20ml)
- 4 tsp mirin (20ml)
- 1 tbsp neutral oil (15ml)
- 1 tsp rice vinegar (5ml)
- 1 1/2 tsp kombu dashi granules (7g)
- 1 sheet nori
For Serving
- cooked rice
- scallions
- roasted sesame seeds
- nori
Instructions
- Make marinade: Add soy sauce, mirin, sake, rice vinegar, neutral oil and kombu dashi granules to a shallow dish and mix to combine.
- Cook tomatoes: Bring a pot of water to a boil. In the meantime, score the top of the tomatoes and prepare a large bowl of ice water. Add the tomatoes to the pot and cook for 45-60 seconds or until you see the peel slightly coming off. Rotate the tomatoes so that it heats evenly while boiling. Do not overcook. Remove the tomatoes and add to the ice water.
- Skin & cut: Once cooled, peel the skin off the tomatoes. Slice into half and then into quarters. You should have a total of 8 pieces (or 10-12 if you have a large tomato). Remove the inside using a kiwi spoon or melon ball scooper. You should have a total of 200-240g of tomato flesh.
- Marinate: Add the tomatoes to the marinade. Then add ripped pieces of nori on top and mix. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or preferably overnight).
- Serve: When ready, add cooked rice into a bowl and top with nori. Optionally, you can slice the edges of the tomatoes to give it a more tuna-like appearance. Place pieces of tomato tuna over the nori rice and then top with scallions and sesame seeds. Serve with a side salad and miso soup, and enjoy!
Notes
- Helpful Equipment:
- Nutritional Information Disclaimer: Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated on an online tool (Cronometer).
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 minute
- Category: entree
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: vegan, japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
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My partner and I are b our h wholeheartedly obsessed with making this tomato tuna! We were both huge sushi fans before going vegan two years ago, and being able to make authentic vegan tuna at home has been such a fun and tasty experience. The recipe is very easy to follow and I highly recommend giving the tuna a try because you may be surprised to find just how much it tastes like fish.
This was so delicious!! Wouldnt say it resembles tuna exactly but definitely resonates on some level. Super tasty and flavoeful and most of all easy as. 10/10 would make again
Easy and delicious!!
hehe it sure looked the part. It was fun to make and await the final reveal. Not a repeat recipe for me but definitely worth exploring for practicing my care to details and presentation.
I loooove this recipe! I made vegan sushi with this sashimi and it was quite yummy! Can’t wait to try her different recipe soon!