Tuna Mayo Handroll

Egg salad sandwiches get all the glory when it comes to Japanese convenience stores but the item I picked up every time we popped into a konbini was actually these handrolls. Creamy tuna mixed with rich Japanese mayo, wrapped in crisp nori and warm seasoned rice, it’s one of the most iconic convenience store snacks in Japan.

The best part? You can easily make this konbini-style tuna mayo handroll at home in just 5 minutes using canned tuna like Natural Catch and a few pantry staples. When sold in the Japanese convenience stores, the seaweed is tucked into a fold in the plastic so it stays crispy until you peel the wrapper and eat the handroll.

Whether you’re missing your favorite snack from Tokyo or just want a quick, satisfying meal, this easy recipe delivers that nostalgic convenience-store flavor.

Ingredients

1 can tuna in oil

2 tbsp Kewpie mayonnaise

1/2 tsp soy sauce

1/4 tsp sugar

pinch of black pepper

4 sheets nori, cut in half

2 cups hot cooked Japanese short-grain rice

1 tsp rice vinegar + pinch salt for the rice

1. Drain the tuna well and lightly flake it with a fork.

2. Mix with: 2 tbsp Kewpie mayo, soy sauce, sugar, black pepper. You want it creamy but still chunky.

3. Let rice cool until warm, not steaming hot. Place half a nori sheet shiny side down. Add a layer of rice and add 2 tbsp tuna mayo along the center. Roll and eat immediately.

These are best to eat when the seaweed is still cripy