no passport, no problem 🌴 welcome to ep. 4 of friday night bites, where this week’s happy hour at home is serving vacation mode. no swimsuit required... just an appetite 😏 recipes below! SPICY TUNA CRISPY RICE: - rinse 1 cup uncooked sushi rice under cold water. then, in a pot, combine the rinsed rice & 1.5 cups of water. bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat, cover, & simmer until cooked. - in a bowl, mix 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar, 2 tbsp sugar, and 1/2 tsp salt until dissolved. fold this mixture evenly into the cooked rice, then allow it to cool. - spread the cooled rice evenly on a baking sheet (~1/2 inch thick), then refrigerate for 30 mins to firm up. once firm, cut the rice into rectangles. - now, prepare the tuna! combine 1/2 lb sushi-grade tuna (diced), 3ish tbsp kewpie mayo, 1 tbsp ponzu, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp sriracha (adjust to spice preference), 1 tsp sesame oil, 1 tsp furikake, and 1 green onion (chopped). - in a large skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. fry the rice rectangles until golden brown and crispy. remove & drain on paper towels. (alternatively, you can crisp these up in an air fryer, though it won’t fully be the same!) - top each crispy rice piece with the spicy tuna mixture, drizzle with homemade eel sauce (1/2 cup mirin, 1/2 cup sugar, & 1/2 cup soy sauce reduced on the stove), then garnish with serrano pepper and green onion. enjoy! 🍣 LYCHEE MARTINI: - make your homemade lychee syrup (or buy one & skip this step!). blend 1 cup fresh lychee flesh (peeled & pitted), 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 2-3 tbsp water until smooth. strain for clarity (or do this later!) - in a cocktail shaker w/ ice, combine 2oz gin, 1oz elderflower liquor, and 1oz lychee purée/syrup. shake until chilled, then strain into your glass (if you haven’t already). yields 1 cocktail. - garnish with a tropical flower, lychee fruit, or lemon twist 🌺 #happyhour #happyhourtime #happyhourathome #cocktails #cocktailrecipe #smallbites #fridaynightvibes #lycheemartini #martinitime #recipe #spicytuna #spicytunacrispyrice