Cucumber Sushi Boats with Spicy Mayo (Viral TikTok Recipe)

These Cucumber Sushi Boats are a fresh, no-cook twist on homemade sushi… crisp cucumber halves filled with sushi rice, creamy avocado, and sweet crab meat, then finished with sesame seeds and a drizzle of spicy mayo. They come together in about 30 minutes with no rolling and no special skills required, making them the perfect easy lunch, light dinner, or party appetizer. This easy recipe is cool, crunchy, budget-friendly, and so much simpler than takeout! Plus it tastes just like a California Roll!

Cucumber Sushi Boats

My family loves sushi. Loves it. My husband is the only one of us who could take it or leave it, but everybody else is crazy about it. So much so that in 2020, we learned to make it ourselves and would host sushi-making parties with my immediate family.

So when I saw these Cucumber Sushi Boats over on TikTok, I knew we had to try them.

They taste like California rolls without any of the rolling! All the flavors you love in homemade sushi… the rice, the crab, the avocado, the spicy mayo… piled into a cool, crunchy cucumber instead of wrapped in seaweed. So easy and delicious!

This recipe is great for a light lunch, or it even makes for a great appetizer!

Why You’ll Love Cucumber Sushi

No cooking required (except the rice!). The only “cooking” here is preparing your sushi rice, and a rice cooker makes that completely hands-off. Everything else is just slicing, scooping, and assembling. On a hot Mississippi day, a no-oven recipe is a gift!

A light lunch that actually fills you up. Between the fresh cucumber, rice, crab, and avocado, these boats are satisfying without being heavy. They’re my kind of easy lunch… fresh, cool, and done in 30 minutes.

Sushi flavors without sushi skills. No bamboo mat, no rolling, no fancy knife work. You get all the flavor of California rolls with none of the intimidation. Anybody can make these… I promise!

Video

Tools Needed

• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Small spoon or melon baller (for scooping out the cucumber centers)
• Small bowl (for mixing the spicy mayo)
• Rice cooker or saucepan (for the sushi rice)

Ingredients

These simple ingredients are all common and easy to find at your local grocery store.

• Large cucumbers – regular slicing cucumbers work great. An English cucumber also makes the perfect vehicle for the sushi ingredients with its thinner skin and fewer seeds. You could even use mini cucumbers for bite-sized party appetizers!
• Sushi rice – prepared and still warm. Season it with a splash of rice vinegar for that authentic sushi flavor if you like.
• Avocado – sliced long ways into thin strips.
• Crab meat – sliced. Real crab or imitation crab both work… use what your family loves and what fits your budget! When you’re shopping, keep an eye out for sustainable seafood, and consider supporting a women-owned seafood business if there’s one in your area.
• Sesame seeds – for sprinkling. Everything bagel seasoning is a fun swap here too!
• Mayo and Sriracha – mixed together for the spicy mayo drizzle.

Find the full recipe with ingredient measurements in the recipe card below.

How to Make Cucumber Sushi Boats

This cucumber boats recipe is perfect for hot summer days when you need an easy, cool lunch!

1. Slice each cucumber in half, and then in half once more (long ways), so you have four long quarters per cucumber.
2. Scoop out the center of each piece with your spoon until it’s hollowed out like a little boat – make sure to remove all the cucumber seeds. Pat the inside dry with a paper towel so the rice sticks better.
3. Fill each boat with prepared sushi rice. Do this while the rice is still warm! Warm rice is soft, tender rice… it gets sticky and hard to work with as it cools.

4. Top each boat with a thin strip of avocado and two slices of crab.
5. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
6. Mix together your mayo and Sriracha, then drizzle each boat with your spicy mayo.

7. Serve and enjoy your refreshing twist on sushi!

Pro Tips

• Work with warm rice. I can’t say this enough… once sushi rice cools, it’s much harder to press into the boats.
• Pat the hollowed cucumbers dry with a paper towel before filling. Less moisture means everything stays put.
• Short on time? Order your ingredients with grocery pickup or delivery and have everything waiting at your front door… no store trip required!
• Dampen your fingers with a little water before pressing the rice in so it doesn’t stick to your hands.
• Adjust the Sriracha to your family’s spice level. Start with less… you can always add more!

Variations

Change up the delicious fillings to make a keto-friendly meal that you’ll love!

• Everything bagel boats – swap the sesame seeds for everything bagel seasoning.
• Extra fresh – top with sliced green onions or a sprinkle of chopped cilantro.
• California roll style – drizzle with a little soy sauce or serve it on the side for dipping.
• Spicy crab – toss the crab sticks in the spicy mayo before adding it to the boats.
• Party size – use mini cucumbers, halved and hollowed, for adorable two-bite appetizers.
• Philadelphia roll style – spread a thin layer of softened cream cheese in each boat before adding the rice, or dot small cubes of cream cheese on top with the crab. So creamy and delicious!
• Tuna cucumber boats – swap the crab for canned tuna mixed with a spoonful of the spicy mayo (or your favorite tuna salad), or use sushi-grade ahi tuna if you want to get fancy!

Storage Instructions

These are truly best enjoyed fresh, right after assembling. To get ahead, you can prep the rice, spicy mayo, and sliced crab up to a day in advance and store them separately in the refrigerator, then slice the cucumbers and avocado and assemble just before serving. Assembled boats will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours, but the cucumbers will soften and release moisture, so expect them to lose some of that fresh crunch.

FAQ

Can I use an English cucumber?

Absolutely! English cucumbers have thinner skin and fewer seeds, which makes them even easier to hollow out. Regular cucumbers, English cucumbers, and mini cucumbers all work beautifully.

Do I have to use real crab?

Not at all. Imitation crab (the same kind used in California rolls) is budget-friendly and delicious here. Use whichever your family prefers!

Can I make the sushi rice in a rice cooker?

Yes! A rice cooker is the easiest hands-off way to get perfectly tender rice. Just follow the package directions for your sushi rice, then season with a splash of rice vinegar if you like.

Are these good for meal prep?

They’re best fresh, but you can prep all the components ahead and assemble in just a few minutes when you’re ready to eat. That makes them a wonderful easy lunch option for busy weeks.

Is this the recipe from TikTok?

It sure is! Cucumber sushi went viral on TikTok, and after testing these boats myself, I can confirm they’re worth the hype.

More Tiktok Recipes

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• Cucumber Sushi Boats with Spicy Mayo (Viral TikTok Recipe)

These cucumber sushi boats have earned a permanent spot in my summer lunch rotation, and I hope they do at your house too! Make them your own… swap the toppings, adjust the spice, use whatever cucumbers you have on hand. That’s the beauty of an easy recipe like this one.

Tried this recipe? Please take a moment to leave a comment and a star rating below… it helps me grow my blog, and I’d be so grateful!