Bella's Belly Blog

Crispy, crunchy, and packed with bold flavors—this salad is an absolute must-try! With spring in full swing, it’s the perfect time for fresh, vibrant meals, and this one delivers. I had to recreate the viral crispy rice salad because it was just that good, but this time, I’m taking it to the next level. Think: perfectly crispy rice, flaky miso-glazed salmon, spicy kimchi cucumbers, and crunchy edamame for the ultimate texture and flavor explosion. Plus, with over 60g of protein!

Light yet satisfying, this is the perfect way to welcome the season.

Yield: 3-4 servings

Prep time: 15 minutes

Total time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

Crispy Rice:

• 1 cup uncooked rice (makes ~3 cups cooked)
  
• 1 tsp sriracha
  
• 1 tsp sesame oil
  
• 1 tsp coconut aminos
  
• 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
  
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  

Spicy Tuna:

• 2 cans salmon (I use Safe Catch or Wild Planet)
  
• 1 tbsp Chosen Foods mayo
  
• 1 tsp miso
  
• 1/4 cup kimchi, chopped (I get mine from the Korean market)
  
• 1 tsp sesame oil
  
• 1 tsp sriracha
  
• 1/4 cup fresh mint & dill, chopped
  

Spicy Cucumber Salad:

• 3 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced
  
• 1 tsp sesame oil
  
• 1 tbsp kimchi juice + 1 tbsp kimchi, chopped
  
• 1 tsp coconut aminos
  
• Sesame seeds (for topping)
  

Toppings:

• Thinly sliced radish
  
• More fresh herbs (mint & dill)
  
• Crispy edamame
  
• Avocado slices
  

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Crispy Rice:  Mix cooked rice with sriracha, sesame oil, coconut aminos, EVOO, and garlic powder. Spread the mixture evenly on a baking pan. Bake at 400°F for 35-40 minutes or until crispy.
   
2. Make the Spicy Tuna:In a bowl, combine tuna with mayo, miso, chopped kimchi, sesame oil, sriracha, and half of the chopped cucumbers and mint. Mix well and set aside.
   
3. Prepare the Spicy Cucumber Salad: Toss the remaining cucumbers with sesame oil, kimchi juice, chopped kimchi, and coconut aminos. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
   
4. Prepare the salad: Once the rice is crispy, remove it from the oven and scrape it from the pan with a spatula. In a serving bowl, layer the cucumber salad, mint, spicy tuna mixture, and crispy rice.