Ingredients

  • Rolls:
  • 1 cup uncooked sushi rice or short-grain rice
  • 1 1/4 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
  • 2 tablespoons mirin (sweet rice wine)
  • 2 teaspoons minced jalapeno pepper
  • 2 teaspoons minced shallots
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 (1/2-pound) tuna steak
  • 8 (8-inch) round sheets rice paper
  • 2 cups trimmed watercress
  • Sauce:
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced shallots
  • 1 teaspoon minced jalapeno pepper

Method

  • To prepare rolls, rinse the rice thoroughly in a sieve. Drain well. Bring 1 1/4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan; add rice. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, and let stand 5 minutes. Stir in ginger, mirin, minced jalapeno pepper, shallots, sugar, fish sauce, and salt.
  • Combine soy sauce and 1 teaspoon sugar; brush over tuna. Marinate in refrigerator 10 minutes. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tuna to pan; cook 1 1/2 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Cut tuna into 8 (1/4-inch-thick) slices.
  • Add hot water to a large, shallow dish to a depth of 1 inch. Place 1 rice paper sheet in dish. Let stand 30 seconds or just until soft.
  • Place sheet on a flat surface. Arrange 1/4 cup watercress to cover half of sheet, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top with 1/3 cup rice mixture; spread evenly. Arrange 1 tuna slice over rice. Fold sides of sheet over filling; starting with filled side, roll up jelly-roll fashion. Repeat procedure with remaining rice paper sheets, watercress, rice mixture, and tuna. Cut each roll in half diagonally.
  • To prepare sauce, combine vinegar and remaining ingredients. Arrange 2 roll halves on each of 8 plates; serve 2 1/4 teaspoons sauce with each serving.