Native to Hawaii, poke bowls are a colourful, flavourful dish that’s both healthy and delicious. While there are now thousands of restaurants around the world that specialize in poke bowls, Hawaiians have been enjoying them since the 1800s. Influenced by the Japanese donburi due to the arrival of Japanese workers to Hawaii in the late 1800s, traditional poke bowls are made with raw fish, jasmine rice and minimal toppings to let the flavour of the fish shine through. Modern poke bowls in other parts of the world are loaded with customizable toppings so you can really make the bowl your own. From mango to avocado, edamame and seaweed, whatever your favourite toppings are, you can add them to your poke bowls. And of course, you can make your own poke bowls at home. Check out 35 poke bowl recipes you need to try!
What Is A Poke Bowl?
Poke (pronounced poh-keh) is diced raw fish and is one of the most popular dishes in Hawaiian cuisine. A poke bowl consists of chunks of raw, marinated fish, typically Ahi or Yellowtail tuna, which is then tossed over rice and topped with vegetables and umami-packed sauces. Traditionally jasmine rice is used, but you can use your choice of rice, or try veggie alternatives such as zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice. It’s a customizable dish that has plenty of health benefits due to the vegetable and fish content. Fish can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, is high in protein, and is a great source of vitamin B12, A and magnesium.
How To Make The Perfect Poke Bowl
Rice
Poke bowls start with a layer of rice. The quality of rice is important, and short grain Japanese sushi rice is ideal. Jasmine white rice is likely the most popular option, but you can also use brown rice. Alternatives like bamboo rice, cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles and kelp salad are used in modern variations. The rice in your bowl should be warm to hot, as it’s a great juxtaposition against the super cold fish.
Fish
Since you’re using raw fish in your poke bowl recipes, it’s important that you use the freshest fish possible. Ask for sashimi or sushi-grade cuts. Although tuna is the most common fish used in poke bowls, salmon, trout and snapper are also popular options. Don’t use fish that’s farm-raised or frozen, you want the colour, smell and texture to be of top quality.
Cut the fish into cubes and season with scallions, sesame seeds and pink sea salt to enhance the flavour. Mix with your desired marinade, letting it sit in the fridge for at least 15 minutes, but many recipes call for up to two hours. The longer it sits, the more flavour it will have.
Marinade
Traditional poke marinade consists of a mixture of shoyu soy sauce, sesame oil, yellow onion, some type of spice such as red pepper flakes or Korean chilli pepper, seaweed and ginger. While the fish marinates, start chopping your veggies and steaming your rice.
Fruits and Veggies
Fruit and vegetable toppings are added over the fish to give even more texture, flavour and freshness to the bowl. Avocado is one of the most popular poke bowl toppings, and crispy onion adds a flavour and crunch that many people can’t get enough of. Other popular toppings are fresh mango, edamame, macadamia nuts, seaweed, carrots and cucumber. Pickled veggies like onions and ginger and freshly chopped herbs are also used.
Sauces
You can also top your poke bowl with sauces, depending on your personal taste preferences. Mayo-based sauces are a go-to for many poke bowl aficionados since they add creaminess to the dish. Hot sauces, such as sriracha, Japanese red chilli and wasabi are also fan favourites.
35 Poke Bowl Recipes We Love
1. Spicy Tuna Poke Bowls | Skinny Taste
2. Ahi Poke Bowls | Delish
3. Healthy Poke Bowls with Sriracha Mayo | Chew Out Loud
4. Salmon Avocado Poke Bowl | Simply Recipes
5. Tuna and Salmon Poke Bowl | Just One Cookbook
6. Hawaiian Poke Bowl with Spicy Aioli | A Farmgirl’s Dabbles
7. Tuna Poke Bowls with Mango, Avocado and Edamame | Once Upon a Chef
8. Vegan Tuna Poke Bowl | Hot For Food
9. Salmon Poke Bowl with Two Types of Marinades | Lil Vienna
10. Tofu Poke Bowl | The Simple Veganista
11. Salmon Poke Bowl with Brown Rice | Chowhound
12. DIY Poke Bowls | What’s Gaby Cooking
13. Keto Spicy Salmon Poke Bowl | Celebration Generation
14. Ocean Trout Poke Bowl | The Healthy Hunter
15. Salmon Poke Bowls with Pickled Radishes, Carrots and Spicy Ponzu | Feed Me Phoebe
16. Keto Ahi Poke Bowl | Wholesome Yum
17. Cheap and Easy Quinoa Poke Bowls | Cheap Recipe Blog
18. Do-It-Yourself Salmon Poke Bowls | A Day In The Kitchen
19. Ahi Poke Bowls with Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette | Cooking and Beer
20. Shoyu Ahi Poke | A Beautiful Plate
21. Salmon Poke Bowl with Creamy Togarashi Sauce | Cooking With Cocktail Rings
22. Spicy Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Poke Bowl | Jessica Gavin
23. Easy Tuna Steak Poke Bowls | The Girl on Bloor
24. Cauliflower Rice Salmon Poke Bowl | Meal Prep on Fleek
25. Yellowfin Tuna Poke Bowls | Prairie Winds Life
26. Poke Bowl with Edamame and Mango | Eat Me
27. Black Pepper Poke Salmon Bowl | The Happy Foodie
28. Salmon Poke Bowls with Orange Sesame Sauce | Zestful Kitchen
29. Ahi Poke Bowl with Radishes, Carrots and Beets | Feasting At Home
30. Seared Tuna Poke Bowls | Olive & Mango
31. Tuna Poke Bowl with Seaweed Salad | Momsdish
32. Homemade Poke Bowl with Radish and Cucumber | A Couple Cooks
33. Salmon Poke Bowl with Edamame and Avocado | Omnivore’s Cookbook
34. Simple Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl | Salt Pepper Skillet
35. Traditional Islander Poke Bowl | Westjet Magazine
If you’re a fan of poke bowls, try making them yourself at home with these amazing recipes. Fresh, colourful and flavourful, poke bowls are a healthy dish you’ll want to make all the time!