Yes, Poke Bowls are considered fast food. And the truth is that they are so easy to prepare that they can’t be called anything else. And yes, they are also very healthy. So, what are you waiting for to make your own Hawaiian Poke Bowl? This popular dish, consisting of a raw fish salad, is becoming more and more popular. In addition to its simplicity, it is light and healthy, and delicious. So don’t miss this great recipe to prepare a classic Hawaiian Poke Bowl, the most traditional one.
Although we are sure you all know these dishes, let’s see what they are. Poke, or Poke Bowl, are salads made from raw fish, which is marinated with different sauces and accompanied with various fresh ingredients.
The result is a light, healthy cold dish, with a perfect combination of flavors, and also very attractive.
Although they have been one of the main meals of the native Hawaiians (especially fishermen) for centuries, the truth is that they have received a lot of influence from Japanese gastronomy.
Due to the large influx of Japanese people who stopped over in this island on their way to America; and secondly, due to the large Japanese immigration that Hawaii received in the 70’s; who came to work in the sugar plantations.
This gastronomic influence ended up giving Poke the character they have today, incorporating fundamental ingredients such as soy sauce or sesame.
Other important variations of the recipe
But not only the Japanese influence has modified this recipe. Nowadays, it has also been modified thanks to its popularity. You can find Pokes of all kinds, even forgetting the fish completely. This makes this dish a very versatile option suitable for all tastes.
For example, due to the proliferation of Hawaiian restaurants that began to serve this dish, between 2014 and 2016, vegan Pokes have begun to appear (eliminating fish from its recipe); Chicken Pokes, tofu Pokes… Which has favored to further enrich this fantastic recipe.
But today we want to bring you the recipe for the classic Hawaiian Poke Bowl.
Recipe for the classic Hawaiian Poke Bowl, a very traditional dish.
The original pokes were made with tuna (Aku) and octopus (he’e). Although with the Japanese influence other ingredients have been included, which have finished creating the pokes as we know them today. Also its great popularity has modified the recipe making appear very varied recipes, for all tastes.
But to make a traditional Poke, we will use fresh red tuna, avocado, mango, spring onions and nori and wakame seaweed. And to accompany it, jasmine rice.
Although you can include the ingredients that you like the most, or substitute the ones you like the least for others of your choice. Remember that, in the kitchen, you just have to use your imagination.
How to make Traditional Hawaiian Poke Bowl
This recipe is very simple. All the ingredients we are going to use are raw. And we are not going to cook anything (except for cooking the rice if you decide to add this garnish). Poke are considered fast food. But yes, they are very healthy.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that as we are going to consume raw fish, we must freeze it for at least 48 hours (at less than 20 degrees below zero) to avoid risks (such as anisakis).
When we are going to prepare the recipe, we will put the tuna in the refrigerator, the day before, to let it thaw little by little.
Traditional Hawaiian Poke Bowl Recipe
Ingredients
- 100 g Jasmine rice
- 100 g Fresh bluefin tuna
- 1/2 Avocado
- 1/2 Mango
- 1 Chives
- Nori seaweed
- Wakame
For the dressing
- 1 Tsp Sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- Sesame seeds (to taste)
- Salt (to taste, optional)
- 1 Lemon
Instructions
- We begin by cooking the rice. We simply put in a small saucepan a little water with a drizzle of oil and the rice. We bring to the boil and cook until it is to our liking.
- Meanwhile, cut all the ingredients into small cubes. We can cut the tuna before it has thawed completely, so it will be easier to cut it into small cubes.
- We continue preparing the sauce. Simply mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Add the tuna and let it stand for 10 minutes in the refrigerator with the marinade. This will give us time for the rice to finish cooking.
- When the rice is cooked, drain it and put it in a bowl. Add the avocado, mango and spring onion. Also the tuna with the sauce. And add the seaweed, previously hydrated.Now you can serve this wonderful traditional Hawaiian Poke Bowl.
As you can see, preparing this great salad is very simple. In addition, although we have shown you the recipe for the classic Hawaiian poke, do not be afraid to innovate with other ingredients. Try with the ones you like the most.
For example, you can substitute quinoa for rice. Or change (or include) a multitude of vegetables. Some other very common ones are tomatoes, edamame, radishes?
Or you can even change the main ingredient, tuna, for salmon, shrimps, octopus…
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