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    Home » Recipes » Fish and Seafood » Do-It-Yourself Salmon Poke Bowls

    Do-It-Yourself Salmon Poke Bowls

    Published: Jul 7, 2019 · Modified: Aug 4, 2020 · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads.

    JUMP TO RECIPE

    Poke bowls are easy to make in your own home! Buy your favorite toppings and enjoy a totally custom poke bowl for cheaper than buying it in a restaurant.

    A blue and white bowl containing chopped salmon and shrimp, green seaweed salad, and orange fish eggs

    Do you like to poke?

    I’m not talking about jabbing your finger into someone’s arm.

    This is about po-kay, and I'm talking about bowls of deliciousness!

    These bowls of rice (or salad) topped with a myriad of tasty toppings originate from the Land of Aloha, where “poke” means “to slice or cut” in Hawaiian. In these bowls, the poke is the cut-up fish, and many of the toppings reflect Hawaii’s Asian/Japanese heritage.

    My guess is this dish has actually been around for a long time, but it didn't go mainstream and explode onto the food scene internationally until the last several years.

    And aren't we glad it finally did??

    It's no wonder it became such a hit as it's a fast-food option that is actually a healthy meal on-the-go. However, why pay someone else to make them for you when you can make it right in your own kitchen? It's easier than you think!

    The Base

    The base can be brown rice, sushi rice, noodles, salad, or a combination. Rice is, obviously, more filling, but using a salad as a base is lot lighter and a good option if you are reducing or avoiding carbs.

    The Protein

    Poke bowls often center around some sort of protein, most commonly raw fish. This recipe focuses on raw salmon, which I usually like to mix with cooked shrimp.

    A blue and white tray of raw sliced salmon

    An important thing to remember is to purchase sushi-grade raw fish to make sure it has been handled properly. If you prefer a non-fish or vegetarian option, tofu or mushrooms are quite popular. What ever protein you decide to use, it should be cut into small pieces.

    While not as common as using fish or seafood, cooked marinated chicken can also be an option.

    The Sauce

    Mixed with the protein before laying it on the base, the sauce gives the fish and the overall dish its unifying flavor. The sauce I include in this recipe is a simple soy-based sauce which works with everything. However, you can also make your own tweaks to the sauce by adding other flavorings such as garlic or chili sauce.

    Mix your protein with your sauce, and then it's time to start putting together your poke bowl!

    Dark sauce in a measuring cup, chopped salmon and shirmp, and a bowl of white rice, how to make poke bowls

    The Toppings

    Once you've added your protein to the bowl, now comes all the other fun stuff! You can load up your bowl with veggies like sliced cucumbers, radishes, shredded carrots, edamame beans, bell peppers, etc. Then there are other taste boosting ingredients like avocado, pickled ginger, wakame salad, or crab meat. Add some crunch and texture to the bowl with a scoop of tobiko (fish roe)!

    A blue and white bowl containig salmon and shrimp, orange fish eggs, and black dried seaweed strips

    Do you like a sweet element to your poke bowl? I've seen many people who like adding full-flavored tropical fruits to their bowls, like pineapple and mango! While adding fruit is more the Hawaiian style of eating a poke bowl, I prefer keeping it savory and sticking with the Japanese way by leaving the fruit out. The choice is yours in which way you want to customize yours!

    Salmon poke bowl on a bamboo placemat with chopsticks and a tea cup

    Then comes the tasty "accessories" to add the finishing touches to your poke bowl. Top it with sesame seeds, chopped green onions, dried seaweed, crispy shallots or garlic, and furikake.

    And your poke is served!

    A blue and white striped bowl containing chopped fish and shrimp, green seaweed salad, and black dried seaweed strips

    My boys love salmon poke bowls so much, they can’t even wait for us all to be present at the table before digging in! And the great thing is that we each have our own customized bowl. The boys like to keep theirs quite simple...salmon and shrimp and (a lot of) tobiko, maybe some dried seaweed, edamame, furikake, done. I like mine with several items...fish, shrimp, wakame salad, tobiko, pickled ginger, edamame, and all the accessories!

    If you like one bowl dishes, but prefer cooked foods, check out my Japanese Butadon Pork Bowl or Japanese Beef Gyudon Beef Bowls. Just as simple and delicious as poke bowls, but in a hot and savory way!

    How about you? How do you like to po-kay? Try making your own poke bowls at home and tell me your favorite combinations!

    ~ Lisa.

    Do-It-Yourself Salmon Poke Bowls

    Poke bowls are easy to make in your own home! Buy your favorite toppings and enjoy a totally custom poke bowl for cheaper than buying it at a restaurant.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Asian
    Keyword: poke bowls
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Makes: 4 servings
    Calories: 800kcal
    Author: Lisa from A Day in the Kitchen

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups cooked rice
    • ¾ lb. (340g) sashimi-grade salmon

    Dressing

    • 4 tbs soy sauce (tamari or liquid aminos for GF)
    • 4 teaspoon rice vinegar
    • 4 teaspoon sesame oil
    • ¼ teaspoon chili oil (optional)

    Toppings Options

    • Chopped shrimp
    • Wakame (seaweed salad)
    • Pickled ginger
    • Shelled edamame beans
    • Fresh tobiko (fish eggs)
    • Chopped avocado
    • Finely chopped pollock
    • Green onions
    • Finely chopped bell peppers
    • Dried seaweed
    • Mushrooms
    • Thinly sliced egg omelette
    • Pineapple
    • Mango
    • Furikake seasoning
    • Fried garlic

    Instructions

    • Divide rice among 4 bowls.
    • Mix salmon with dressing. Divide among the 4 bowls.
    • Top with your favorite toppings. Garnish with a sprinkling of sesame seeds and chopped green onion.
    • Mix and eat!!

    Notes

    • Be sure to purchase sushi-grade raw fish for your poke bowl.
    • Other fish options are tuna or yellowtail or halibut.
    • Vegetarian options are tofu or mushrooms.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 800kcal
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @dayinthekitchen or tag #adayinthekitchen!

    You might also like:

    Japanese Butadon Pork Bowls
    Poached Salmon Tobiko Bowls
    Poached Salmon Tobiko Rice Bowl
    Super Food Quinoa Bowl
    Super Food Quinoa Bowl

    Four poke bowls on a black table, the words do it yourself salmon poke bowls on the bottom

    This post was originally published on October 16, 2017, but was republished in July 2019 with new photos, instructional photos, and writing.


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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Yvonne Langen

      July 19, 2019 at 6:39 am

      5 stars
      I've recently discovered and become obsessed with poke bowls. I've always wanted to try my hand at making my own. Thanks for sharing this great recipe - I love how customizable this is, something for every palate.

      Reply
      • Lisa

        July 19, 2019 at 2:59 pm

        I hope you have fun making your own poke bowls as much as I do, Yvonne!

        Reply
    2. Loreto and Nicoletta Nardelli

      July 18, 2019 at 2:08 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is amazing! We love salmon poke bowls but have never attempted making it at home. Great tips. Love the seaweed topping!!

      Reply
      • Lisa

        July 18, 2019 at 11:57 am

        Thanks so much! I hope the recipe inspires you to try it at home!

        Reply
    3. Sabrina

      July 17, 2019 at 11:07 am

      5 stars
      These are right up my ally. I love sushi but I’m terrible at making it, this is like a deluxe layered version! I also appreciate the simplicity of the dressing and choose a few or a lot of the toppings, great for my picky family <3

      Reply
      • Lisa

        July 17, 2019 at 11:59 am

        Yes, these poke bowls are a way simpler version of sushi...much easier to make and eat!

        Reply
    4. Julia

      July 16, 2019 at 9:03 pm

      5 stars
      I've heard so much about poke bowls but have never made them or tried them. This looks beautiful not to mention healthy, perfect for summer and I'm sure delicious!

      Reply
      • Lisa

        July 17, 2019 at 11:57 am

        Thanks, Julia! If you like sushi, you'd love poke bowls!

        Reply
    5. Colleen

      July 16, 2019 at 10:57 am

      5 stars
      Great step by steps on Poke, Lisa! Poke is a delicious fast food choice, and your make at home version is perfect for a healthy weeknight meal. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Lisa

        July 17, 2019 at 11:56 am

        Thanks, Colleen!

        Reply

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    I cook up big ideas in my small kitchen in Hong Kong! My recipes are big on healthy eating, real food, and international flavors that you can create in any size kitchen. I also specialize in gluten-free cooking and baking, demystifying gluten-free and showing you how easy and delicious it can be!

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