Skip to Content

Poke Bowl

Updated February 13, 2025 / By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

From buying really good, ‘sushi-grade’ fresh fish to making the best, easy poke bowl sauce, here’s everything you need to know about how to make a poke bowl at home!

A poke bowl featuring a base of seasoned rice, topped with tuna salmon, mango, cucumber salad, avocado & citrus wasabi sauce

A Healthy, Easy Homemade Poke Bowl Recipe

Making a colorful, fresh, salmon and ahi poke bowl at home is pretty darn impressive! It’s also so healthy, and pretty easy. You’ll need a bit of time — like any bowl recipe, poke bowls are made up of lots of little components and sauces— and you’ll need access to really great, high-quality raw fish. Ahi tuna and fresh salmon are the poke bowl fish combo we love most—but you don’t have to live close to a fancy store for that. If you can access the internet, you’ve got access to sushi-grade fish. As for what else goes on a poke bowl? The reason it’s pretty easy to make a poke bowl at home is that many of our toppings are simple (cool, sweet mango, or a fresh, quick Asian Cucumber Salad) or can be store bought (like the seaweed salad). Trust us, you can DIY a poke bowl! 

A vibrant assortment of poke bowl ingredients arranged in bowls: tuna and salmon, mango, cucumber, avocado & seasoned rice

What Is a Poke Bowl?

True Hawaiian poke can be traced back to a simple dish of raw fish massaged with seaweed, sea salt and sometimes kukui nuts enjoyed by ancient Hawaiians, and in fact, the word “poke” (pronounced POH-KAY) means “to slice” in the Hawaiian language. The arrival of immigrants from China and Japan brought ingredients like sesame oil and soy sauce to Hawaiian poke, and slowly the simple, seasoned dish of raw fish evolved into what we know as poke today. Always enjoyed on the islands, poke’s popularity skyrocketed in the ‘70s, and ahi shoyu (tuna-soy sauce) poke is probably the most popular of all. Serving poke over a bed of rice — the simplest form of a poke bowl — was a no-brainer way to make the seasoned raw fish into a much more filling dish. Thus, the poke bowl! 

Today, people top their poke bowls with all kinds of wild things, but there’s almost always a mound of white rice, fresh, seasoned raw fish, and usually some avocado, and often another veggie or two. However, like all bowl recipes, poke bowls are pretty adaptable—it’s OK to play around a bit and see what poke bowl toppings you like best! Poke bowls are a treat, so take your time and make it special. We highly recommend serving these to friends! They’ve got a major wow factor, and who doesn’t want to be reminded of a Hawaiian vacation?

A bowl of poke marinade made from low-sodium soy sauce, green onions, toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar & pickled ginger juice
sushi grade tuna and salmon marinating in a bowl of soy sauce, green onion, sesame oil, rice vinegar and pickled ginger juice

Are Poke Bowls Healthy?

Yes, poke bowls are healthy. They include lots of healthy fats from the fish, and are usually topped with other good-for-you things like veggies, avocado and seaweed meaning that a poke bowl is a pretty darn healthy choice. Poke bowl dressings are usually relatively light, too. Even the mayo-based poke bowl sauces—like the one in our poke bowl recipe—are used in moderation. We love that poke bowls are really filling, too. And if you’d really like to make your poke bowl even healthier, swap the white rice for brown rice for a major nutritional upgrade.

bowl of wasabi Citrus Sauce made with mayo, wasabi, lemon juice, sesame oil and a pinch of sugar
A bowl of refreshing cucumber salad in a tangy dressing made from rice vinegar, sugar, salt, red pepper flakes & sesame oil.

Poke Bowl Ingredients

What comes in a poke bowl? Well, poke bowls are having a majorly trendy moment, which means that people are going bonkers with their poke bowl toppings. Many of them are delicious, but they do represent a complete departure from true, authentic Hawaiian poke bowls. Mostly, our poke bowl ingredients keep things pretty traditional. We’ve included a list of optional toppings, though, and if you’d like to really load up your bowl, we say go for it! Here are the essential components of a really delicious poke bowl:

  • Poke: Aka, seasoned raw fish. We usually make our poke with raw salmon and ahi tuna seasoned with soy sauce, scallions and sesame oil. But if you prefer to use all ahi poke or all salmon poke in your poke bowl, that’s just fine.
  • Seasoned white rice: While you could use plain Steamed Rice, we love to add rice vinegar and sesame oil to the cooking water, and give it a little extra oomph.
  • More poke bowl toppings: This is where you get to have fun! What can you put in a poke bowl? After poke itself, and some rice — basically anything! We love pickled ginger, cucumber salad, avocado, mango, furikake, seaweed salad are all excellent add-ons!
A poke bowl featuring a base of seasoned rice, topped with tuna salmon, mango, cucumber salad, avocado & citrus wasabi sauce

A Wasabi-Citrus Poke Bowl Sauce

Don’t be scared off by the wasabi here. Even if you’re not a big fan of spicy food, the mayo and lemon juice counteract the sharp heat of the wasabi paste and it makes for a lovely, balanced condiment for finishing the poke bowl. Here’s what’s in our delicious poke bowl sauce:

  • Mayonnaise
  • Wasabi paste
  • Lemon juice
  • Sesame oil
  • Sugar
A poke bowl featuring a base of seasoned rice, topped with tuna salmon, sweet mango, crisp cucumber salad, avocado, & seaweed

How to Make The Best Poke Bowl 

Yes, this looks like a lot of steps. Yes, the ingredient list looks long. BUT! If you look closely, we’re using the same ingredients over and over again; sesame oil! Soy sauce! Rice vinegar! Plus, every step is quite simple. Here’s how to make a poke bowl at home:

  • Make white rice: Rinse the rice and simmer it, covered, for 18 minutes in water seasoned with rice vinegar, sesame oil and salt. Fluff the rice a bit, then let it sit, covered for another 2-3 minutes until it’s fluffy and all the liquid has been absorbed.
  • Make the salmon and ahi poke! Gently stir together the cubed, fresh raw ahi tuna and salmon with soy sauce, green onions, sesame oil, rice vinegar and ginger juice. Set it in the fridge for 15 minutes to let the flavors meld. 
  • Make the cucumber salad: Stir sliced cucumber with a simple dressing of rice vinegar, sugar, salt, red pepper flakes, and sesame oil.
  • Make the creamy wasabi citrus sauce: Just mix the mayo, wasabi, lemon juice, sesame oil and sugar in a bowl until you’ve got a uniform sauce. 
  • To assemble poke bowls: divide the rice between 4 bowls, top with poke, cucumber salad and any of the desired toppings. Drizzle the bowls with the wasabi citrus sauce.
  • If you’re serving a crowd and need more recipes ideas, we think Fresh Spring Rolls make a nice companion to poke bowls. 
A poke bowl featuring a base of seasoned rice, topped with tuna salmon, mango, cucumber salad, avocado & citrus wasabi sauce

Tips for Buying “Sushi-Grade” Fish for Poke 

Even after you buy really great fish, some of the raw fish safety will depend on you. Keep the fish very cold, and use a super, super clean cutting board and knife. Other than that, here’s a few tips for making sure your fish is safe to consume raw:

  • Good to know: Labels like “sushi-grade” or “sashimi-grade” are not regulated. Some totally reputable fish companies will use them to indicate quality, just because those labels have become familiar to consumers, but you cannot trust the label alone. So, how can you be sure that the fish you buy is fresh and safe to enjoy raw? Well....
  • Prepare to drop a little $$: Good fish that is safe to eat raw is not cheap. It can’t be. It has to be caught responsibly, frozen on the spot, and kept at very exacting temperatures in order to ensure safety. That’s a lot of work! And that means it’s going to cost. Both salmon and tuna have sustainability issues, too, so high-quality salmon and tuna is just going to be pricey. But that’s OK! It’s a splurge. Poke bowls are a big treat, and that’s great. Treat yourself!
  • Buy from a fishmonger you really trust. Find the very best fish shop in your area—maybe it’s the fish counter at a gourmet grocery shop, or maybe it’s a small specialty store—and tell them what you need.
  • OR, order fish online! Yep, you can buy fish meant for preparations like homemade poke online. Try the Honolulu Fish CompanySeattle Fish Company or Catalina Offshore Products.
  • And if you fear raw salmon, check out more of our Best Salmon Recipes, which includes a lot of cooked salmon ideas, too.
A poke bowl featuring a base of seasoned rice, topped with tuna salmon, mango, cucumber salad, avocado & citrus wasabi sauce

Homemade Poke Bowls? We’ll Be Right Over!

For more recipe inspiration, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest or order our cookbook. We love when you share your meals. Tag us on Instagram using #themodernproper, and we’d love to hear what you think of this recipe in the comments below. Happy cooking!

💌 Let's Stay Together

There are so many great ways to receive all of our latest recipes, meal tips, and inspiration.

Poke Bowl Recipe

  • Serves:  4
  • Prep Time:  20 min
  • Cook Time:  18 min
  • Calories:  747

Ingredients

Seasoned Rice

  • 1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice, rinsed

Poke

  • ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
  • 2 green onions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons juice from a jar of pickled ginger
  • ¾ pound sushi-grade ahi tuna, cut into bite-sized cubes
  • ¾ pound sushi-grade salmon, cut into bite-sized cubes

Cucumber Salad

  • 4 Persian cucumbers, cut into ½-inch pieces, then quartered
  • ¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

Wasabi Citrus Sauce

  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons wasabi paste
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
  • ¾ teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • Pinch of sugar

Toppings (optional)

  • Pickled ginger, drained
  • Diced avocado
  • Diced mango
  • Furikake
  • Seaweed salad, store-bought or homemade
  • Crab salad, store-bought or homemade
  • Toasted sesame seeds

Method

  1. Make the seasoned rice: In a small saucepan, stir together 1½ cups water, vinegar, sesame oil, salt and rice. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the rice is cooked through and the water has been absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat. Uncover and fluff with a fork. Set aside to cool for 20 minutes. 

    A vibrant assortment of poke bowl ingredients arranged in bowls: tuna and salmon, mango, cucumber, avocado & seasoned rice
  2. Make the Poke: Meanwhile in a large bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, green onions, sesame oil, rice vinegar and ginger juice. Add the tuna and salmon and toss to coat.

    sushi grade tuna and salmon marinating in a bowl of soy sauce, green onion, sesame oil, rice vinegar and pickled ginger juice
  3. Make the cucumber salad: In a small bowl, stir together ¼ cup rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons sugar, ½ teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil. Set aside. 

    A bowl of refreshing cucumber salad in a tangy dressing made from rice vinegar, sugar, salt, red pepper flakes & sesame oil.
  4. Make the wasabi citrus sauce: In a small bowl, combine ¼ cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons wasabi paste, 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, ¾ teaspoon toasted sesame oil, and a pinch of sugar. 

    bowl of wasabi Citrus Sauce made with mayo, wasabi, lemon juice, sesame oil and a pinch of sugar
  5. Assemble the bowl: To assemble, divide the rice between 4 bowls, top with the salmon and tuna poke, cucumber salad, and any desired toppings. Drizzle the bowls with the wasabi citrus sauce.

    A poke bowl featuring a base of seasoned rice, topped with tuna salmon, mango, cucumber salad, avocado & citrus wasabi sauce

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories 747
  • Protein 47 g
  • Carbohydrates 69 g
  • Total Fat 31 g
  • Dietary Fiber 3 g
  • Cholesterol 91 mg
  • Sodium 2210 mg
  • Total Sugars 8 g

Poke Bowl

Questions & Reviews

Join the discussion below.

or
  • Egale

    I liked 👌

  • Elizabeth

    Do you have a recommendation on where to buy store bought seaweed salad and crab salad? Thank you

    In Austin (where I lived when I developed this recipe) you can get it at Central Market. I would try heading to a local Asian market if you have one near by!

  • Chris

    This recipe is an inspiration for experimentation. I have made this yummy dish many times, modifying as ingredients are available. The sauces are also useable on other dishes. Always yummy.

    Thanks Chris, so happy you love it and are having fun with it in new ways!

  • Bea

    This was so good! Beautifully balanced, delicious and filling.

    Thanks Bea!

  • Christy

    All around, really lovely! It also lends itself to adding whatever other veg, etc that you have on hand. (Clean out the “rotting bin!😂) Also added tobiko and it was gorgeous as well as delicious. Well done!

    Thank you Christy, we are so glad you loved it! Clean out the "rotting bin" nights are the best!!

  • Michèle

    I haven’t made the recipe yet, but I am about to. I like all the details and ingredients that you put in each part of the Poki bowl. Very well organized and easy to follow recipe. I wasn’t looking for the easiest recipe, but the best tasting one.

    Thanks Michèle we are glad you find it easy to follow, it's also delicious so you're in luck! Hope you enjoy!