Poke Bowls
....About the other night. This happened. The start of something beautiful... poke bowls!
If there is one thing I love and can eat in repeat, it’s poke bowls. And as much as I love Quickfish, my local poke spot, I needed a way to fuel my obsession without breaking the bank.
They are pretty darn easy to make one yourself at home. No matter the style of poke bowl you’re aiming for, they all follow the same basic steps. So let me break it down for you:
1. The Base
Start by choosing a base for your bowl. Traditionally this is a layer of rice. However, you may choose soba noodles or leafy greens if you prefer. Japanese sushi rice is the best option for rice regarding quality. However, you may opt for coconut jasmine rice, medicine rice, a brown rice, or cauli-rice as a substitute.
2. Protein
Next comes the meat, which should be cut lengthwise working against the grain into 1/2" strips. Then cut across the strips into 1/2" cubes. Usually, the meat will be ahi tuna, fluke, hamachi, salmon or shrimp. For vegetarian poke bowls, tofu is the most popular choice.
3. Sauce
If you’re using a fattier and firmer fish, the dressing can be packed full of rich flavor. For more delicate fish, opt for dressing the fish more simply. Ponzu, shoyu (soy sauce), yuzu, coconut aminos, gochujang and spicy black bean paste, all work well as a starting base to which you can add your unique flavor combinations.
4. The Rest
Creating a good blend of texture, depth and balance means adding a few extra ingredients to the bowl. This can be anything from fresh fruits and vegetables like avocado, shiitake mushrooms, radish and bean sprouts, nuts, seeds or spices.
