I’ve always been a huge fan of sushi, but I’ve never actually tried making it at home. It just seems like a lot of work. Who has time for that on a week day? But when we did the Meal Kit Review Series a couple months ago, one of the recipes was for a DIY tuna poke bowl. *Lightbulb moment*
I love poke. Essentially a rice bowl topped with marinated raw fish, it’s like a deconstructed version of all the best parts of sushi. Plus it only takes 30 minutes to make!
We’ve made a few different varieties now, and it’s officially been added to my ongoing rotation. And the secret is really just the sauce/marinade. Here’s what goes in ours:
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sriracha sauce
- 2 tbsp black vinegar
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp lime juice
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1 -2 scallions, finely chopped
You can adjust the quantities to your taste, but that works quite well for us. Pour half the sauce mixture over your cubed fresh, sushi-grade fish (tuna or salmon both work well; make sure your fish has been previously frozen so as to avoid any parasites, since you won’t be cooking it) in a Ziploc bag, and let marinate about 20-30 minutes, while you cook your rice.
You can use either traditional white sushi rice for this recipe, or go with a brown rice alternative for a healthier dish. If you go with brown rice, don’t rinse it as much, as the starch will give you that “sticky” texture that you’re looking for. If you want to be truly low-carb, skip the rice altogether and substitute mixed greens.
My favorite toppings are seaweed salad, shredded carrots, avocado, green onions, mango, and sesame seeds. Other ideas include nori pieces, fish roe, cherry tomatoes, red onion, pickled ginger, edamame, cilantro, red cabbage, wonton strips, etc. You can really include anything you like!
Finally, add the remaining sauce to your poke masterpiece to taste, and dig in. You’ll spend 1/3 of the dough you’d shell out at a sushi restaurant, and still get all the delicious satisfaction!
