Poke Bowl Recipe (with Sriracha Mayo)

By Amy Dong
Published Apr. 10, 2024
Updated Apr. 11, 2024

Poke shops are popping up everywhere, and for good reason. They’re supremely fun to eat, full of healthy ingredients, and bursting with umami flavor. Now, you can make your own gluten-free Poke Bowls right at home.

poke bowl with rice and sriracha mayo — Super fresh, umami-rich poke bowls are easy and FUN to make at home!

What is Poke?

We cannot be more excited about today’s dish, because we’re here to talk about the fabulous poke bowl. Pokay or pokee or however you like to say it – the real way to pronounce poke rhymes with okay). It’s been all the rage in recent years for good reason.

The word poke means to cut or slice in Hawaiian, generally referring to high-quality raw fish such as ahi tuna or salmon. The cuts of fish are marinated with a soy sauce mixture, similar to the sesame-soy sauce in our recipe card below.

Video: Watch Us Make This Recipe

Why This Recipe Works

Actually Healthy: Poke bowls are supremely healthy without even trying to be; they’re loaded with fresh fish of your choice, fresh vegetables, edamame, and salad or rice of your choice. Brown rice makes them even healthier.
Ridiculously Easy: Poke bowls are easy to make and perfect for DIY bowl parties. It’s beyond fun to let people assemble their own poke bowls with condiments and garnishes. It’s like what you’d do with DIY Chiptole style burrito bowls.
Umami Flavors: They’re packed with umami flavor. Translation: every bite is a delightful flavor bomb. For a little variation try our Hawaiian salmon poke.
Incredible Sauce: 3 words: Creamy Sriracha Mayo. People fall in love with this creamy, tangy, kicked up sauce.

Key Recipe Ingredients

Sriracha Mayo

Mayonnaise – use whole, real mayo – not a low fat version nor any mayo substitute.
Sriracha – there’s no substitute for this sweet, tangy, and savory Asian hot sauce.

Sesame-Soy Sauce

Tamari – tarmari soy sauce boasts pure, unadulterated flavors. It has more depth of flavor without as much sodium.
Asian Rice Wine Vinegar – you can often find this in the ethnic aisles of major grocery stores now. See
Asian Toasted Sesame Oil – this particular sesame oil is darker brown and highly fragrant. Be sure it is Asian style, as “regular” sesame oils are completely different.
Ground Ginger – you’re welcome to use freshly grated ginger if you like, though we prefer the ease of ginger powder.
Wasabi Paste – a little goes a long way towards imparting just the right amount of kick.

Poke Bowl

Rice: feel free to use freshly cooked jasmine or brown rice.
Sashimi-grade tuna, salmon, or other fish (towel-dried and cubed)
Vegetables: lettuce, cucumber, bell peppers, or shredded carrots are all great choices.
Fruits: we love the tropical sweetness of mangos and the creaminess of avocado.
Garnishes: Chopped cilantro, green onions, toasted sesame seeds, Furikake – highly recommended to include furikake, which is fantastic over rice!

Substitutions and Variations

Soy Sauce: If you can’t find tamari sauce, you can use regular soy sauce.
Rice: Feel free to use any kind of rice you like: short grain, medium grain, white, or brown.
Fish/Protein: Aside from the popular choices of raw tuna and salmon, you can use cooked shrimp or seared scallops. For non-seafood eaters, grilled chicken is delicious. Cooked tofu cubes are another healthy option.
Fruits/Vegetables: Use any variety of produce you like. Some variations include pineapple, edamame, or seaweed salad.
Garnishes: Try crispy fried onion or garlic bits, crispy won ton strips, or sushi ginger!

Easy Step-By-Step Instructions

Poke fish marinated in sesame soy sauce mixture.

Make Sriracha Mayo: Stir together the mayo and Sriracha in a small bowl. Cover and chill until ready to use.
Make Sesame-Soy Sauce: In a bowl, hand-whisk together all Sauce ingredients. Stir cubed tuna/salmon into the sauce, coating well. Cover and keep chilled until ready to assemble bowls.
Assemble Bowls: Divide cooked rice into bowls. Evenly layer each bowl according to order: lettuce, marinaded tuna/salmon, cucumber, mango, and avocado. Sprinkle with garnishes. Drizzle with Sriracha Mayo.

Poke Bowls
Commonly Asked Questions

Are poke bowls healthy?

Yes! Made with simple ingredients, it’s full of lean protein, healthy fats such as salmon and avocado, and fresh vegetables like cucumbers and edamame.

Do you eat poke bowls raw?

Yes, as long as you use high-quality sushi-grade fish, poke is generally regarded as safe to consume raw. As with all raw seafood, there is minimal risk involved.

Can I make poke bowls ahead of time?

We recommend preparing the Sriracha mayo and the sauce mixture ahead of time (up to several days) and keeping those chilled. You can also slice/cut the fish and vegetables ahead of time. However, wait until you’re ready to eat to assemble the bowls.

Did you make this?

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