Poke Bowl Recipe (With Sriracha Mayo)

By Amy Dong
Updated Oct. 11, 2024

This poke bowl recipe is fun to make and eat, full of healthy ingredients, and bursting with umami flavor. We have made this countless times for DIY Poke Bowl Parties! Not exaggerating, these are so much better than restaurants.

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

Watch Us Make This Recipe

What is Poke?

First off, how do you pronounce poke? Po-kay or po-kee is how it’s often proncouned, but the real pronunciation rhymes with okay. Regardless, it’s all the rage 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 raw salmon. The cuts of fish are marinated in a sesame-soy based sauce.

Why We Make This So Often

It’s Actually Healthy: Our homemade poke bowl recipe is naturally healthy, as they’re loaded with fresh fish, vegetables, edamame, and grains such as brown rice.
Poke Bowl Party: This poke bowl recipe is perfect for DIY poke bowl parties. All the eaters can assemble their own poke bowls with condiments and garnishes, similar to DIY Chiptole style burrito bowls.
BIG Umami Flavors: This recipe is packed with umami flavor. For a little variation, try our Hawaiian salmon poke.
Incredible Sauce: Creamy Sriracha Mayo sets our recipe apart, as it is a creamy, tangy, spicy sauce everyone loves!

Key Recipe Ingredients

Sriracha Mayo

Mayonnaise – use whole, real mayo and not a low fat version nor 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 Vinegar – you can often find this in the ethnic aisles of major grocery stores now.
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.
Sushi-grade tuna, salmon, or other high quality fish can be used.
Vegetables: lettuce, cucumber, bell peppers, or shredded carrots are all great choices.
Fruits: We love the tropical sweetness of mangoes and the creaminess of avocado.
Toppings: Chopped cilantro, green onions, toasted sesame seeds are fantastic.
Furikake – I highly recommend including this umami-rich seasoning, which is fantastic over cooked 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 rice.
Fish/Protein: Aside from 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 options include pineapple, edamame, or seaweed salad.
Garnishes: Also try crispy fried onion or garlic bits, crispy won ton strips, or sushi ginger!

Easy Step-By-Step Instructions

Make Sriracha Mayo: Stir together the mayo and Sriracha in a small bowl. Cover and chill until ready to use.

2. Make Sesame-Soy Sauce: In a bowl, hand-whisk together all Sauce ingredients. Stir cubed tuna/salmon into the sauce, coating well.

Poke Bowl being layered into serving bowl.

3. Assemble Bowls: Divide rice into bowls. Evenly layer each bowl with: lettuce, marinaded ahi tuna, cucumber, mango, and avocado. Garnish as desired.

Prep-Ahead Tips

Feel free to make the sriracha mayo 2-3 days in advance. Keep it covered and chilled until ready to use.
The sesame soy sauce can also be prepared 2-3 days in advance.
Vegetables and fruits can be chopped or sliced 1 day ahead of time.
Garnishes such as chopped cilantro or green onions can be chopped 1 day in advance.
Rice can be cooked earlier the same day; that way, it has a chance to cool to room temperature and yet is still fresh and tender.

What to Serve with Poke Bowls

Sides

Pickled Vegetables: Any style of pickled vegetables such as sushi ginger are delicious.
Kimchi: Though kimchi is a classic Korean dish, it’s a great option to serve alongside poke bowls.
Edamame: Use edamame in the bowls themselves, or serve them with salted/boiled edamame pods. We love Edamame Hummus as a side dish!

Salads

A refreshing side salad like Chopped Asian Chicken Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing is a favorite!
Crunchy Asian Cabbage Ramen Salad adds crunch to the meal.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is our favorite mac salad to serve with Asian and Hawaiian style meals.

Commonly Asked Questions

Are homemade poke bowls healthy?

Yes! Made with simple ingredients, poke bowls are full of lean protein, healthy fats such as you’d find in salmon and avocado, and fresh vegetables like cucumbers and edamame.

Is this dish safe to consume 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. Consult with your local seafood counter for the best fresh fish.

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.

Can you keep poke bowls overnight?

If you’ve made a poke bowl and cannot finish it, cover and chill it for lunch the next day. It is fine to eat it the next day, as long as it has been kept cold.

What are the crunch toppings commonly used?

Crunchy toppings on poke bowls include: chopped roasted peanuts or cashews, crispy fried onion bits, crispy fried garlic bits, or chopped won ton strips.

What are the most popular sauces used?

Poke sauces have many variations, most of which include soy sauce, sugar, Asian sesame oil, Asian rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger for sweet, savory, and tangy notes.

Did you make this?

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