How to Make Poke Bowls at Home (Infographic Guide)

Poke shops are all the rage these days. There’s something about watching a poke bowl being built in front of your eyes and choosing each ingredient that goes into it that makes the meal taste all the better when it finally hits your mouth. Whether it’s a salmon poke bowl, a tuna poke bowl, or even a vegan poke bowl, seeing it come together and choosing toppings and a tasty poke sauce builds the anticipation.

But seeing how to make a poke bowl in a shop often sparks a question as well: Can it really be all that hard to make a homemade poke bowl?

As a matter of fact, it isn’t! Making fresh poke is mostly a matter of prepping poke bowl ingredients and making a marinade and dressing. The combinations are endless, and the assembly is quick and easy!

That’s why we put together this downloadable infographic that’s like having multiple poke bowl recipes in one. The infographic allows you to mix and match ingredients based on what you prefer and what you have available to you. Want to make an ahi poke bowl in a simple marinade with a sesame dressing? Done. What about salmon poke in a sriracha miso marinade with ponzu sauce? We’ve got you covered.

What is a Poke Bowl?

But first, let’s back up. What exactly is a poke bowl, anyway?

Poke bowls are a traditional Hawaiian dish that consists of marinated raw fish, usually tuna, served over rice. Sometimes called poke sushi bowls, they often contain similar ingredients to sushi, but are served in bowl form — in other words, rice on bottom, with the fish, vegetables, and other ingredients on top, and finished with a dressing or sauce and garnishes.

As poke bowl recipes have made their way to the mainland, variations have emerged. Some people prefer salad greens instead of rice. Some want to make a raw salmon poke bowl instead of tuna, or they prefer cooked shrimp or even tofu poke. Toppings and dressings have also evolved.

How to Make a Poke Bowl Guide

In this infographic, we’ll share a variety of options for poke bowl bases — from the traditional rice, to greens, to options such as quinoa and zucchini noodles. We’ll also share some options for poke bowl proteins you can use, and a couple of easy marinades. 

We also suggest a variety of other poke bowl ingredients, from raw or ready-to-use toppings such as edamame, avocado, and mango, to toppings that must be roasted, such as butternut squash and broccoli. 

No bowl would be complete without a drizzle of poke bowl sauce on top, so we’ll share our recipes for Sesame Dressing, Spicy Garlic Mayo, and Ponzu Sauce. Finally, garnishes add crunch, spice, and/or color to your finished bowl, and our suggestions include everything from fresh chili slices to masago to nuts. 

This infographic also provides basic instructions for how to prep poke and amounts of each type of ingredient to use, so if you’re ready to get started, get your free How to Make a Poke Bowl Guide by clicking below!

More Fun Poke Bowl Tips!

Want more info on what’s involved? Check out the video below and our “How to Make a Poke Bowl” post, which goes into more detail about prep and equipment needed, and also includes a tuna poke bowl recipe in case you want a specific recipe instead of making all the decisions yourself about what to include. (This version is always a Cook Smarts member favorite when it appears as part of our meal plan service!)

If you’re feeling skeptical or not super confident about preparing fish at home  — we understand, there are so many different kinds of fish in the ocean!  — be sure to check out our Infographic Guide to Fish. Here, you’ll learn all about fish so you can make the best choice for your home cooking!

If these poke bowl recipes are useful to you, stay tuned for more infographics and how-to articles by signing up for our weekly email below. Or sign up for a free 14-day trial of our meal plan service for a variety of other delicious, fresh, and healthy dinner bowls!