Why I love this poke bowl recipe

If you love raw fish as much as I do, you are going to love this ahi tuna poke recipe. It’s beyond simple to make, and the flavor is amazing.

Normally, I can’t get enough sushi, but since we aren’t going out as much lately, I’ve been adding frozen sushi grade tuna – don’t judge, we live in the Midwest! – to my grocery cart and whipping up a batch of this whenever I have a craving.

It makes a great lunch, especially paired with leftover coconut rice – maybe that’s weird, but I love it – and when I’m feeling crazy, I’ll even make a batch of my spicy sushi sauce to drizzle on top.

It also makes a great appetizer if you chop the tuna a bit smaller and serve it on rice crackers. We served it like that last Christmas Eve and it was so good.

close up of ahi tuna marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil and green onion

Here’s what you’ll need to make it

overhead close up of ahi tuna marinating in homemade sauce in a clear mixing bowl

How to make a poke bowl

Make the poke sauce. In a medium mixing bowl, mix the soy sauce, sesame oil and vinegar. Next, stir in the red pepper flakes, green onions and sesame seeds.

Marinate the tuna. Use a sharp knife to cube the tuna – I usually aim for 1/2-inch pieces, but you do what you like. Transfer the mixing bowl and stir to coat the tuna in the sauce.

Cover and allow the poke to marinate for at least 30 minutes, in the refrigerator.

overhead view of ahi tuna poke bowl ingredients, rice, green onion, and ahi tuna, in small white bowls on a countertop

FAQS and tips for making the best ahi tuna poke

What is poke sauce made of?

Poke sauce is traditionally made with soy sauce, sesame oil and green onion. I’ve added a hint of vinegar and crushed red pepper flakes for extra flavor. I also like to mix my sesame seeds right into the marinade, but they can been added as a garnish instead.

Do you need sushi grade fish for Poke?

Since you will be eating this fish raw, it’s best to buy sushi grade tuna when making poke. That means totally fresh fish, or fish that is frozen right after it’s caught.

How long does ahi tuna last in the fridge?

It’s best to consume refrigerated, or thawed, ahi tuna within 1 – 2 days. Same goes for these poke bowl. They will be ok the next day, but after that I recommend tossing any leftovers.

Overhead view of tuna poke bowl in a white bowl on a countertop next two a smaller bowl of green onions for garnish

This recipe would be great with:

More takeout recipes you’ll love:

overhead close up of poke bowl in a small white bowl over rice garnished with cucumbers
4.87 from 15 votes

Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl

By: Melissa Belanger
Inspired by the classic Hawaiian dish, this ahi tuna poke recipe is light and healthy, featuring fresh raw tuna marinated with soy, sesame and onion. You’ll love how quick and easy it is to make. Serve over rice with sliced cucumber for a meal, or serve it on rice crackers for a simple appetizer.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
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Ingredients 

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion
  • 1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 1 pound ahi tuna, cubed

Instructions 

  • Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir to coat the tuna with the sauce ingredients.
  • Cover and let marinate for at least 30 minutes.
  • Serve over rice and top with extra green onions and sesame seeds.

Nutrition

Calories: 201kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 29g, Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 43mg, Sodium: 860mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 0.4g, Vitamin C: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Hi! I'm Melissa.

I create easy, dairy free recipes because I know how hard living without milk can be. I believe you can live a completely satisfying life without dairy, and I want to teach you how.

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4.87 from 15 votes

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Recipe Rating




35 Comments

  1. Naad says:

    5 stars
    It was so easy and perfect for a Friday night dinner.

  2. Matt says:

    4 stars
    Where do you buy for your frozen Tuna?

    1. Melissa Belanger says:

      Just at our local grocery store!

      1. R Harris says:

        Just make sure it is listed as “sushi-grade.”

    2. Bonnie Boudreaux says:

      Super1 Grocery Store. I live in Louisiana. Individually vacuumed sealed about 3 oz portions.

    3. LB says:

      I get mine at Aldi and love it. Very affordable

    4. ur helper says:

      I got it from trader joes, whole foods, safeway, and costco

  3. Jim h says:

    4 stars
    I use fresh flash frozen fish from purefish.com

  4. Francisco says:

    5 stars
    I made these for a private catering I had and they said it’s the best poke they’ve ever had! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    1. Vicki says:

      5 stars
      This was so good and so easy! I will never buy it takeout again!

  5. John Doe says:

    your website is so overrun with ads that it is virtually useless. probably a good recipe but getting to it is like walking through times square. awful.

    1. Melissa Belanger says:

      Hi John Doe! I’m so glad you made it to the bottom of the page to leave this rude comment. These ads support my family and pay my bills. They also offset the cost of my creating FREE recipes for people like you. There is a convenient jump to recipe button at the top if you want to skip the ads and if you don’t want to look at ads (like you would on literally every other page of the internet), you can buy yourself a cookbook!

      1. JAY BUDNER says:

        Yes!!!!!

        1. Clara Hoffman says:

          Always a whiner in every crowd! Probably an o ky child like my husband!lol

      2. Stephanie says:

        What is the serving size? Does the x1 version of recipe serve 4 or 6?
        This looks great!

        1. Melissa Belanger says:

          It should serve 4.

  6. Zaikia says:

    Your recipe looks delicious. Thank you for sharing. I’m going to try it out today. Can you use frozen tuna thawed out? I can’t get fresh tuna where I live but I love poke bowls.

    1. Melissa Belanger says:

      Yes. You definitely can. That’s normally what we have to use because that’s all we can find around here, too.

    2. Bonnie Boudreaux says:

      Just be sure and ask ā€œWHEN WAS IT UNFROZEN AT STORE/Seafood Market? And even ask to smell BEFORE you buy. If it smells ā€œvery fishyā€, buy it frozen, defrosts quickly.

  7. Rob says:

    5 stars
    Thanks for the recipe. Have made this a couple of times for my family and it’s a big hit! With a small number of ingredients it’s quick and easy to make, but still very delicious.

  8. Summer says:

    5 stars
    This recipe was simple and delicious! My whole family loved the tuna! Since I made it at home I made the mistake of putting it over cooked rice. Didn’t think to cool the rice, so just a suggestion to anyone serving it with rice!

  9. NanHam says:

    5 stars
    Trying it tonight however I’m substituting sushi grade salmon in lieu of the tuna. I love both tuna and salmon. Will try with sushi grade ahi tuna next time. Curious, have you ever also added any fresh ginger? I may serve with both sliced avocados and pickled ginger on the side. Thanks for the recipe!

  10. Texas Gigi says:

    5 stars
    This is a terrific recipe! I’m a pescatarian. So, since my family was having beef, I made your recipe for myself. I thawed one vacuum packed tuna fillet and followed your recipe. It was delicious!!!! I’m saving this recipe. Next time, I may try your coconut rice. Thanks so much, for a great recipe!!! Yummmmmm!

    1. Anastasia says:

      Can you let the tuna marinate in the sauce for 24 hours before eating? Or is that a bad idea?

      1. Melissa Belanger says:

        I wouldn’t marinate it that long. Maybe a few hours at the most.