Have you ever enjoyed a delicious poke bowl and thought to yourself, I need to learn how to make authentic homemade tuna poke bowls? If so, this is the blog post for you.
First, Catch A Tuna
I love tuna. I love poke bowls. I love tuna poke bowls! This summer I visited friends on their boat in Menemsha Harbor on Martha’s Vineyard and we went tuna fishing. And, would you believe it, I actually caught a bluefin tuna. The experience was unforgettable and I tell people it was just like you see it on television – except that my tuna was a little smaller. It was so much work reeling this tuna in, I have no idea how those tuna fishermen reel in those mega tunas.
Since this tuna was so fresh, we wanted to have some tuna as soon as we got back to the docks. While my friend broke down the tuna, I hopped off the boat and went to find anything we could possibly add to our simple, fresh tuna. Menemsha is one of my favorite places to visit on the Vineyard. It is quiet! There really isn’t a big tourist hustle and bustle. It is a dry town meaning that they don’t serve alcohol at restaurants or shops so bring your own!
There are two little fish markets right on the pier – Larsen’s Fish Market and Menemsha Fish Market. Between these two markets, I was able to find seaweed salad, tamari (gluten free soy sauce), pickled ginger, and some wasabi paste. The tuna was so unbelievably fresh, you don’t really need to have anything with it, but it is nice to craft yourself a little bowl of deliciousness for a snack or meal.
Making Tuna Poke Bowls At Home – So Much Flexibility
If you don’t have a chance to catch your own tuna, you can buy sushi grade tuna at your own favorite fish market. My kids love the make-your-own aspect of tuna poke bowls and it really allows the tuna to shine. I have to do very little to the tuna other than carefully cut it and let it sit in a little tamari and sesame oil while I prep the other ingredients. A traditional poke bowl is made with white rice topped with raw fish that’s been marinated in a blend of sesame oil, soy sauce (or tamari), green onions and other spices.
How To Prepare Tuna For Authentic Tuna Poke Bowls
This is a recipe that’s not really a recipe!
For the tuna … use a sharp knife and cut against the grain. Cut it into bite-sized pieces. I cut my pieces smaller to make it easier to serve to my kids.
For the marinade … Whisk together 1/4 cup of tamari, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, and 1 teaspoon rice vinegar. I also added some toasted sesame seeds. Add these ingredients to your chopped tuna and put in the fridge.
Making Authentic Tuna Poke Bowls At Home – Rice!
For the poke bowls, you will probably want to use a simple jasmine rice as your base. I try to keep frozen jasmine rice in the freezer these days – super easy to heat up a bag in your microwave in about six minutes. Life saver! You can also just steam a cup at a time or make some earlier in the day in a rice cooker. This is also a great use for leftover rice.
Best Toppings For A Tuna Poke Bowl
For the toppings, I love to pick up seaweed salad and edamame from any nearby Chinese restaurant. If I have edamame in the house, we use that, but I never have seaweed salad and it’s such an awesome addition to poke bowls – also really good for you.
My kids also love avocado – I totally forgot to put that out last night. 
I also chop some scallions, cucumber, jalapeño peppers, and carrots. If I have pickled carrots, I use those. If I have time – I pickle my own carrots. They pickle really quickly. I pickle carrots in much the same way as I pickle my red onions. My kids (and my!) unexpected favorite poke bowl topping is pineapple! Try it. Trust me. The best part about a poke bowl – in my opinion – is the mix of flavors and textures. Soft, crunchy, chewy. A homemade tuna poke bowl has it all.
I also chop some scallions, cucumber, jalapeño peppers, and carrots. If I have pickled carrots, I use those. If I have time – I pickle my own carrots. They pickle really quickly. I pickle carrots in much the same way as I pickle my red onions. My kids (and my!) unexpected favorite poke bowl topping is pineapple! Try it. Trust me. The best part about a poke bowl – in my opinion – is the mix of flavors and textures. Soft, crunchy, chewy. A homemade tuna poke bowl has it all.Spice or no spice? You Choose.
If you want a little spice, you can add some spicy chili sauce for a kick or crushed red pepper. I love chili crisp! There are so many versions out there right now, but you can also make your own. Sometimes, my kids add an extra dash of tamari. If we have crunchy seaweed snacks on hand, that can be a great addition, too. So many options. You can’t mess it up! The key is getting super fresh, sushi grade tuna.
That’s it. Make your own tuna poke bowls. So easy. Maybe even try to catch your own tuna!
If you are craving more seafood recipes, try this super simple but super delicious recipe for roasted sole and potatoes. For a more hearty meal, try my seared scallops over kale risotto. Delish! And, all year round, this simple recipe for Papa’s Fish Chowder is a family favorite. My college roommates still ask about it!
Although it’s the middle of winter, we can dream about our summer adventures and all the fish we are going to catch!
