Poke Bowls: A Complete Guide to the Delicious Hawaiian Dish

You may have heard people talking about the delicious poke bowl they had at lunch. You’ve never heard of it before, but it sounds intriguing. Plus, their enthusiasm and rave reviews have you dying to learn more. Don’t worry. We are here to help! Below you will find our complete guide to this tasty Hawaiian dish.

Brief History

Poke bowls have a long and storied history in Hawaii, but we’re only going to give you the Cliff Notes version today. After all, you’re here about food. Poke has been a staple Hawaiian meal for forever. It developed into its current form, known as the poke bowl, in the 1970s. 

Over the decades, it grew increasingly popular throughout the US, changing form slightly as it did. These days, you can find both traditional poke and contemporary poke bowls to suit your taste.

What is in a Poke Bowl?

Base

The base is typically rice. Though, you can usually find an alternative, such as salad blends.

Protein

The star of the show is traditionally sushi-grade fish, often ahi tuna. The fish can be seasoned with sesame seeds, scallions, and pink salt to draw out the flavor. Other protein options often include chicken, salmon, cooked crab, or tofu for vegetarians and vegans.

Dressing

Choices include ponzu, soy sauce, shoyu, or a spicy mayo. The goal is to enhance the fish’s flavor further with a salty and flavorful dressing.

Veggies

The choices for veggies will vary greatly by location. Some popular toppings include avocado, crispy garlic, crispy onion, shaved onion, or seaweed.

Hot Sauce

What dish is complete without hot sauce? You can even opt for wasabi in place of hot sauce since it also brings a pop of heat.

The beauty of poke bowls is that they are fully customizable and a healthier alternative to traditional fast food fare. So pop by the closest location and give this tasty treat a try!