Vegan Poke Bowl Recipe: the Hawaiian plant-based hype - Vegan Recipes (2024)

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When I first ate a poke bowl, I was sold right away! Poke bowls are so delicious. Not only that, but they also look beautiful and are often packed with fiber and vegetable proteins.

Traditionally, raw fish is central to a poke bowl recipe, but we make this vegan poke bowl recipe with tofu and lots of other tasty ingredients. We’ll also tell you exactly what a poke bowl is and where it comes from.

What Is Poke Bowl?

Poke means cutting into slices or cross-cutting into pieces and a bowl, well, is a bowl. A poke bowl is therefore a bowl with sliced ingredients. This dish originated in Hawaii and is now known all over the world.

In Hawaii, it has been a traditional dish for centuries, but in recent years it has only become hip worldwide. There are even restaurants now that only serve poke bowls. Poke, by the way, is pronounced as a poh-keh.

Vegan Poke Bowl Recipe: the Hawaiian plant-based hype - Vegan Recipes (1)

The original main ingredient of a poke bowl is raw fish, supplemented with vegetables and sticky rice. We replace the raw fish with tofu, but you can also choose tempeh.

Typical poke bowl ingredients include avocado, soybeans, and cucumber. The great thing about a poke bowl is that there are no fixed rules attached to it. So you can put ingredients in your poke bowl that you like. Do you like seaweed? Put that in your bowl (as we do in this recipe)!

And also nice about a poke bowl: there is not much cooking involved. Of course, you have to prepare the rice and tofu, but the rest is just cutting. Read on to learn how to marinate tofu.

Vegan Poke Bowl Recipe: the Hawaiian plant-based hype - Vegan Recipes (2)

Vegetarian Poke Bowl

This recipe is both a vegetarian poke bowl recipe and a vegan poke bowl recipe. The ingredients we use are: sushi rice, tofu, spring onion, avocado, mango, radishes, soybeans, cucumber, seaweed salad and sesame seeds.

As a dressing we make a sauce of vegan mayonnaise, lemon juice and chili flakes. If you like spicy food, put a lot of chili flakes in it.

Vegan Poke Bowl Recipe: the Hawaiian plant-based hype - Vegan Recipes (3)

Prepare Tofu

Tofu is a perfect meat substitute and is made from soybeans. If you’ve never prepared tofu yourself, it can be quite difficult to prepare tofu. Especially since tofu tastes like “nothing” itself.

It’s the best thing to marinate tofu. Tofu takes flavors well, which is perfect. But how do you marinate tofu best? In our blog post, how to marinate tofu, we describe in detail how to do this best, but we will also describe it briefly below.

Vegan Poke Bowl Recipe: the Hawaiian plant-based hype - Vegan Recipes (4)
Vegan Poke Bowl Recipe: the Hawaiian plant-based hype - Vegan Recipes (5)

Tofu is packed with a lot of moisture. Before you start marinating the tofu it is useful to get all that moisture out of the tofu. This can be done by draining the tofu, dabbing dry and/or by wrapping the tofu in a kitchen cloth and putting something heavy on top. You can also buy a special tofu press to squeeze the moisture out of the tofu.

Now that all the moisture is gone, the marinade can be better absorbed. And if you poke holes in the tofu with a fork, the tofu can take the marinade even better!

Vegan Poke Bowl Recipe: the Hawaiian plant-based hype - Vegan Recipes (6)
Vegan Poke Bowl Recipe: the Hawaiian plant-based hype - Vegan Recipes (7)

For our poke bowl recipe we marinate the tofu with soy sauce, red pepper, garlic, ginger and agave syrup. Leave the marinated tofu for a moment, so that the tofu can absorb the marinade completely. After that, the tofu is ready to be (stir) fried.

TIP! Try our vegan rainbow Buddha bowl too!

How to Make a Poke Bowl

When the rice is cooked, the tofu is fried and all the vegetables are cut, then it’s time to put the poke bowl together! You do this by first placing rice in the bowl and then decorating with the other ingredients.

Vegan Poke Bowl Recipe: the Hawaiian plant-based hype - Vegan Recipes (8)

Yield: 4

Vegan Poke Bowl

Vegan Poke Bowl Recipe: the Hawaiian plant-based hype - Vegan Recipes (9)

This vegan poke bowl recipe with marinated tofu and fresh sauce is also packed with vegetables! Enjoy!

Cooking time35 minutes

Total Time35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 ¾ cup sushi rice (400 gram)
  • 1 ¾ cupfirm tofu (375 gram)
  • 1 avocado
  • 1 mango
  • 2 spring onions
  • 1 cupsoy beans (200 gram)
  • 1 ⅓ cupseaweed salad (125 gram)
  • ½ cucumber
  • 8 radishes
  • 2 tablespoon sesame seeds, roasted
  • oil

Tofu Marinade

  • ⅓ cupsoy sauce (90 milliliter)
  • 1 chili peper
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 0.6 inchesginger (1.5 centimeters)
  • 2 tablespoon agave syrup

Poke Bowl Dressing

  • 3 tablespoon vegan mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoon lemon juice
  • chili flakes

Instructions

  1. Drain the tofu. Wrap the tofu in a kitchen cloth and place something heavy on it (for example, a cutting board and books), let it sit for 10 minutes. This allows the tofu to absorb the marinade later. Read more about tofu and how to marinate tofu on our blog.
  2. Prepare the rice according to package directions. Let the rice cool when it is ready.
  3. Meanwhile, prepare the tofu marinade. Finely chop the chili pepper (with or without seeds), press or chop the garlic and peel the ginger and chop finely. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, agave syrup, red pepper, garlic and ginger.
  4. Remove the tofu from the kitchen cloth and cut into cubes. Poke holes in the tofu with a fork (so the tofu can absorb the marinade even better). Mix the tofu with the marinade and let it sit for 8 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, cut the spring onions into rings and the radishes and avocado into slices. The cucumber and mango can be cut into cubes.
  6. Heat oil in a frying pan and fry the tofu over medium heat. Fry in about 8 minutes. The tofu should be slightly brown on all sides.
  7. Prepare the poke bowl dressing. Mix the vegan mayonnaise with the lemon juice and chili flakes (at your discretion, if you like spicy food, add a lot of chili flakes).
  8. Divide the rice over four bowls. Then place the avocado, cucumber, mango, soybeans, spring onions, radishes, seaweed salad and tofu between the four bowls of rice. Top it off with the sesame seeds, the spring onions and the dressing.

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Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per ServingCalories 730Total Fat 40gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 28gCholesterol 25mgSodium 2211mgCarbohydrates 67gFiber 11gSugar 26gProtein 35g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix

Vegan Poke Bowl Recipe: the Hawaiian plant-based hype - Vegan Recipes (13)
Vegan Poke Bowl Recipe: the Hawaiian plant-based hype - Vegan Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan poke made of? ›

No fish vegan poke bowl

Hawaiian-inspired, this poke bowl without fish features layers of tofu poke, simple cucumber salad, fresh mangos, rice, avocado, and more! A colorful lunch or dinner is bursting with flavor and drizzled with an incredible but simple wasabi mayo sauce.

Are veggie Poke bowls healthy? ›

Nutritional Value of Poke Bowls

The inclusion of fresh vegetables adds fiber, vitamins, and minerals, enhancing the meal's overall nutritional profile. With the right balance of ingredients, a poke bowl can be a powerful addition to a healthy diet.

What can you substitute for rice in a poke bowl? ›

You can substitute rice for other whole grains if you're making your bowl, such as quinoa. Quinoa's a complete source of protein which makes it an excellent choice for vegetarians.

What makes a poke bowl Hawaiian? ›

Poke is a traditional Hawaiian dish and sushi originates in Japan. Hawaiian food takes a lot of influence from Japanese food, but poke is Hawaiian. Traditionally, poke is made from ahi tuna or octopus (tako) that has been roughly cut into bite sized pieces and marinated with whatever was on hand.

Is poke good or bad for you? ›

Poke bowls are also a great meal to include fermented foods like pickled vegetables or sauerkraut. Fermented foods are loaded with natural probiotics that may offer gut-health benefits, help fight inflammation, and strengthen your immune system ( 14 , 15 ).

Is poke always marinated? ›

C.C.: Generally speaking, poke would refer to raw pieces of tuna cut into cubes, then marinated with soy sauce and sesame oil and mixed with onion; though the variations go far beyond this generalization. Poke doesn't necessarily have to be tuna or even seafood, nor does it have to be raw or cubed.

Is poke okay for weight loss? ›

It is a good choice for many keep-fit enthusiasts or who need to do weight control because it meets the demands of a small number of carbohydrates, riprotein and dietary fiber. Menus can be alternative and varied.

Is a poke bowl healthier than sushi? ›

Poke Bowls Win by TKO!

Poke bowls and sushi are both healthy meal options and contain similar ingredients, but there's a clear winner here. Move over, sushi! It's time for a fresher, healthier option to take its turn in the spotlight.

What is the best protein for poke bowls? ›

The amount of calories they have can change, depending on what you choose for your bowl. To keep your poke bowl healthy, go for proteins like tuna or salmon, add lots of veggies, and be careful not to use too much sauce.

What to avoid in poke bowls? ›

Forgo the Rice

Yes, rice is the primary base for that tasty poké bowl. But if you are watching your carbs or calories, a little rice can put you over your daily goal. Ask for a half serving of rice, or switch it out for a veggie base.

Should poke bowls be hot or cold rice? ›

Poké protocol:

Only the freshest fish will do, but you can veer away from seafood using anything from tofu to chicken. Temperature is important – rice should be warm and fish cold. Use a rice cooker. Wet or starchy rice ruins a good poké bowl.

Is white or brown rice better for poke bowls? ›

If you're choosing a rice: brown comes out ahead of white in terms of fiber and protein, but white has less sodium and more calcium and iron; the “best” choice really depends on what your personal nutritional needs are.

What is the difference between Japanese poke and Hawaiian poke? ›

Poke, pronounced (POH-kay) means in Hawaiian “cut into chunks” and in Japanese poke means “cut into pieces.” A normal Poke dish is served in a bowl with chunks of fish tossed over rice. This is where the “Poke Bowl” term comes from.

Is Hawaii poke bowl healthy? ›

A Poké bowl consists of rice, fresh veggies and raw fish. The fish can be prepared in different ways, but is commonly served raw. Poké bowls are incredibly nutritious and make for a well-balanced meal anytime.

What is poke in non veg? ›

Poke (/ˈpoʊkeɪ/; Hawaiian for 'to slice' or 'cut crosswise into pieces'; sometimes anglicised as poké to aid pronunciation as two syllables) is a dish of diced raw fish tossed in sauce and served either as an appetizer or a main course.

Is everything in a poke bowl raw? ›

This is where the “Poke Bowl” term comes from. The types of both the fish and the rice are highly customizable, with both cooked and uncooked fish options. Sometimes, poke may just be the raw fish or a combo of raw fish, onions, and sources. That really depends on the chef and the place you're picking up your poke.

Is poke bowl Chinese or Japanese food? ›

Poke is a traditional Hawaiian seafood dish and a mainstay in everyday cuisine for islanders. And while modern authentic Hawaiian poke draws from a number of traditions — including related dishes from the Philippines and Japan — it always features fresh, raw seafood as the base. It's a must-try for seafood lovers.

What protein is in a poke bowl? ›

Protein is the next, and arguably the most important, step in the bowl building process. We have several protein choices to choose from including: salmon, shrimp, chicken, spicy tuna, octopus, ahi tuna, marinated tuna, and spicy salmon.

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