Poke (pronounced poh-Keh) bowls have been one of the biggest trends for foodies. This dish combines all of the delicacies of sushi — such as raw fish — and combines them with yummy and healthy toppings. The average poke bowl has 611 calories, which is ideal for those on many diets.
But what is poke? What about a poke sushi bowl? Where did they come from? Many foodies have the same questions, and that’s because the poke bowl trend popped up out of nowhere. Don’t worry, we’re delivering these 4 delicious facts about poke to eat up before you dig into a poke bowl!
1. Poke Bowls Are Served With Different Fish — But Only One Type Is Authentic
You’ll see poke bowls made with salmon and other types of fish. While these bowls are delicious, that doesn’t mean they’re authentic.
One of the lesser-known poke facts is they’re only authentic if they’re made with ahi tuna (yellowtail tuna).
That’s because longline fleets in the Pacific picked up the yellowtail tuna or octopus (cured octopus is also considered to be authentic). Japanese workers also arrived in Hawaii in the late 1800s and brought yellowtail tuna with them.
Fortunately, you can find ahi tuna poke bowls just about anywhere, such as Steve’s Poke Bar.
2. But Poke Was Originally Made With Small Hawaiian Reef Fish
Poke bowls date back to Hawaiian pre-contact times. Native Hawaiian fishermen would catch fish they would find in reefs, slice them up, and serve them raw. They would season them with whatever they had on hand, which could have included candlenuts, sea salt, brown algae, or seaweed.
Do we eat poke bowls with Hawaiian reef fish? Most poke bowls feature ahi tuna or salmon, but many Hawaiians prefer the traditional poke bowl recipes. Which brings us to our next point.
3. They Don’t Eat Poke Bowls the Same in Hawaii
Poke bowls have been a staple in Hawaiian cuisine for centuries. Today, poke bowls are Instagrammable — they’re the latest food trend and several ingredients are added to make poke bowls look and taste delicious.
But is this how Hawaiians eat poke bowls? You’ll mainly find poke bowls at supermarkets. The worker places pre-marinated raw fish of your choice in a container and the toppings are usually minor (such as sauce or chopped nuts).
4. You Can Make Poke at Home
Do you have to go to Hawaii or your local poke bowl restaurant to eat poke? You can easily make this recipe at home. All you need is:
- Raw fish of your choice
- Sauce of your choice (shoyu or soy sauce and sriracha mayo are popular choices)
- Any other toppings you prefer (popular options include seaweed, rice, avocado, fruit such as mango or pineapple, roe, cucumber, and edamame)
Mix it all together and you have yourself a poke bowl! We also recommend pre-marinating the raw fish in the sauce of your choice, letting it sit in the refrigerator for an hour before digging in.
Poke Bowls and More: Continue Reading Our Blog
Poke bowls are a delicious and healthy meal that anyone will enjoy. Do you want something to read while you munch on your poke bowl? We cover food topics and other lifestyle categories. Continue reading our blog!
