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Red’s Favorite Spicy Tuna Poke Bowls. Homemade tuna poke with spicy gingery tuna, steamed rice, all the best toppings, and our favorite spicy, sweet, and creamy mayo sauce. I top each bowl off with fried shallot crumbs for crunch, then add fresh avocado, and a generous side of the creamy mayo. Each bowl is colorful and full of so much flavor. A great family dinner, any night of the week.
After months of requests, I am finally sharing the poke bowls I’ve been making for my younger brother, Red. Everyone has been asking for this recipe, but I hesitated for so long.
Not because this isn’t a good recipe, but more because I make the poke a little differently each time and have never written down the recipe. Poke is one of those dinners you can make with just a few ingredients or with a lot of ingredients. None of the measurements have to be exact. And each person can customize their bowls to their liking, which makes it great if you’re feeding a more picky crowd.
Anyway, I’ve never written down the poke bowl recipe I put together for Red, so I’ve never shared it, but the time has finally come. I wrote some things down, figured out our favorite poke combinations, and here we are!
Poke bowls for Monday night dinner…just in time for Red, who’s finally coming home to CO tonight after being in China.
The Poke
Since poke is really all about the tuna, make sure you’re using fresh sushi-grade tuna. I always buy mine at Whole Foods, but I will say, they don’t always have it. It’s a little hit or miss, but when they do, I snatch it up for poke.
Cube the tuna, and for the marinade, I like to keep mine simple: tamari (soy sauce), sesame chili oil, ginger, and then green onions and toasted sesame seeds. I’ve found this to be the combo everyone loves most. If you don’t like spicy food, just use sesame oil.
Most poke bowls have a spicy mayo on top. It’s usually just mayo and sriracha mixed together. This is great and super simple, but I like to add tamari and a small amount of honey to balance the spiciness.
The added salt and sweetness make the sauce just a little more special. It’s creamy and honestly so delicious. And we’re not really a mayo-loving family either.
Everything else
The only other “must-have” is rice. You have to have rice to serve the poke over, then the rest is all extra.
My bowls almost always include a quick cucumber salad and avocado.
I made these bowls extra special with some fried shallots mixed with Panko breadcrumbs and sesame seeds. It’s definitely extra, but so delicious.
Everyone in my family has agreed (well except my mom, she will not eat fish), they could easily eat this once a week. It’s on rotation when Red and Hailey are home.
Looking for other seafood?
Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos with Fried Avocado
Coconut Curry Salmon with Garlic Butter
Honey Garlic Salmon Soba Noodle Bowls
Lastly, if you make Red’s Favorite Spicy Tuna Poke Bowl, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Red’s Favorite Spicy Tuna Poke Bowl
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 843 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Poke
- 2 (4 ounce) sushi grade tuna steaks, cubed
- 1/4 cup soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tablespoon sesame chili oil or regular sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons grated ginger
- 1 to 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 1 cup Persian cucumbers, sliced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 3-4 cups sushi rice, cooked
- avocado, pickled ginger, and nori sheets – for serving
- fried shallot crumbs (recipe in notes)
Spicy Mayo
- 1/3 cup olive oil mayo
- 1 to 2 tablespoons sriracha
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce or tamari
- 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions
- 1. To make the poke. In a medium bowl, combine the tuna, soy sauce (or tamari), sesame chili oil, ginger, red pepper flakes, green onion, and sesame seeds. Toss to mix.2. To make the cucumber salad. Toss together the cucumbers, rice vinegar, honey, and a pinch each of chili flakes and salt. 3. To make the Spicy Mayo. In a small bowl, stir together the mayo, sriracha, honey, and soy sauce (or tamari). 4. To assemble, add the rice to bowls, top with avocado, cucumber salad, poke, pickled ginger, green onions, and nori. Spoon over the spicy mayo. Sprinkle on the crumbs. Serve with additional spicy mayo.
Notes
Fried Shallot Crumbs: In a skillet combine 2 tablespoons sesame oil and 2 thinly sliced shallots over medium heat. Cook until golden, 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add 1/3 cup Panko and 2 tablespoons sesame seeds. Season with salt.Â
Made this tonight and it was amazing. My husband is on Keto so I used Avocado Mayo in the sauce and ground pork rinds instead of Panko. Otherwise made no changes. He went back for seconds. I had to remind him about portion control…. Will definitely make again. Thank you!
Hi Carol,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for trying it out!! xTieghan
I feel stupid asking this but do you mean 4 ounces total of Tuna or 8? I bought a pound just to be sure. Also I couldn’t find Sushi grade so I bought frozen.
Hi Carol,
You will want to use 8 ounces total. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I made this for our meatless Ash Wednesday dinner and it was delicious! The sauces were all so good…my granddaughter’s loved the cucumbers I had left over…the only thing I would do different next time is half the shallot crumb…I had so much left over but I loved the crunch it added!
Hi Molly,
Fantastic!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Have the best weekend:) xT
I love all of your recipes however this was hands down one of our favorites! The flavors were amazing and it was so easy to make! Much better than the store bought poke bowls!
Hey Sarah,
Fantastic!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Have the best weekend:) xT
Hi Tiegan! The guy at Whole Foods said I have to freeze the tuna before I can eat it as poke, but you didn’t suggest that in your recipe? I was hoping to make it tonight ?
Hi Tessa,
If it is sushi grade tuna, you should not have to do that. Let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Tieghan,
All your recipes are great , but this one deserves six stars! I made it last night and it will absolutely be on our short list of favorites. I made it as directed and it was a flavor explosion worthy of any restaurant. Key is great fresh tuna!
Thank you so much for creating and sharing wonderful recipes.
Cooking is a wonderful way to show your love for your peeps!
Cheers- Bonnie
Hey Bonnie,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear that it was enjoyed!! Thanks so much for your kind message. xx
I made this last night and it was absolutely delicious. Very quick and easy to put together also which of course made it even better. I almost didn’t do the cucumber salad but decided at the last minute to go ahead and I’m so glad I did. It added a little bit of crunch and additional flavor and made the poke even better. The spicy mayo was the perfect sauce to go with the poke bowl. I will definitely make this again.
Hey Annika,
Wonderful!! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for giving it a go:) xTieghan
Honey is in your list of ingredients for the spicy mayo, but in the step-by-step instructions you say to combine mayo, sriracha, and soy sauce (honey is not listed). Might want to make a quick edit…
Thanks so much for letting me know Katie!!
This was SO GOOD. I feel like I could have once a week and not get tired of it. Very simple but all of the toppings really make it insanely good. Highly recommend trying!
Hey Holly,
Wonderful!! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for giving it a go:) xTieghan
Made your poke bowl recipe tonight for dinner. Your sauces are packed with flavor and easy to make. The recipe is much less complicated than other poke recipes we have tried. Loved it!
Hi Kate,
Awesome!! I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great week:) xx
Made this tonight. Flavor bomb!! My husband loved it! Delish- who needs to go out dinner?!!
Hi Beth,
Awesome!! I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great week:) xx
I can’t wait to try this! I’ve never had poke specifically but I know I love raw tuna. Is the rice typically served hot or cold?
Hey Francesca,
I typically serve at room temp. Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Very good! We made the full recipe and it was the right amount for two for dinner. I don’t think it would have stretched to 4 servings as a main dish.
Hey Cindy,
Awesome!! I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great week:) xx
We made this last night – amazing!!! Absolutely loved it.
Hey Kristen,
Awesome!! I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great week:) xx
Incredible flavor and very delicious! Highly recommend and one of the best poke bowl recipes! Half Baked Harvest does it again!
Hi Dayna,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xxT