MAKE YOUR OWN POKE
For something so cool, poke is really hot.
The combination of chopped raw fish, rice and vegetables — pronounced POH-keh — started in Hawaii, where you can pick it up like fast food. Now poke is spreading across North America to restaurant appetizer menus and dedicated poke bars, including two in Hamilton.
It’s even better to make poke bowls at home. Get the right ingredients, do a little chopping and you have a simple, satisfying meal. You can even throw a poke party and let guests fill their bowls with the base, fish, toppings and sauce they prefer.
Fish is a crucial part of a poke bowl. Tuna is traditional in Hawaii, but you can use other kinds of firm, thick fish. Thin, flaky fish, such as flounder, will not hold together in cubes as well. Cooked shrimp or crawfish also are good. Some poke bars offer cooked chicken or tofu for those who don’t like fish. The Food Network’s Aarti Sequeira has used roasted beet cubes to make vegetarian poke.
No matter the fish, it’s important that it’s absolutely fresh, as with sushi, because you’re using it raw. Remember that the term “sushi-grade” is not regulated, so it could mean anything. Use your eyes and nose. Ask where the fish came from and when it arrived at the store. Fresh fish shouldn’t smell “fishy,” but have a clean, oceanlike scent. Avoid fish that appears slimy or has a sheen that may indicate age or the use of preservatives.
Be sure that cutting surfaces and utensils are clean. Use a different cutting board and knife for vegetables to avoid cross-contamination from raw fish.
The key to poke is cutting the fish into small bite-sized cubes, about 1 inch. Everything about poke should be easy to eat with either chopsticks or a fork.
Because you’ll be combining it with other ingredients, 1 pound of fish should be plenty for a main dish for one person. Half a pound would do for an appetizer or as part of a meal.
Next, the question is: to marinate or not to marinate. Marinating the fish overnight in the refrigerator in a combination of soy sauce and sesame oil is traditional. However, marinating gives the fish a chewy texture. If you prefer a more sushilike experience, don’t marinate.
Typically, cooked and cooled sushi rice is the base for the fish and toppings. Other kinds of rice or even shredded greens also are options.
Customize your poke bowl with a selection of toppings. Fresh ingredients and flavours usually work best. But whatever you use, cut it into small pieces, similar in size to the fish. The amount of toppings is up to you, but try not to overwhelm the fish, which is the star.
If you didn’t marinate the fish, add a sauce — and you can get creative here, too.
Assemble your bowl
1. Select one base. 2. Pick a fish and arrange on top of the base. 3. Add toppings — as many as you want. 4. If you didn’t marinate the fish, sprinkle on a sauce or two. If you marinated it, you probably won’t need more sauce. 5. Devour your beautiful poke bowl.
Poke Bowl Ingredients
Here are common ingredients to assemble your bowl at home. Base Cooked rice (sushi or brown) Vegetable noodles Shredded salad greens Fish Raw options: Tuna Yellowtail Sea bass Monkfish Salmon Grouper Cooked options: Shrimp Crawfish Toppings (use as many as you like) Other toppings Shredded nori Seaweed salad Shredded daikon radish or other radishes Microgreens Chopped avocado Toasted sesame seeds Chopped cashews Black sesame seeds Minced garlic Cooked shelled edamame Chopped scallions or green onions Chopped jalapeno or other hot peppers Diced cucumbers Sauce (use alone or combine) Ponzu Sesame oil Lime juice Flavoured oils (chili, ginger, etc.) Soy sauce Sriracha or chipotle mayonnaise (purchased or mix up your own) Japanese spicy mayonnaise Traditional poke sauce (combination of sesame oil and soy sauce to taste) Hot sauce