The most popular bowl right now is POKE, (pronounced poh-kay), and my kids and I absolutely agree. Making kid-friendly poke bowls at home is fun, easy, & a money saver! Here are my tips & recipe ideas for the best DIY poke bowls no matter what your age is.
Why this recipe for Homemade Poke Bowls is amazing: one word - customization! Buying, prepping, & building a poke bowl at home means it is exactly how you want it & includes everything you love.
With a grandma that grew up on Maui, I was destined to fall in love with poke at a young age. My kids are the same but going out for it can be pricey especially for the whole family.
We started making this at home as soon as the kids were tall enough to get on the step stool to spoon everything into their own bowls. We started with fake crab but now traditional raw marinated fish like ahi are their favorites.
This recipe is a kid-friendly version of my more traditional Hawaiian Salmon Poke Bowl. Both are fresh, flavorful, & have tropical vibes. Ok, now let's start building the best poke bowl ever!
Ingredients for Poke Bowls
There is no right or wrong ingredient it when it comes to making this at home. If you have been out to eat & ordered a poke bowl, you may already know what your favorites are.
I recommend starting with the bases, sticky sushi rice or brown rice, lettuce or any salad mix, & other items. Then move onto the seafood items & finally the fun mix-ins, veggies, & toppings.
TIP: if you have seafood allergies or want a substitute; try diced cooked chicken, leftover teriyaki flank steak, or shredded jackfruit for a vegan option.
Here are the ingredients needed to make kid-friendly poke rice bowls:
- Rice - sticky white sushi rice, brown rice, or whatever your favorite is.
- Salad Mix - mixed greens, hearty iceberg, or any fresh lettuce combination.
- Imitation Crab - kanikama or surimi is a kid favorite - this mild & sweet fish substitute (typically pollock) for crab is popular in California rolls & is a great first seafood item for young kids.
- Veggies - chopped items like tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, & carrots are kid-approves.
- Avocado - the creamy healthy fat is a traditional item in most poke bowls.
- Pickled Veggies - something sweet, sour, & salty is a great compliment to any fish.
- Toppings - crunchy items like sesame seeds, chopped macadamia nuts, green onions, or fried onion strings are fun.
- Sauce - soy sauce, sesame oil, teriyaki, unagi sauce, asian salad dressings, etc all are great.
- Optional - wasabi, edamame, or tofu.
- Spicy version - if anyone likes some heat, try my Spicy Salmon Poke.
See the recipe card for quantities & substitutions/variations.
How to Build Your Own Poke Bowls
This may seem complicated but try me, it is so easy. If you can steam rice, you can make these. In less than 30 minutes you will be grabbing your chopsticks & digging in.
Here are the easy steps for prepping & building layers:
- Make the Rice & Prep Items
- Add the Poke Bowl Base
- Top with Seafood & Veggies
- Add Sauce & Toppings
See the recipe card for full instructions.
1 - Make the Rice & Prep Items
- Cook your rice to the instructions on your rice cooker or with the stovetop method you prefer.
- While the rice is cooking, gather all the ingredients you will be using to make the poke bowls. If any proteins need to be cooked, do so at this time. Wash & dry your lettuce, veggies, etc.
- Once the rice is done cooking, let it cool and come to room temperature. You do not want it to be hot nor do you want it to be cold.
2 - Add the Poke Bowl Base
Once the rice is ready, scoop a cup into each individual bowl and add any salad greens you may be using as well.
TOP TIP: Other yummy & fun items for the base (some low-carb & healthy) include:
- Spiralized Zucchini Noodles
- Cauliflower Rice
- Quinoa
3 - Top with Seafood & Veggies
- Add the proteins - seafood, imitation crab, etc.
- Scoop on your favorite chopped veggies - tomatoes, corn, avocado etc.
- Add pickled or spicy items like spicy asian cucumber salad or pickled julienne vegetables.
4 - Add Sauce & Toppings
- Drizzle on any sauces or dressing - sesame oil, soy sauce or gluten-free tamari, sweet & savory unagi sauce, or your favorite salad dressing.
- Sprinkle on any crunchy toppings such as sesame seeds or chopped nuts.
Serving Suggestions
Making everything bite-sized is key. Bowls that are big or small enough for each person's appetite is a must. Also, try using chop sticks - even a beginner can learn to use chopsticks with some practice.
What to Serve with Poke Bowls : this recipe is great any time of year but we seem to crave them more in summer. Serving them with favorites like pickled burdock root, yamagobo, and finish the meal with some Homemade Mango Ice Cream. Tastes of Hawaii were never better!
Recipe Tips & Behind the Scenes
Here is my recipe for success - including what I learned when testing, funny stories or bloopers, and more.
- #1 tip - get the kids involved in deciding what to serve, chopping, & making each bowl.
- If you want raw seafood, ONLY buy sushi-grade fish & be 100% sure your butcher, fish store, or grocer has it labeled that way.
- Try other proteins like cooked shrimp, octopus, salmon, teriyaki chicken, or tofu.
- "POKE" is the Hawaiian term for "to slice or cut".
- I am all for letting my kids to get creative & have fun but when one of them asked to add chopped hot dogs - I did have to play the mom card & over rule!
- What is your favorite thing on a poke bowl?
Kid-Friendly Poke Bowls (build your own)
Equipment
- rice cooker
Ingredients
- 4 Cups cooked white sticky rice cooled to room temperature
- Salad / lettuce greens
Choose any of the following to make your own custom Poke Bowls
- Cooked Teriyaki Chicken
- Cooked Shrimp
- Cooked Octopus
- Imitation Crab
- Ahi Tuna plain or spicy
- Tofu
- edamame
- pickled vegetables
- corn
- avocado
- tomatoes
- mango
- green onions
- sesame seeds
- wasabi
- sesame oil
- soy sauce / Tamari
Instructions
- Cook your rice to the instructions on your rice cooker or with the stovetop method you prefer.
- While the rice is cooking, gather all the ingredients you will be using to make the poke bowls. If any proteins need to be cooked, do so at this time.
- Once the rice is done cooking, let it cool and come to room temperature. You do not want it to be hot nor do you want it to be cold.
- Once the rice is ready, scoop a cup into each individual bowl and add any salad greens you may be using as well.
- Top with proteins, vegetables, fruits, and other toppings.
- Drizzle with sesame oil, soy sauce, or other dressings you may like.
Notes
More Hawaiian Recipes
Here are some similar recipes:
Carrie says
I like this idea. We do sort of the same idea with either smoked salmon or shrimp, but I hadn't thought of using imitation crab. I bet my kids would like that one too! I'll try it for sure! Thanks!
Shavon says
I have not had a poke bowl yet, but I hear everyone talking about them. Now I need to try one in a restaurant AND make my own! This is such a wonderful idea to get kids involved in choosing what they want in their bowls, my girls would love this. They love anything that gives them independence in the kitchen. They are 10 and 11 so I'd have them help cook the rice and chop foods too, lol.
Angela says
Great plan and so glad you plan to get them all involved. I would love for you to share photos of your tasty fun poke adventures. If you remember and are on social media - tag me on FB or IG @theshortordercookblog.
Stacey Kyle says
First of all, I love your writing style! It is like we are there with you. I watch a lot of cooking shows, and poke bowls are one of those ideas that sounds interesting. I haven't tried one yet, but this seems easy enough to try at home, even if I choose real crab. Thanks for sharing this one!
Angela says
Stacey, thank you for the wonderful compliment. It really means a lot. I have always loved cooking and having people over so I had hoped this blog would stretch that feeling of being connected through food would transpire to the readers. I couldn't be happier to read this - made my day! And do try the poke bowls, good stuff no matter what proteins and vegetables you use.
Anne says
This recipe looks perfect for me to try! Thanks so much for sharing. A close friend of mine just gave me some crab meat and I wasn't sure wwhat to do with it until now!
Angela says
Sounds great, I need close friends with crab connections! 🙂
Josi says
Wow! What a great idea. I love poke bowls and will defiinitely keep this in mind for when my kiddo is bigger!!
Natalie says
This is such a good idea!!! It’s easy for me to get in the same meal ruts with my kids so I’m looking forward to trying this idea with them! While I have one that will eat shrimp, octopus, and pretty much anything, the other 2 will prefer the fake crab sticks! I’ve pinned it so I don’t forget!
Angela says
Great, thanks for pinning. I hope you all have a fun and delicious adventure with poke bowls!
Kendra says
What a great idea! And, not to mention YUMMY!
LaRena says
What a great way to get kids to eat vegetables.