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Chicken Poke Bowl

17/11/2023

Here’s an Italian-Hawaiian variant of the Chicken Poke Bowl. First of all, here are the ingredients for preparing a Poke Bowl for two people:

Ingredients

  • 200g of sushi rice or brown rice (for a healthier option)
  • 300g of chicken breast
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1 cucumber
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 small red onion
  • 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds
  • Nori seaweed cut into thin strips (optional)
  • Soy edamame (if available) or blanched soybeans
  • 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon of honey (optional, to sweeten the chicken)
  • Shallot or chives (optional, for garnish)

Preparation

  1. Start by cooking the rice following the instructions on the package. Usually, you wash the rice and cook it in boiling salted water for about 15-20 minutes. Once ready, drain it and let it cool.

  2. While the rice is cooking, prepare the chicken breast. You can grill it or cook it in a pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Marinating the chicken beforehand with soy sauce, honey, salt, pepper, and a bit of lemon juice can add more flavor.

  3. Cut the cooked chicken into cubes or strips and let it cool.

  4. Thinly slice the red onion, cut the cucumber (seedless) and the carrot into julienne (thin sticks), and slice or cube the avocado.

  5. Assemble the Poke Bowl by placing the cooled rice in the center. Add the chicken, cucumber, carrot, avocado, and any edamame or seaweed around it in separate segments.

  6. Sprinkle everything with the sesame seeds and season with sesame oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

  7. Garnish with the red onion, chives or shallot, and if you wish, add a final touch with the nori seaweed strips.

Fun Fact

The Poke Bowl is a dish that originates from Hawaii, where it is traditionally made with marinated raw fish. The customization with alternative ingredients, such as chicken, is a recent trend that allows adapting this dish to different tastes and diets. In this version, I’ve added a touch of Italy with sesame oil and the use of fresh vegetables typical of Mediterranean cuisine.

And voilà, your Italian-style Chicken Poke Bowl is ready to enjoy! Tell me, would you like to pair it with a wine or a cocktail?