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Hawaiian Poke

17/11/2023

Here’s the recipe for a classic Hawaiian Poke with an Italian twist. The original Hawaiian version is a dish based on raw fish, usually tuna, cut into dice and seasoned with a seaweed salad, onion, and sometimes avocado, cucumber, and edamame. However, I’ll add some ingredients to make it a bit more Mediterranean.

Ingredients

  • 200 g of high-quality fresh tuna
  • 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon of sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon of honey
  • 1 scallion
  • A pinch of chili flakes (optional)
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • Toasted sesame seeds
  • White rice or sushi rice (amount to taste)
  • 1 lemon (for an Italian touch)
  • Chopped fresh parsley (for an Italian touch)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Start with the preparation of the rice following the instructions on the package. Once cooked, let it cool to room temperature.
  2. Cut the tuna into 1-2 cm dices and place it in a bowl.
  3. Finely chop the scallion and add it to the tuna.
  4. In a separate bowl, mix the honey, soy sauce, and sesame oil. If you like it spicy, add the chili flakes now.
  5. Pour the dressing over the tuna and scallion, mixing gently so as not to break the fish dices.
  6. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, and then cut it into cubes, adding it to the tuna.
  7. Add lemon juice, salt, pepper, and chopped parsley, mix gently.
  8. Arrange the rice in bowls and on top of the rice place your poke salad.
  9. Finish with a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds.

Poke is an informal dish that lends itself to great customization: feel free to add other vegetables to your liking or substitute the tuna with another type of raw fish of your choice.

Curiosity

Poke, which means “to cut into pieces” in Hawaiian, has roots in the cuisine of the Hawaiian natives who prepared it by mixing the remains of their catch with seaweed and kukui nuts. The modern version is enriched by Japanese influences and various additions such as avocado and onion. The presence of lemon in our version brings a freshness that pairs well with parsley, typical elements of Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.