Salmon Poke

Salmon Poke is a Hawaiian-origin dish that in recent years has gained much popularity even outside the islands, thanks to its balanced mix of fresh and nutritious flavors. However, if you desire an Italian twist on this exotic dish, I suggest enriching it with an emulsion of extra virgin olive oil and lemon.

Ingredients

• 200 g of sushi rice
• 500 ml of water to cook the rice
• 2 tablespoons of rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 200 g of fresh, raw, skinless salmon
• 1 ripe avocado
• 1 cucumber
• 1/2 red onion
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Soy sauce (for dressing)
• Sesame oil (optional)
• Wakame (marinated seaweed, optional)
• 1 lemon (for the Italian-style emulsion)

Preparation

1. Start by preparing the rice: rinse it under running cold water until it becomes clear. Put the rice and the water in a pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and let it cook for about 20 minutes or until the water has been absorbed. Remove from the heat and let it rest for another 15 minutes without lifting the lid.
2. While the rice is cooking, mix rice vinegar with sugar and salt in a bowl until completely dissolved.
3. Transfer the cooked rice to a broad wooden bowl (if available) or to a large, shallow bowl made of another material and season it with the prepared vinegar, sugar, and salt mixture, gently mixing it with a spatula or with your hands (be careful not to burn yourself), to allow it to cool and absorb the seasoning.
4. As the rice cools, cut the salmon into cubes of about 1.5 cm. Thinly slice the red onion and cucumber, and dice the avocado.
5. Prepare an emulsion with extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of salt, and lemon to add an Italian touch to your dish.
6. Assemble your poke bowl by placing a base of rice, then distribute the salmon, avocado, cucumber, red onion on top, and if you like, the wakame.
7. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and drizzle with a little soy sauce and, if desired, some sesame oil.
8. Drizzle some of the olive oil and lemon emulsion over the top before serving.

Curiosity

The traditional Hawaiian Poke Bowl mainly features marinated raw fish, typically tuna, and can be varied with multiple ingredients such as onion, avocado, seaweed, and much more. The version with salmon is one of the most widespread variations in modern interpretations of the recipe.

You can accompany your poke bowl with a good glass of fresh white wine or, if you prefer to stay on the exotic theme, a tropical fruit-based cocktail.