Easy Tuna Steak Poke Bowls

Name: Easy Tuna Steak Poke Bowls
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 carrot (spiralized); 1/2 cup red cabbage (chopped); 2 large slices grapefruit; 1/2 avocado (sliced); 1/2 cup cucumber (chopped); 1/2 cup sprouts; 4 green onions (sliced); 1 tbsp olive oil; 16 oz tuna steak; Salt & pepper to taste; Sesame seeds for garnish; 2 tbsp soy sauce; habanero sauce, to serve ((recipe below)); 5 habanero or scotch bonnet peppers (de-seeded); 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 tbsp vinegar; 1/2 tsp salt; 2 1/2 cups water; 1 cup brown rice; 1 tsp butter; 1 pinch salt

These Tuna Steak Poke Bowls are a delicious twist on the popular restaurant dish – this recipe includes fun and unusual toppings to switch it up!

Ingredients and substitutions

Carrot – replace the carrot with another vegetable like zucchini spirals, broccoli florets or edamame.
Red cabbage – feel free to use broccoli slaw or Napa cabbage instead.
Grapefruit – mango or pineapple would also be good in these bowls. You could also just leave the fruit out altogether.
Avocado – swap out for another vegetable of your choice.
Cucumber – swap out for another vegetable of your choice.
Sprouts – swap out for another vegetable of your choice.
Green onions – use red onion or chives if you don’t have any green onions.

Poke

Olive oil – any neutral oil will work in place of olive oil.
Tuna steak – sashimi grade salmon would also work for this recipe.
Salt & pepper – to taste.
Sesame seeds – both white or black sesame seeds would be a good garnish.
Soy sauce – tamari or coconut aminos are the best substitutes for soy sauce.
Habanero sauce – use the recipe below or if you’re in a pinch, use a store-bought sauce. You can also replace the habanero sauce entirely with spicy mayo.

Habanero sauce

Habanero peppers – Scotch bonnet peppers can also be used.
Garlic – freshly minced garlic is best but jarred minced garlic will work in a pinch.
Vinegar – use apple cider vinegar or lemon or lime juice.
Salt – to taste.

Brown rice

Brown rice – brown rice is a healthier option but sushi rice or jasmine rice can also be used.
Butter – or another dairy-free butter substitute of your choice.
Salt – to taste.

How to make poke bowls

Cook the brown rice.
Make the habanero sauce.
Sear the tuna steaks.
Assemble your bowls and serve!

What is usually in poke bowls?

Poke bowls usually contain fish, rice, veggies and sauce. For this recipe, I used some unexpected ingredients like grapefruit and a spicy kick with the habanero sauce, but feel free to get creative with your poke bowl toppings.

Here are some more ideas of what to add to your poke bowl:

Mango
Pineapple
Broccoli slaw
Spiralized zucchini
Edamame
Wasabi mayo
Spicy mayo
Quinoa

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a poke bowl?

A poke bowl typically consists of raw or seared fish, rice and a variety of veggies. For this recipe, I used seared tuna steaks, brown rice, veggies, grapefruit and a spicy habanero sauce for added flavour.

Is this recipe healthy?

Yes! This recipe is super healthy since it consists of lean protein, lots of veggies that are full of nutrients and brown rice.

Is this dish Japanese or Hawaiian?

Poke is traditionally a Hawaiian dish, although it’s inspired by sushi, which originated in Japan. It’s a native Hawaiian dish that’s super tasty and packed with flavour!

Storing and reheating

You can store this healthy poke bowl in the fridge for up to 3 days after you've made it. Store the bowls whole or separate the components and store them separately.

If you prefer to sear your tuna the next day (I only recommend this if the tuna is still very raw in the centre), then you will want to keep your tuna separately from the rest of the ingredients. Otherwise, this dish can be enjoyed cold or at room temperature.

Freezing the brown rice

Even though this isn't a freezer-friendly meal, you can freeze any leftover rice for future meals! Transfer the room temperature rice to Ziploc bags or airtight containers, then freeze for up to 1 month.

When you're ready to enjoy your rice, put it into a pan straight from frozen to make fried rice or sprinkle some water over top and microwave for 3 to 5 minutes until fully warmed through.

Want to Learn How to Meal Prep? Join Dinner Prep Pro!

Our meal planning service removes the guesswork and helps you get dinner on the table in 15-20 minutes each night thanks to our prep ahead checklists. It takes just one hour of ingredient prep on a Sunday!

Learn more

More healthy bowl ideas

Meal prep tools for this recipe

Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning these delicious bowls into your weekly lunches.