What is a poke bowl? It’s a traditional Hawaiian dish so nearly perfect that it transitions across cultures without losing its original appeal.
Why is it so popular? It’s a deliciously affordable entry into the healthy dining scene, and it’s fueling a new type of fast casual dining experience.
Does it belong in your restaurant? There are almost as many great reasons to put a poke bowl on the menu as there are recipes to inspire your commercial kitchen. Let’s take a look at some of those reasons and sample a few of the recipes.
Poke Bowl Menu Appreciation: 3 Key Points
1. You know how much your busy kitchen staff appreciates quick-prep dishes. The classic Hawaiian poke bowl is a simple assembly of raw, marinated fish cubes, rice and vegetables. Every poke bowl recipe is easily made unique with a little culinary creativity.
2. You appreciate entrees that fit your budget and help you keep a lid on food costs. Poke bowl ingredients are inexpensive, and most can be sourced locally. Recipe versatility lets you take advantage of seasonal shifts in price points and fresh produce availability.
3. Consumers appreciate poke bowl entrees that satisfy their appetites for inexpensive, guilt-free dining and exciting new flavors. It’s the type of menu item that converts casual dining guests into loyal customers, and that’s a critical key to building success in foodservice operations.
Poke Bowl Recipes: 8 Deliciously Healthy Restaurant Menu Ideas
1. Spicy Ahi Poke
Food Network’s Chef Anne Burrell fires up the taste of ahi tuna with a very spicy tuna poke recipe. She elevates the heat by adding sambal oelek to her soy sauce and sesame oil marinade. This type of hot sauce also plays well in this recipe with ginger, Maui onion and scallions.
2. Salmon And Avocado Poke
Another Food Network favorite, in-house recipe developer and nutritionist Leah Brickley, pairs an irresistible combination for her poke bowl. Wild salmon and avocado serve up a sophisticated sushi experience that doesn’t require chopstick finesse or sticky fingers.
3. Nutritious Ginger Chicken Poke
Variety always adds interest to a restaurant menu, so we spotlight the chicken poke bowl recipe from Livestrong.com. Cooked, skinless chicken breast stars in a nutritious dish dressed in gluten-free tamari sauce. With a black rice base and fresh ginger topping, this poke bowl is destined to become a health food classic.
4. Southwestern Ahi Poke
The miles between Hawaiian and Mexican cuisine melt away with an ahi poke bowl at Rubio’s Coastal Grill. The California chain infuses its signature flavors into its southwestern ahi tuna dish with sliced avocado, crispy tortilla strips and a spicy chipotle sauce. Layers of romaine lettuce hearts and citrus rice give Rubio’s poke bowl extra texture and taste.
5. Sweet Beet Poke
This vegan poke bowl comes from internationally recognized Chef Jose Andres’ national Beefsteak franchise. We really like its presentation of deeply red beet cubes that replicate sushi-grade tuna. A ginger dressing honors the bowl’s Hawaiian origins while seafood salad and carrots add even more flavor and texture to this unique dish.
6. Rainbow Carrot Poke
We bring you another colorful vegetarian poke bowl loaded with great taste and plenty of nutrition. A second helping from Livestrong.com serves up a vibrant rainbow carrot poke that pairs the multi-hued veggie with sea beans. Korean kelp noodles help complete the culinary fusion of Asian and Hawaiian traditions.
7. Salmon And Wasabi Pea Poke
Bon Appetit doesn’t put a poke label on this dish, but it’s an enticing example of a salmon poke bowl recipe made with irresistible Asian accents. Japanese ponzu sauce and fresh grapefruit juice blend in a dressing that complements wild salmon and cucumber on a bed of crisp romaine hearts topped with crushed wasabi peas.
8. Yellowfin Tuna Poke
We finish our poke bowl recipe list with a return to classic interpretation. Top Chef winner Brooke Williamson keeps tables full at her Da Kikokiko restaurant with her signature yellowfin tuna poke. The dish keeps flavors pure and simple with traditional ingredients like seaweed, sesame seeds and roasted macadamia nuts.
We’re Here to Help
Call it the new and improved sushi or one of the hottest foods trending into 2018, but think about putting poke bowls on your restaurant’s menu. They’re an easy fit in commercial kitchens and a proven hit with health-conscious consumers.
Whether you try one of our suggested recipes or develop your own original poke bowls, we’re here to help with a versatile lineup of premium produce. Your best dishes start with the freshest ingredients, and you can count on Hitchcock Farms to always grow, pack and deliver the very best.
