Want to recreate restaurant-style poke bowls on the cheap? Use canned tuna and canned crab in this easy canned tuna poke bowl!
Not long ago I posed a question on A Love Letter to Food’s Facebook page:
I love asking open-ended questions on social media because, not only does it get plenty of engagement from readers, but usually gets me thinking. When I asked this particular question, friends and followers had PLENTY of answers. And, seeing as how most of us have been deprived of the restaurant experience for weeks, if not months, I get it. I’m chomping at the bit as much as anyone to actually go OUT to eat.
In fact, for me, the Covid-19 restaurant ban has actually been a proving ground for determining which restaurants actually have good food and which I apparently go to for their ambiance or other factors. If all I can get is takeout, that takeout better be worth it! One type of restaurant whose food I’ve realized I genuinely miss? Poke bowl joints.
A wee bit of backstory: It took me until about age 30 before I ever acquiesced to eating sushi. Like most sushi-averse folks, the thought of eating raw fish seemed SO VERY WRONG. But eventually my husband convinced me to try a local sushi place with famously fresh rolls and my eyes were opened to the amazingness of this culinary wonder. After getting on the sushi bandwagon, you better believe poke bowls were an easy next step. I love their combo of mild and spicy flavors, and they can be surprisingly healthy, too!
Besides that, poke bowls are the Chipotle burritos of Asian food–convenient, customizable, and uncomplicated. And, even though we can’t eat them at restaurants at the moment, they’re pretty easy to make at home. This version is super budget-friendly, using canned tuna and canned crab (I know, it could be a lot fancier with sushi-grade tuna, but we’re going for inexpensive here, mmkay?) Topped with a spicy sriracha aioli–my favorite part of any poke bowl–these are a tasty at-home version of the fast-casual favorite.
So add what you like, take out what you like, and enjoy!
Easy Canned Tuna Poke Bowl
Ingredients
For the sriracha aioli:
- 1/2 c. mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp. sriracha sauce
- 2 tsp. lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- salt, to taste
For the poke bowls:
- 1 1/2 c. dry white rice
- 10 oz. frozen edamame
- 5.3 oz. can albacore tuna packed in water, drained
- 6 oz. can white crab meat, drained
- 1 c. shredded carrot
- 1 c. cucumber, diced
- fried onions, for garnish
- sesame seeds, for garnish
- sliced green onions, for garnish
Instructions
Make the sriracha aioli:
- In a measuring cup, whisk together all ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Make the bowls:
- In a large pot, make rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, microwave edamame according to package directions and prep all other ingredients.
- Assemble 4 individual bowls, dividing rice, edamame, tuna, crab, carrot, and cucumber among all. Garnish with fried onions, sesame seeds, and green onions. Top with sriracha aioli.
Notes
