This Easy Poke Bowl is a fresh, flavorful dish packed with tender chunks of raw tuna, creamy avocado, and zesty sauce. Inspired by Hawaiian poke bowls, this raw tuna recipe comes together in under 30 minutes with minimal ingredients, making it perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.

Why You'll Love It
If you're a fan of sushi, raw fish, or just plain ole' fresh seafood in general, this ahi tuna poke bowl recipe is just the right thing for ya!
It's packed with fresh, vibrant flavors that are incredible together. The sushi-grade tuna, creamy avocado, and crunchy sweet onions, are all tossed in a savory sauce made from soy sauce, sesame oil, and spicy sambal. It's heavy on earth and it's also easy to make!
This dish is versatile, allowing you to swap out ingredients based on what you have on hand. For example, not a big tuna fan? Swap out the sashimi grade tuna for another sashimi-grade fish like salmon and you've instantly got an amazing salmon poke bowl.
One thing to note though - if you are using fresh fish, just make sure you freeze it first to kill any possible parasites!
Not only is this poke bowl delicious, but it's also a nutritious option, rich in fatty acids from the fresh tuna.
Plus, it’s super easy to prepare. All you need is a very sharp knife to dice the fish and a quick mix of the marinade. It literally takes minutes which is why we make it over and over again.
I recommend serving this raw tuna recipe over sushi rice, cauliflower rice, or brown rice or even rolled up into seaweed pieces.
No matter how you serve it, it's a satisfying, refreshing dish that tastes like it came straight from a Hawaiian beachside shack. So let's jump in, shall we?!
Ingredients & Substitutions
If you're wondering what substitutions can be made in this raw tuna recipe, here's everything you need to know! If something is unclear, just send me a DM on instagram and I'll get back to you asap!
- Sesame Oil: Toasted sesame oil adds a nutty, toasty depth of flavor. I do not recommend substituting with olive oil or vegetable oil in an of your poke recipes. it just doesn't taste the same and is kind of pointless.
- Soy Sauce: Soy sauce brings a salty, umami punch. But you could also swap it for another salty asian sauce. Try ponzu for a citrusy twist, tamari for a gluten-free option or coconut aminos for a sweet and salty flavor. Honestly, they're all delicious in this marinated fish recipe.
- Sambal (Chili Garlic Sauce): Adds a spicy kick to this traditional hawaiian dish. You can use sriracha, spicy mayo or a dash of red pepper flakes for heat if you don't have sambal.
- Scallions: These green onions add a fresh, mild onion flavor and are so good in these ahi poke bowls. Red onion or sweet onions can be used for a stronger bite.
- Fresh Ahi Tuna Steaks: As long as you're using sushi grade tuna, you should be good to go! If you have a different type of tuna such as yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna or bigeye tuna, no worries. That works just fine in this raw tuna salad. Just make sure that it’s labeled sashimi-grade tuna to avoid potential parasites. Personally I live in Florida and can find the most gorgeous ahi tuna steaks pretty easily here at our local fish markets. But if you live somewhere in the middle of the country, I highly recommend heading to ALDI because they have the best tuna for your buck in their freezer section. When it comes to other grocery stores, Whole Foods also has sushi grade fish
- Avocados: Fresh avocados provide creaminess and richness in the traditional dish. Substitute with english cucumber for a refreshing crunch in this ahi tuna poke recipe.
- Sweet Onion: Vidalia onions add a sweetness and crunch. Red onion can be a sharper alternative if that's what you prefer.
- Sushi Rice: erfect for an authentic feel. Substitute with white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice for a lighter option.
- Optional Additions: Feel free to add your favorite toppings to your homemade poke bowls. I like black and white sesame seeds and even some seaweed salad from your local fish market. A handful of fresh herbs like cilantro or basil work nicely too. You can also include a drizzle of your favorite dipping sauce such as eel sauce or spicy mayo.
- What not to add: For this fresh raw tuna recipe, I'd stay away from rice vinegar, lime juice, or lemon juice. The acid in the citrus juice will essentially "cook" the raw fish... And we don't want that!
How to Make this Raw Tuna Recipe
Here's the detailed instructions on how to make this raw tuna recipe. it's so simple yet incredibly delicious.
PREP THE SAUCE: Combine sesame oil, soy sauce, sambal, and scallions in a medium bowl. Whisk until emulsified.
CUT THE TUNA: Using your sharpest knife, cut the sushi-grade fish into small chunks.
MARINATE THE TUNA: Add diced tuna, avocado, and sweet onion to a large bowl. Pour the sauce over the mixture.
TOSS & REST: Gently toss everything together until well coated. Let it sit for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
SERVE: Spoon the poke over a bed of sushi rice and enjoy!
SAVE: Although this fresh tuna recipe is best served the day of, you can place any leftovers in an airtight container. I only recommend keeping it in the fridge until the next day. After that, I recommend throwing it out or composting it.
What goes with Easy Poke Bowl recipe?
Here are a few of my favorite easy side dishes that go really well with this tasty raw tuna poke bowl recipe.
- Asian Avocado Salad with Cucumbers and Furikake
- Easy Coconut Rice Recipe (Made In The Rice Cooker)
- How to Make the Best Spicy Mayo Sauce Recipe for Sushi
If you love this marinated tuna recipe, you might also like my seared tuna tacos, my spicy tuna recipe, or these teriyaki tuna tostadas.
Recipe
Easy Poke Bowl (Fresh Raw Ahi Tuna Recipe)
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Toasted Sesame Oil
- ⅓ cup Soy Sauce (or ponzu or coconut aminos)
- ¼ cup Sambal Chili Sauce (or sriracha)
- ½ cup Green Onions finely diced
- 3 cups Sushi-Grade Tuna Steaks roughly chopped into small pieces
- 2 medium Avocados cut into smsall chunks
- ½ medium Sweet Onion thinly shaved
- 4 cups Sushi Rice cooked
Instructions
- Combine sesame oil, soy sauce, sambal and scallions in a medium bowl and whisk together until emulsified.
- Add tuna, avocado, and sweet onion to a large bowl and pour the sauce over it.
- Toss everything together and let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Serve over rice and enjoy!
Joe
Yes I believe she is probably thinking of blackfin.
Ahi is yellowfin
I dont believe many bluefin are caught off of Florida they like colder waters.
Blackfin is very abundant in Florida and is also excellent table fare.
I would be willing to bet that is what she is referring too.
BTW love poke bowls , tartare, sashimi, sushi etc its all good!
Bob
Ahi is yellowfin