Tuna bowls, also called poke (po-kay) bowls, are a delicious combination of flavors and textures, from creamy and crunchy to spicy and salty. A contrast between warm and cold, they’re a healthy meal option and a great way to get more fish into your diet. And the beauty of tuna bowls is that you can customize them to your taste.
They may seem complicated at first, but you’ll soon find that they’re surprisingly easy to make. Find your favorite with these 38 easy tuna bowl recipes.
How to Build a Tuna Bowl that Keeps You Full
When building a tuna bowl, it’s all about the layers. Those layers will not only create amazing flavor combinations, but they also help to keep you full.
- Start with a filling base – To make a tasty tuna bowl that keeps you full, start with a base of steamed white or brown rice, sushi rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, mixed greens, or zucchini noodles. They’re all full of healthy fiber which helps to fill you up and keep you satisfied.
- Add your tuna – When you see the word ‘tuna’ you may think of the kind you find in a can. But in fact, the tuna used to make tuna bowls is poke, fresh raw fish that has been part of Hawaiian food culture for decades. Not a fan of raw fish? That’s okay. Just sear fresh tuna before you add it to your bowl. And if you find that you don’t like tuna or just want to switch it up, try another tasty, healthy fish like salmon or some cooked shrimp.
- Layer on fresh ingredients – The more fresh and healthy ingredients, the better. Go for color and flavor. Think avocados, scallions, mango, green onion, shredded carrots, cucumbers, radishes, shredded or pickled lettuce, peppers, broccolini, shredded cabbage, or edamame.
- Finish with a sauce and toppings – Finally, top your bowl with cilantro, sesame seeds, fried wontons, pickled ginger, or even some wasabi. And for some added flavor, try some light or spicy mayo, sriracha, soy sauce, fresh lime juice, or sesame vinaigrette.
4 Time-Saving Meal Prep Tips
- Marinade your fish – Many recipes require making a marinade to add flavor to your fish. To get the most out of your marinade, take the time to whisk the ingredients together thoroughly before you add your tuna. Place your fish and marinade into the fridge and let it sit for at least fifteen minutes, up to an hour. You can also leave it overnight. The longer it sits, the more flavor you’ll get.
- Prepare your fish – First and foremost, always choose fresh sushi-grade bigeye or yellowfin tuna that is pink or reddish in color. Avoid tuna steaks with white streaks, which is connective tissue that can be quite chewy. If you can’t find it fresh, many stores sell frozen tuna. You can thinly slice your tuna or cut it into bite-sized pieces. If you don’t like raw fish, place your fish into a very hot pan along with a little olive oil and sear for 30 seconds to two minutes per side before cutting or slicing.
- Cook your rice – Rice can take a while to cook, which isn’t always the most convenient when you’re busy or want to put your bowl together quickly. Save some time by cooking your rice ahead of time and storing in the fridge for up to a day. You can also grab some pre-cooked rice from your local Asian restaurant or use a bag of ready-made microwavable rice from the grocery store.
- Prep your veggies – Save time by washing and cutting your veggies ahead of time. You can also marinade them and store them in the refrigerator. That way when you’re ready to serve, all you have to do is grab them and add them to your bowl.
38 Easy and Satisfying Tuna Bowl Recipes
- Spicy Tuna Poke Bowl | Skinnytaste
- Tuna Poke Bowls | Once Upon a Chef
- Seared Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl | Fit Foodie Finds
- Ahi Poke Bowls | Delish
- Red’s Favorite Spicy Tuna Poke Bowls | Half-Baked Harvest
- Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl | Foodie and Wine
- Poke Bowl Recipe | The Recipe Critic
- Speedy Spicy Tuna Bowls | Food Network
- Mediterranean Brown Rice Tuna Bowls | The Mediterranean Dish
- Spicy Tuna Bowl Recipe | Whisk It Real Gud
- Tuna Mayo Rice Bowl | Cooking
- Spicy Tuna Rice Bowls | Allrecipes
- Spicy Tuna Roll Bowl | Show Me The Yummy
- Spicy Tuna Poke Bowls | The Healthy Epicurean
- Tuna Poke Bowl | Recipe Tin Eats
- Spicy Tuna Roll Bowl | Iowa Girl Eats
- Easy Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl | Hungry Huy
- Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl | Simply Whisked
- Sesame Ahi Tuna Bowls | HyVee
- Seared Sesame Tuna Bowls | Eating Well
- Easy Tuna Bowl | Keeping on Point
- Japanese Spicy Tuna Rice Bowl | Christie at Home
- Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl | Tasting Table
- Tuna Poke Bowl with Sriracha Mayo | Enrilemoine
- Easy Tuna Poke Bowls | Chelsea Joy Eats
- Hawaiian Style Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl | Casual Epicure
- Spicy Tuna Bowls | Chef Savvy
- Spicy Tuna Poke Bowl | Savory Online
- Tuna Poke Bowl | The Cookie Rookie
- Sashimi Tuna Poke Bowl | The Fresh Market
- Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl with Ponzu Sauce | Lemon Blossoms
- Southwest Tuna Bowl | Chicken of the Sea
- Seared Tuna Bowl with Orange Vinaigrette | Martin’s Savory
- Quinoa Poke Bowl with Seared Tuna | Wholly Tasteful
- Tuna Poke Bowls with Brown Rice and Kale | My Recipes
- Spicy Tuna Bowls with Cauliflower Rice Meal Prep | Kirbie’s Cravings
- Poke Bowl with Seared Ahi Tuna and Spicy Sauce | Powell Family Cooking
- Ahi Tuna Bowls with Spicy Mayo | Perry’s Plate
With these 38 easy and satisfying tuna bowl recipes, you’ll never have to order from a restaurant again.
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