Cooking up healthy meals to keep my family nourished has always been a priority of mine. It is more important than ever to help you eat well and feed your family well. Today I have this delicious, quick-to-make, nutritious and mood-boosting Vegan Poke Bowl recipe for you.
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Poke Bowl
I like to think of poke bowls as a brilliant adaptation of sushi and rice bowl in one. While traditional poke bowls feature raw fish, we can definitely go without the fish and still enjoy this bright flavored, Hawaiian-influenced dish. Take cues from this vegan poke bowl – it has all the fresh flavors and textural factors. There are just so many reasons to love this recipe:
Super easy and quick to make – literally 20 minutes to put together! Fresh, healthy ingredients for your body and soul. Pan-fried tofu in a spicy and savory sauce… the bomb! Meal-prep friendly! No sashimi-grade fish involved, but it’s very fulfilling, even for a big man like Mr. JOC.
Savory Poke Sauce for Tofu
Since tofu is the featured player in the vegan poke bowl, you need to season it with a good sauce. My sauce is very simple and uses only 4 condiments: When combining them together, you get a savory, tangy, nutty sauce with a nice touch of heat. It’s also plenty to go around to elevate the flavor of the bowl.
The Right Vinegar for All Japanese Recipes
Because of the simplicity of the sauce, you’ll want to use the right vinegar for this recipe. As a matter of fact, I exclusively use Mizkan Natural Rice Vinegar in my cooking, just like my mom and my grandma did, and always recommend my readers to use it. Genuinely crafted with real organic ingredients, the rice vinegar has a mild tang, refreshing aroma, the right amount of acidity, and does not overpower a dish. It is the perfect accent to any meal and makes it easy to create authentic recipes at home. If you wish to replicate the uniquely delicious flavor of Japanese cooking, I cannot emphasize the importance of getting quality rice vinegar. It is one of the 6 must-have Japanese condiments after all! Whether you’re looking to create a modern recipe, like this Vegan Poke Bowl, or try your hand at a more traditional meal, I always recommend using Mizkan.
How to Make Vegan Poke Bowl (3 Simple Steps!)
3 Helpful Tips
1. Decide what type of tofu to use
After trying different tofu for the Vegan Poke Bowl, my family liked these two types of deep-fried tofu. The deep-fried firm tofu on the left is our favorite choice for the poke bowl. It is denser than “firm” tofu. The fried crust not only keeps its shape but also gives delicious savory flavor. Once you cut it into cubes, the inside is tender and absorbs all the delicious sauce! You can purchase this type of tofu in the refrigerated section in regular (American) grocery stores. The right tofu is a common crispy, fried tofu puffs that you can find in Asian grocery stores. It can also be called deep-fried tofu squares or sponge fried tofu. These fried tofu puffs are made with crispy tofu skin that acts like a sponge. It’s great in absorbing flavors, but you may feel you’re eating air as it lacks the tofu texture.
2. Choose a variety of colorful toppings
For a speedy preparation, I pick a rainbow range of vegetables that are ready to eat raw. Not only you cut down on cooking time, but these fresh, crisp vegetables also provide a nice contrast to the tender steamed rice and tofu. The result is a well-balanced, exciting bowl that is packed with flavors and textures. In this recipe, I added avocado, carrot, cucumber, edamame, red cabbage, scallion, and watermelon radish. Feel free to switch up with different vegetables such as sunflower sprouts, ready-made pickles, cherry tomatoes, red radish, or mango!
3. Consider the construction and composition
The poke bowl is meant to showcase fresh ingredients and colorful vegetables in a beautifully presented bowl. So it’s worth thinking about how you would want to prepare the vegetables or toppings. – whether thinly sliced or artfully cubed – they should be easily mixed in together when you eat. When assembling the bowl, arrange the ingredients to highlight a spectrum of colors. Mix and dig in only when ready to eat!
How to Serve Vegan Poke Bowl
There are so many different and fun ways to serve this Vegan Poke Bowl. You can leave out the rice for a lighter poke bowl, or toss in mango or pineapple cubes for some tropical vibe, or top with some shredded seaweed or pickled ginger. The bowl is yours to enjoy!
More Japanese Vegan Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Vegetarian Udon Noodle Soup Soy-Glazed Eggplant Donburi (Rice Bowl) Soba Noodle Salad Creamy Miso Pasta with Tofu and Asparagus Vegan Miso Soup
Japanese Ingredient Substitution: If you want to look for substitutes for Japanese condiments and ingredients, click here. Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
