Il Cucinologo
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Chicken Poke Bowl

17/11/2023

Here’s an Italo-Hawaiian variant of the Chicken Poke Bowl. First of all, here are the ingredients to prepare a Poke Bowl for two people:

Ingredients

  • 200g sushi rice or brown rice (for a healthier choice)
  • 300g chicken breast
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1 cucumber
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 small red onion
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • Nori seaweed cut into thin strips (optional)
  • Edamame soybeans (if available) or blanched soybeans
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon honey (optional, to sweeten the chicken)
  • Shallot or chives (optional, for garnish)

Preparation

  1. Start by cooking the rice according to the package instructions. Generally, rinse the rice and cook it in boiling salted water for about 15-20 minutes. Once ready, drain and let it cool.

  2. While the rice is cooking, prepare the chicken breast. You can grill it or cook it in a pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Marinating the chicken first with soy sauce, honey, salt, pepper, and a bit of lemon juice can add more flavor.

  3. Cut the cooked chicken into cubes or strips and let it cool.

  4. Thinly slice the red onion, cut the cucumber (without seeds) and the carrot into julienne (thin sticks), and the avocado into slices or cubes.

  5. Assemble the Poke Bowl by placing the cooled rice in the center. Add the chicken, cucumber, carrot, avocado, and any edamame or seaweed around it in separate segments.

  6. Sprinkle everything with sesame seeds and season with sesame oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

  7. Garnish with red onion, chives or shallot and, if desired, add a final touch with nori seaweed strips.

Fun Facts

The Poke Bowl is a dish that originated in Hawaii, where it is traditionally made with marinated raw fish. Customizing it with alternative ingredients, such as chicken, is a recent trend that allows adapting this dish to different tastes and diets. In this version, I added a touch of Italy with sesame oil and the use of fresh vegetables typical of Mediterranean cuisine.

And voilà, your Italian-style chicken Poke Bowl is ready to enjoy! Tell me, would you like to pair it with a wine or a cocktail?