Salmon Poke

Salmon Poke is a Hawaiian-origin dish that in recent years has gained a lot of popularity even outside the islands, thanks to its balanced mix of fresh and nutritious flavors. However, if you want an Italian touch in this exotic dish, I suggest enriching it with an emulsion of extra virgin olive oil and lemon.

Ingredients

• 200 g sushi rice
• 500 ml water for cooking the rice
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 200 g fresh raw salmon, skinless
• 1 ripe avocado
• 1 cucumber
• 1/2 red onion
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Soy sauce (for seasoning)
• Sesame oil (optional)
• Wakame (marinated seaweed, optional)
• 1 lemon (for the Italian-style emulsion)

Preparation

1. Start by preparing the rice: rinse it under cold running water until the water runs clear. Place the rice and water in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and cook for about 20 minutes or until the water has been absorbed. Remove from heat and let rest for another 15 minutes without lifting the lid.
2. While the rice cooks, mix the rice vinegar with sugar and salt in a small bowl until fully dissolved.
3. Transfer the cooked rice to a large wooden bowl (if available) or a large shallow bowl of another material and season it with the prepared vinegar, sugar and salt mixture, gently stirring with a spatula or your hands (be careful not to burn yourself), so that it cools and absorbs the seasoning.
4. While the rice cools, cut the salmon into 1.5 cm cubes. Thinly slice the red onion and cucumber, and cut the avocado into cubes.
5. Prepare an emulsion with extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of salt and lemon to add an Italian touch to your dish.
6. Assemble your poke bowl by placing a base of rice, then distribute the salmon, avocado, cucumber, red onion and, if desired, the wakame on top.
7. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and drizzle with a dash of soy sauce and, if you like, a little sesame oil.
8. Drizzle a bit of the oil and lemon emulsion on top before serving.

Fun Facts

The traditional Hawaiian Poke Bowl mainly features marinated raw fish, usually tuna, and can be varied with multiple ingredients such as onion, avocado, seaweed and much more. The salmon version is one of the most widespread variations in modern interpretations of the recipe.

You can accompany your poke bowl with a good glass of fresh white wine or, if you prefer to stay on theme, a cocktail based on tropical fruit.