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What is a poke?
Recently gone viral and very popular, poke is a typical Hawaiian dish, healthy and colorful which, thanks to its many versions, represents the ideal lunch or dinner for those who want something delicious.
Poke is a dish from the archipelago, which has its roots in the habits of the Hawaiian inhabitants. In fact, it seems that to guarantee them enough food, they had to rely completely on the fishermen, who once caught and cleaned the fish, with its scraps cut into cubes, created this “dish” by eating them raw in a bowl together with many other ingredients.
Not surprisingly, the word poke in the Hawaiian language means to cut into small pieces, into cubes, to mince.
Following this idea, over the years, the other ingredients of the poke have also started to be cut and minced, thus creating greater harmony in the dish.
Having become a worldwide phenomenon, poke has undergone many influences from neighboring cultures… from Japan which added soy and edamame beans, to Italy which also added extra virgin olive oil as the main condiment for this extravagant dish.
Despite the different versions of poke that can be found, the basic rule to follow is always the same: a portion of carbohydrates, one of proteins, fruit and vegetables to taste and seasoning, which varies from sauces of all kinds to the classic and healthy extra virgin olive oil.
And for this very reason, let’s see some quick and easy recipes of different combinations of homemade poke with olive oil.
Poke is the complete dish par excellence.
A carbohydrate base that can vary between basmati rice, sushi rice, venere rice or other types of cereal such as quinoa or spelt.
An addition of protein; in the case of a fish-based choice, the poke can be composed of raw tuna or salmon, but also octopus and shrimp or simply a tasty mix between the two.
Following the line of the vegetarian recipe, other ingredients can be added to make the poke tastier and more filling. Avocado that gives creaminess, radishes and edamame for that touch of crunchiness, mango to create a sweet contrast and wakame seaweed to create a savory one.
Ingredients that today are easily found in the best-stocked supermarkets, often in the ethnic food section.
The topping and the seasoning are the two final steps in creating a poke. In this specific case we will add sesame seeds and a drizzle of raw extra virgin olive oil. To give this poke recipe more personality, we recommend seasoning the bowl with our lemon flavored oil, a citrus note that goes perfectly with our vegetarian choice.
The most classic version of the poke bowl, made even more interesting by the use of an aromatic and decisive extra virgin olive oil.
But what if you wanted an omnivorous poke option?
If you are not a lover of raw fish but want to stay within our precious Mediterranean diet, then you can use this poke idea for your next recipe.
Vary your carbohydrate base with the one that inspires you the most, grill your chicken breast with a drizzle of San Felice extra virgin olive oil and when it is well cooked, remember to always cut it into slices to follow the poke philosophy.
Adding to your carb and protein base, green onions and baby spinach for the fiber portion, green apple slices and peanuts for the crunchy portion.
How to season your poke in this case?
In this case we recommend an extra virgin olive oil such as our Valsecca, with a balanced and versatile taste, capable of enclosing all the flavors of the poke bowl in a single taste.
The different variations of the poke are infinitesimal. Including more and more vegan options, this typical dish manages to meet all the needs of the consumer, who can indulge himself in the creation of the recipe, thus making the wait as fun and enjoyable as the moment of ‘taste itself.
