This is what to make when you don’t feel like cooking! This super simple Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke recipe comes together in under 10 minutes with only 7 simple ingredients. Get ready for a delicious protein-packed meal with minimal effort!
When Josh & I went to Hawaii, we ate poke every single day on the beach, sometimes with a Japanese Sando, grilled juicy Kalbi, or a fattt plate of Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp – it was pure paradise! Every meal was even better than the last and I knew I had to make my own version for days I just missed being on the islands.
Here’s my version of Spicy Tuna Poke that’s incredibly simple and perfect for lazy days you just don’t want to turn on the stove. All you need is a handful of simple ingredients and less than 10 minutes! You can dress it up with as many toppings as you’d like or keep things deliciously simple – either way you’ll pat yourself on the back for a good choice!
This Spicy Ahi Poke recipe is very simple with incredible flavor. You could even enjoy it with ice cold Melon Juice at hand. If you’re feeding a party, be sure to check out my Sushi Bake recipe that’s perfect for feeding a crowd without breaking the bank!
❤️ Highlights
🥘Ingredients
- Shoyu: Shoyu is a Japanese type of soy sauce. Alternatively, you can use regular soy sauce, however, do not use light or low-sodium soy sauce because the saltiness is needed for this recipe.
- Japanese Mayo: Japanese mayo is made with yolks for a richer flavor in comparison to traditional American mayo, which is made from whole eggs. Once you try Japanese mayo, there’s no going back – it’s SO good! Kewpie mayo is the most popular brand and you can easily find it at local Asian and Japanese markets, or online.
- Sriracha: This adds the spicy kick! Easily adjust the amount to suit your tastebuds.
- Sesame Oil: A little goes a long way for a deep toasted nutty flavor.
- Toppings: Sesame seeds & green onions
- Base: Brown rice, sushi rice, or white rice all work well! You could even opt for fresh greens if you want less carbs.
See recipe card for quantities.
Sushi Grade Tuna
- Type of Fish to Use: When making tuna poke, look for fish labeled “sushi-grade” because it’s been frozen to eat safely raw. Freezing fish kills any parasites that might be present. If you’re still unsure about eating raw tuna, you can also sear the surface of the tuna.
- Where to Find Sushi-Grade Fish: I found that my local Ranch 99 and Seafood City offer sushi-grade fish, however, I’ve also seen them available at other Asian or Japanese markets.
- When in Doubt: The fish you buy should be vibrant in color, spring back when you gently press into it, and should not have a fishy odor. Packages usually have a label noting the fish is sushi-grade, however, if you aren’t sure, ask the butcher / staff behind the seafood counter to ensure it’s safe for raw consumption. There’s nothing worse than getting sick from raw fish!
📖 Variations & Substitutions
Base
Make your spicy tuna bowl low carb by swapping out rice for fresh greens to make a spicy ahi poke salad. Or, if you want it as an appetizer or snack, you can serve the spicy tuna poke with wonton chips!
Protein
Feel free to swap out fresh tuna for sushi-grade salmon. Both are SO good!
Toppings
This Spicy Tuna Poke is a delicious base recipe on its own. If you’d like to bolster your meal, feel free to toss in your fave fruits & veggies for a rainbow colored poke bowl full of various textures & flavors! Here are some suggestions:
- Sliced avocado
- Sliced sweet onion
- Edamame
- Sliced mango
- Diced pineapple
- Diced cucumber
- Seaweed salad
- Fried shallots
- Fried garlic
- Furikake
🔪 Instructions
- Make the sauce in a small bowl by combining Japanese mayo, shoyu (Japanese soy sauce), sriracha, & sesame oil.
- Pour sauce on top of chopped ahi tuna, add sesame seeds & most of the green onions (reserve some for garnish). Combine until well coated.
- Serve on top of steamed rice or fresh greens. Toss in any mix-ins if using, garnish with remaining green onions & enjoy!
👩🏽🍳 Key Tips
- Pat Dry Fish: Before getting started, make sure to pat dry your poke to remove any moisture that could dilute the flavors of the spicy mayo.
- Control Amount of Sauce: It’s always easier to add more than try to remove when it comes to making food! With this said, this is the perfect amount of spicy mayo for my tuna poke, however, you can control how much goes into it by pouring the sauce onto the tuna.
- Adjust Spice Level: Are you a spicy lover (like me hehe)? Or maybe don’t have much of a spice tolerance? No problem! Adjust the amount of sriracha to whatever suits your tastebuds 🙂
💭 Recipe FAQs
🥗 More Easy Recipes You’ll Love!
Let’s get cooking!
Get into my secret stash of Goody-Packed Newsletters with meals planned for you & time-saving tips! Want step-by-step videos of how to make my recipes too? I gotchu over at my youtube channel. Aight, enough chatting, more eating!
Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 tablespoons Japanese mayo
- 1 tablespoon sriracha reduce to ½ tablespoon if you like less spicy
- 2 1/4 teaspoons shoyu
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- 8 ounces sushi-grade tuna cut in ½-inch cubes
- 1 ½ tablespoon white or black sesame seeds
- 1 green onion thinly sliced
For Serving:
- 1/2 cup cooked rice*
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine Japanese mayo, sriracha, shoyu, and sesame oil until smooth.
- Pour the sauce on the tuna and combine well.
- Sprinkle on sesame seeds and sliced green onion, if desired, then serve on a bed of steamed rice or fresh salad. Enjoy!
Notes
- Shoyu: Shoyu is a Japanese type of soy sauce. Alternatively, you can use regular soy sauce, however, do not use light or low-sodium soy sauce because saltiness is needed for this recipe.
- Sushi-Grade Tuna: You can find sushi-grade tuna at local Japanese or Asian markets. They’re typically labeled “sushi-grade” on their packaging. You can also swap out the tuna for sushi-grade salmon as well!
- Cooked Rice: I usually use cooked warm brown rice, however, sushi or white rice work well also. If you’d like a low-carb option, you can swap out the rice or fresh greens for a poke salad instead!
- Toppings: Traditionally, fresh Hawaiian tuna poke doesn’t have too many toppings, however, newer untraditional poke spots include various veggies & toppings to bolster the meal. See “Substitutions & Variations” above for topping suggestions!
Nutrition
Exact calculations may vary. For the most accurate nutritional information, use your preferred nutrition calculator, actual ingredients, and quantities used for the recipe. Please consult with your physician or registered dietitian if more precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
