Vegan Poke Bowls
These vegan poke bowls are brimming with colour and flavour! Top a base of rice with homemade watermelon “tuna,” sliced avocado, pickled ginger, and an array of fresh toppings. Perfect for meal prep lunches!
Poke restaurants seem to be popping up everywhere lately, and it’s easy to see why. There’s something about poke bowls that just make you feel so nourished and satisfied. They’re also a feast for the eyes—all those different colours and textures!
And the good news is that you don’t even need to leave your house to get a good vegan poke bowl. They’re so easy to make at home!
What Is Usually in a Poke Bowl?
Poke bowls are typically made with raw fish, rice, and a variety of sliced, diced, and/or pickled vegetables. Popular toppings include seaweed, edamame, cucumbers, avocado slices, and pickled ginger. Some poke bowls also include crunchy tempura bits or sesame seeds for texture. A light soy sauce or ponzu dressing is usually added to the mix, infusing everything with flavour.
When it comes to vegan poke bowls, most restaurant options are made with tofu, but when you make your own poke at home, you’ve got so many different options. My personal favourite is my vegan watermelon tuna recipe, which marinates cubed watermelon in the same flavours used in traditional poke. The end result is savoury, a little bit sweet, and the perfect plant-based substitute for ahi tuna in poke.
Notes on Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Watermelon tuna
- Avocado
- Sesame seeds – I like using both black and white seeds.
- White rice – Brown rice works, too, or you can substitute cauliflower rice if you want a grain-free vegan poke bowl.
- Pickled ginger – Pickled ginger has less of a bite than fresh ginger, with a bit more sweetness too. You can find it at most Asian markets, or buy it online.
- Carrots
- Cucumber
- Nori sheets
- Edamame – Buy shelled edamame so you don’t have to spend time popping the beans out of the pods!
- Vegan spicy mayo – I love spicy mayo because it adds a creamy element to this recipe, but you can go with a more traditional option and use soy sauce or ponzu instead.
Is Nori the Same as Seaweed?
Nori is a type of seaweed that is cultivated and eaten in many parts of the world. It has a mild, slightly sweet flavor and it can be found in many sushi dishes, including poke bowls. Nori is dried and pressed into thin sheets, which can then be cut into smaller pieces. It’s a great way to infuse plant-based dishes with a little bit of fishy flavour.
How to Make Vegan Poke Bowls
Note that the watermelon tuna needs some time to marinate in the refrigerator, so be sure to plan for that when making this recipe.
- Make the watermelon tuna. Follow my recipe for vegan watermelon tuna.
- Make the vegan spicy mayo. Use 1 part sriracha to 2 parts vegan mayonnaise.
- Assemble. Add rice to the bowls, followed by the sliced avocado and sesame seeds. Layer in the carrots, cucumber, nori, ginger, and edamame. Finish with the watermelon tuna and garnish with the spicy mayo.
Tips for Success
As you can see, making vegan poke bowls is easy! These additional tips will help you make them perfect.
- Work with fresh ingredients. The best part about a poke bowl is the freshness. Don’t use veggies that are past their prime—everything should be at peak ripeness for maximum flavour.
- Make it your way. The other thing I love about these vegan poke bowls is their flexibility. I don’t list any ingredient quantities in this recipe because it’s up to you how much of everything you use. There’s no right or wrong here!
- Spoon the extra watermelon tuna marinade over the top. The rice will soak it up and be extra tasty.
Variations
There are endless possibilities for creating delicious vegan poke bowls. Here are a few ideas:
- Try adding baked sweet potatoes, roasted cauliflower, or steamed broccoli for added texture and flavor.
- Mix and match different toppings like nuts, seeds, herbs, or sprouts for added nutrition. I love crispy wonton strips as a garnish too!
- Swap the rice for quinoa or another whole grain.
- Add baked tofu or marinated tofu for a boost of plant-based protein.
How to Store
If you’re planning on making vegan poke bowls ahead of time for meal prep, it’s best to store the ingredients separately in airtight containers. This will help prevent the different components from becoming soggy or losing their flavor. You can keep everything in the fridge for 4–5 days, except for the avocado, which is best cut just before serving.
Once your poke bowls are assembled, any leftovers will last for a day or two in the refrigerator.
Can This Recipe Be Frozen?
Vegan poke bowls don’t freeze well since they rely upon so many fresh ingredients. If you’d like a freezer-friendly meal bowl option, try my Vegan Fajita Bowls instead.
More Plant-Based Meal Bowls
- Nourishing Vegan Buddha Bowl
- Korean (Gochujang) Tofu Rice Bowls
- Curried Satay Veggie Bowls
- Mexican Street Corn Burrito Bowls
Enjoy friends! If you make this vegan poke bowl recipe, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!
Vegan Poke Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 serving of Watermelon Tuna
To add to the bowl in your preferred quantity:
- Slices of avocado
- Sesame seeds on watermelon and avocado both black and white
- White rice
- Pickled ginger
- Carrots
- Cucumber
- Nori sheets
- Edamame
- A vegan spicy mayo as a drizzle
Instructions
- Prep your Watermelon Tuna.
- When ready, plate your bowl.
- Add in rice at the base. Add in your avocado slices and top them with black and white sesame seeds.
- Also add into your bowl some thinly sliced carrots, cucumbers, nori sheets, pickled ginger and edamame. Place the watermelon tuna poke in the centre/on top. Serve with a vegan spicy mayo (1 part sriracha, 2 parts mayo) and enjoy!
Notes
Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
Great recipe!