By: Mitch | Last updated December 1, 2022 
Every once in a while we stumble across something that , although doesn't fit directly into our site, we think it is valuable to pass along to our readers. And for this moment in time we just thought that we must mention how amazing Poke is, and can be. Now you might be thinking, Poke has been around from a very long time and you are late to the party with this one. But we want to pass along the info we found out about Poke, because although we have had it in the past we had the best Poke we have ever had and it was mind blowing.
So, if this is old news for you please feel free to find another article with useful information, but if you are someone who isn't a huge fan of Poke or have no idea what it is please keep reading. We were so-so on the Poke train the first time we tried it, but then we had the Best Poke EVER , and we just can't get enough of it! So we will go over the aspects of Poke we wish we knew before we tried it a while ago, because we would've loved for someone to really tell us all the info we have since found out about Poke; like what makes a good Poke, what to look for in a Poke place, and if Poke is even healthy or not. So keep reading if you want to learn more about this awesome dish.
Poke is a traditional Hawaiian food that has been around for centuries, but with its recent increase in popularity there have been new twists added to this dish. It is traditionally prepared as raw fish, but can also be cooked. The two main types of poke are raw and cooked, and with all the other fusions, there have been more and more variants added. So let's break them down to two categories to start with: Raw and Cooked.
Raw poke typically consists of sashimi-grade fish diced up into cubes and mixed with sea salt, seaweed, limu (seaweed), and other seasonings such as inamona (roasted candlenut) or chili pepper water. Raw poke is often served with condiments like soy sauce, wasabi, hot mustard or spicy mayo for dipping.
Cooked poke involves marinating the pieces of cut fish in a variety of sauces and spices before cooking it either by pan-frying or steaming. You might even find some ceviche versions of Poke toppings as well, which is a kind of cooking, but can also resemble fish/meat on the rarer side.
To understand if poke is healthy or not, it’s important to take a closer look at what goes into making this meal. Poke typically consists of cubes of raw tuna or salmon marinated in soy sauce with sesame oil and other seasonings. The fish usually comes served over a bed of rice and topped with vegetables such as seaweed salad, cucumber slices, onions, and avocado. So these things are all sounding pretty healthy right? Fish is good for you, rice is ok in moderation and veggies are always good, but why is Poke good for you?
The primary ingredient in poke is usually tuna or salmon which are both excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids; essential for healthy heart function and mental well-being. In addition, poke contains numerous vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B-12 which helps support brain functions like memory and concentration. Vegetables often included in poke recipes such as cucumber, seaweed, onions and avocado are all packed with fiber that aids digestion while antioxidants from those ingredients can help fight off free radicals linked to chronic diseases. So pretty much, many of the aspects of Poke are very good for you.
The only possible drawbacks of Poke come with the seasonings and sauces. With the continued increase of everyone's love for adding sauces there is a chance that you might be getting high levels of salt. Which again, isn't the end of the world... just something to keep in mind.
Unlike traditional poke bowls, Fusion Poke adds exciting new elements to create an unforgettable experience, but sometimes they result in less than stellar combos. Sometimes you win some and sometimes you lose some right? But in our experience, we have enjoyed some amazing fusions like the addition of spicy Korean kimchi, tempura shrimp and vibrant beets. When these were added to our bowls they really elevated the overall flavor profile to a level we hadn't experienced in our previous Poke experiences.
This brings us up to our next part, which is what we wish we had found out about before. And that is that not all Poke restaurants are the same, so we will go over what you should keep an eye out for at any place you get poke from.
Poke restaurants are popping up all over the world,, and for a good reason! Poke is a great dish when done right, but there are a couple of things you should look for before you try out a new poke restaurant.
The first thing is that you want to go to a busy Poke place, which will usually mean that they are using fresh ingredients. Much like sushi, you don't want to go to a place that only get a customer each day. You want a place that gets new stock in as often as possible. This applies to veggies and pretty much everything in your Poke bowl, as the freshness will make a huge difference to how good the bowl is.
The next thing you want to look for is a place with high-quality of fish. Although you might think raw fish is raw fish, there is a huge difference in the quality of fish. Much like how there is Prime, Choice, and other options for red meat, there are levels to frozen fish. Just like how some sushi places will have fresher-tasting fish, Poke is no different. So you will want to try to find a place that prides itself on its quality of food.
The final thing to look for is a place where people have left good reviews over an extended period of time. Although this might sound like a common sense approach to restaurants, we will admit that we missed this one when we first tried out Poke. We found a place that had a bunch of hype with its opening and were really disappointed. Looking back, the reviews were probably from the people that worked there, as they quickly faded to negative ones after a couple of weeks.
When it comes down to it, there are so many different reasons why you should try poke, if for nothing more than an awesome-tasting meal. Poke is packed with healthy fats and vitamins like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin A - making it a great way to get your daily recommended dose of nutrition. There are usually so many different options when you're making a Poke bowl that you can have a great variety, even if you visit the same restaurant all the time! But if there is one thing that we can leave you with, that we wish someone told us, is that if you try Poke and aren't in love with it make sure you give it another chance.
We tried it once and saw the potential but just didn't really love the bowl we got. But after trying out a different Poke place we fell in love with the dish, and realized that it was just a poor initial experience that almost cost us a new favorite go-to meal! And we know that the whole world is in love with their air fryers, but if you feel the need for some freshness make sure you try this ( possibly new to you) amazing bowl of food out!
