Ahi Shoyu Poke is a Hawaiian raw fish salad with fresh ahi steaks, onions, macadamia nuts, and soy sauce. It’s a refreshing and healthy meal that is perfect over sushi rice.
Any dish that will have me out of the kitchen in 20 minutes or less is golden in my book, and ahi shoyu poke, with its simple ingredients and easy steps, is becoming a fast favorite. Poke shops have been cropping up all over our neighborhood, and they’ve fueled my growing love for this Hawaiian delicacy.
Poke, which means “to cut into pieces” in Hawaiian, is one of the easiest dishes you can make. All it takes is slicing the fish fillet into cubes and then tossing the succulent morsels with your choice of poke seasonings.
Ingredient notes
- Tuna– use sashimi-grade high-quality ahi or yellowtail tuna.
- Nuts– poke includes toasted kukui or candle nuts. Our recipe below uses macadamia nuts which are more accessible.
- Salt- traditionally seasoned with alaea, a Hawaiian sea salt mixed with red volcanic clay. You can order it online or substitute pink Himalayan or regular sea salt.
- Onions– use Maui onions, which have a sweeter, less pungent flavor due to their low sulfur and high water content.
- Green onions– for color and fresh taste
- Seasonings– the recipe uses soy sauce, sesame oil, freshly grated ginger, and sesame seeds. Furikake, fish eggs (roe), dried chili pepper flakes, or ponzu sauce are common add-ins to kick flavors up a notch.
Quick Tip
Since this is a RAW dish and doesn’t have the benefit of cooking, I can’t stress enough the importance of using high-quality ingredients. Please procure your fish from a reputable vendor and practice proper handling to ensure food safety and the best results.
Serving suggestions
Tuna poke is usually served as an appetizer or an entree piled over sushi rice. If you love raw fish’s bright, fresh taste and soft, velvety texture, this island staple is a must-try!