Salmon Poke-Style Bowl with Sushi Rice
Why this recipe works
- Fresh texture contrast: Soft sushi rice, silky salmon, crisp cucumber and creamy avocado give each bowl balance without needing much cooking.
- Clean seasoning: Rice vinegar lightly seasons the warm rice, while soy sauce and sesame oil bring savoury depth to the salmon.
- Fast assembly: Once the rice is cooked and cooled slightly, the toppings are simply sliced, dressed and layered into bowls.
Get the most out of this recipe
Ingredient notes
- Choose suitable salmon: Use salmon clearly sold as suitable for eating raw, and keep it chilled until you are ready to cut and dress it.
- Use firm-ripe avocado: Avocado should be ripe enough to slice cleanly but firm enough to hold its shape in the bowl.
- Cut the nori finely: Fine shreds of nori distribute the savoury flavour more evenly than large torn pieces.
Timing notes
- Let the rice lose its heat: The sushi rice should be just warm before topping; hot rice can soften the salmon and avocado too quickly.
- Assemble close to serving: For the freshest texture, dress the salmon and build the bowls shortly before eating.
- Best eaten fresh: The bowl is at its best on the day it is made, as the rice firms in the fridge and the avocado discolours.
Ingredient swaps
- For a gluten-free version: Use a gluten-free tamari in place of light soy sauce, checking the label carefully.
- For a sharper dressing: White wine vinegar can replace rice vinegar if you prefer a brighter, less rounded acidity.
- For deeper colour: Dark soy sauce can be used instead of light soy sauce for a richer-looking dressing with a slightly fuller flavour.
Common mistakes
- Skipping the rice rinse: Rinsing the sushi rice helps remove excess starch, giving a cleaner, more defined texture once cooked.
- Dressing the salmon too early: Leaving salmon in the soy mixture for too long can firm the surface and dull its fresh texture.
- Leaving leftovers out: Because the bowl contains raw salmon, refrigerate any leftovers promptly and eat them within the recommended storage window.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Rinse the sushi rice in cold water until the water runs mostly clear. Tip into a saucepan, cover with fresh water, bring to the boil, then cover and cook on the lowest heat for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave, covered, for 10 minutes.
- Whisk the rice vinegar and caster sugar in a large bowl until the sugar dissolves. Fold the warm rice through the vinegar mixture, then spread it out in the bowl to cool slightly. It should be just warm, not hot, before you top it.
- Cut the salmon into bite-size cubes and put into a mixing bowl. Stir in the light soy sauce and toasted sesame oil, then add most of the spring onion, reserving a little for serving. Leave to stand while you prep the vegetables.
- Halve the cucumber lengthways and slice it thinly. Halve, stone and peel the avocado, then slice it. Cut the nori sheets into fine shreds with a knife.
- Divide the sushi rice between two bowls. Top with the cucumber, avocado and dressed salmon, then spoon over any remaining dressing from the bowl. Finish with the roasted sesame seeds, shredded nori, and the reserved spring onion.
Recipe notes
Tips
- For best results, keep the salmon chilled until the moment you cube it, and use a very sharp knife for clean cuts.
- If serving to pregnant people, young children, older adults, or anyone immunocompromised, use salmon that is suitable for eating raw and follow the supplier’s guidance.
Substitutions
- Replace light soy sauce with dark soy sauce for a deeper colour and slightly richer flavour.
- Replace rice vinegar with white wine vinegar for a sharper, less sweet dressing.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 1 days
- Best eaten straight away. If needed, refrigerate leftovers promptly in a sealed container and eat within 24 hours; do not leave at room temperature. The rice will firm up in the fridge, so let it sit for 10 minutes before eating.
Ratings & reviews
Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.
Tried this recipe?
Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.
Stay inspired
Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.
Recipe overview
- Servings: 2 bowls
- Total time: 30min (20min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Japanese
-
Allergens:
Fish Sesame Soybeans
Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.
Add to meal plannerEquipment you'll need
Got ingredients left?
Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.
Find recipes with these ingredients →
Gomae Spinach Grain Bowl with Sesame Dressing and Rice
Spinach gomae over rice with cucumber and spring onion
Algarve Grain Bowl with Lemon and Herbs
Bulgur bowl with chickpeas, tomato, cucumber and herbs
Polish Beetroot Grain Bowl (Roasted Beetroot and Barley Salad)
Roasted beetroot and barley bowl with horseradish dressing
Moroccan Chickpea and Quinoa Grain Bowl with Yoghurt Dressing
Quinoa bowl with spiced chickpeas, sweet potato, cucumber and yoghurt
Nordic Vegan Barley Bowl with Beetroot, Kale and Chickpeas
Vegan barley bowl with beetroot, kale and crispy chickpeas
Middle Eastern Salmon Bowl with Couscous and Tahini Dressing
Salmon bowl with couscous, salad and lemon tahini dressing
Nordic Salmon Bowl with Barley and Dill Skyr Dressing
Baked salmon bowl with barley, salad and dill skyr dressing
Memelas de Frijoles con Salsa Verde (Oaxacan-Style Masa Rounds)
Pan-cooked masa rounds topped with beans, salsa verde and cheese
Chinese-Inspired Pork Wrap
Tortilla wrap filled with hoisin pork, cucumber and spring onion
Assiette de Charcuterie with Cornichons
Cured meats with cornichons, Dijon mustard and baguette
Montaditos de Jamón y Tomate (Toasted Ham and Tomato Open Sandwiches)
Toasted baguette with tomato, serrano ham and olive oil
Vietnamese Tofu Vermicelli Noodle Bowl with Fresh Herbs
Crisp tofu vermicelli bowl with herbs, peanuts and lime dressing
Poke Bowl with Sushi Rice
Sushi rice poke bowl with salmon, avocado and cucumber.
Sushi Burrito with Salmon, Avocado and Cucumber
Nori-wrapped sushi burrito with salmon, avocado and cucumber
Tuna Avocado Cucumber Poke Bowl
Tuna, avocado and cucumber poke bowl with sushi rice.
Gomae Spinach Grain Bowl with Sesame Dressing and Rice
Spinach gomae over rice with cucumber and spring onion
Crab Poke Bowl
Crab poke bowl with sushi rice, avocado and cucumber.
Poke Bowl with Toasted Sesame
Salmon poke bowl with sushi rice and toasted sesame.
You might also like
Modern Salmon Grain Bowl with Quinoa
Salmon quinoa bowl with cucumber, avocado and yoghurt dressing
Roast Spring Lamb with Rosemary and Red Wine Gravy
Roast spring lamb with rosemary and red wine gravy
Portuguese-Style Olive Oil Roasted Vegetables
Olive oil roasted vegetables with garlic, paprika, parsley and lemon
Psarosoupa (Greek Fish Soup with Lemon and Vegetables)
Light Greek fish soup finished with lemon and olive oil
American-Style Chicken Piccata
Pan-fried chicken in a lemon, caper and butter sauce
Tteokgalbi (Korean Grilled Beef Short Rib Patties)
Korean beef short rib patties with soy, garlic and pear
Make this recipe easier next time
AdvertisementThese tools help you get better results with less effort.
Misen 8-Inch Chef Knife
- AUS-10 steel
- Balanced design
- Less traditional feel
Titanium & PP Double-Sided Cutting Board
- Separate surfaces for meat and produce
- Resists odors and stains
- Harder on knife edges than wood or plastic
OXO Good Grips Stainless Mixing Bowl Set
- Non-slip base
- Comfort grip
- Higher price
OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
- Two useful sizes with reversible cutting surfaces
- Dishwasher safe and easy to clean
- Plastic surfaces will show knife marks over time
Enjoy cooking with JustRecipes?
Add JustRecipes as one of your preferred Google sources to discover our recipes more easily across Google Search.
Add JustRecipes to GoogleEvery recipe on JustRecipes follows the same structured editorial process. Learn how recipes are created, validated, translated, illustrated, and continuously improved across the platform. How we create recipes.
