Chicken Poke Bowl

A poke bowl takes the spirit of Hawaiian-style poke — seasoned protein served with rice and fresh toppings — and turns it into a complete, flexible bowl meal. In this chicken version, sushi rice provides a lightly sticky base for tender poached chicken tossed in a soy, sesame, lime and rice vinegar dressing. Cucumber, avocado, spring onion and sesame seeds add freshness, creaminess and gentle crunch, keeping the bowl bright rather than heavy. It is a practical lunch or light dinner option: quick once the rice is cooked, easy to assemble just before serving, and adaptable to the toppings you have to hand.
Cuisine style Hawaiian-inspired fusion bowl
Cooking style Meal prep friendly • Minimal cleanup
Time commitment Under 30 minutes

Why this recipe works

  • Bright, savoury dressing: Rice vinegar and lime cut through the sesame oil and soy sauce, keeping the chicken lively rather than heavy.
  • Fast once the rice is on: The chicken poaches while the sushi rice cooks, so most of the work happens in parallel.
  • Fresh texture contrast: Soft rice and tender chicken are balanced by crisp cucumber, creamy avocado and a sesame seed finish.

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Timing notes

  • Rest the rice and chicken: Letting the rice stand after cooking improves its texture, while resting the chicken before slicing helps keep it juicy.
  • Best assembled just before eating: Build the bowls close to serving so the cucumber stays crisp and the avocado looks fresh.

Make-ahead tips

  • Store components separately: Keep the rice and dressed chicken in separate sealed containers, then add the avocado, cucumber and spring onion just before serving.
  • Good for short-term lunches: The cooked rice and chicken can be prepared ahead for up to 2 days, making the bowl easy to assemble later.
  • Reheat only the rice: Warm the rice until piping hot, then top with the cold chicken and fresh vegetables for the best contrast.

Ingredient notes

  • Use ripe avocado: A ripe avocado gives the bowl its creamy element; under-ripe avocado will taste firm and muted.
  • Dress the chicken warm: Warm poached chicken absorbs the soy, sesame and citrus dressing more readily than fully chilled meat.
  • Adjust the sharpness: White wine vinegar can stand in for rice vinegar, though it gives the dressing a slightly sharper edge.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
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  1. Rinse the sushi rice in cold water until the water runs mostly clear. Cook it in a saucepan with water according to the packet directions, then cover and rest off the heat for 10 minutes.
  2. While the rice cooks, poach the chicken in gently simmering water for 12 to 15 minutes until cooked through. Lift out, rest for 5 minutes, then slice or pull into bite-sized pieces.
  3. In a bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, caster sugar, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil and the juice of the lime. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then toss the chicken through the dressing.
  4. Fluff the rice and divide between two bowls. Finely slice the cucumber, dice the avocado, and thinly slice the spring onion.
  5. Top each bowl with the dressed chicken, cucumber and avocado. Finish with spring onion and sesame seeds, then serve straight away.

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Recipe notes

Tips

  • Keep the chicken poaching water just below a simmer so the meat stays tender and juicy.
  • Dress the chicken while it is still warm so it absorbs more flavour, then build the bowls right before serving for the freshest texture.

Substitutions

  • Replace Rice vinegar with White wine vinegar for a slightly sharper dressing.
  • Replace Lime with Lemon for a softer, less aromatic citrus note.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 2 days
  • Refrigerate rice and chicken separately in sealed containers for up to 2 days. Serve cold, or reheat the rice in a microwave until piping hot and add the cold toppings afterwards.

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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 2 bowls
  • Total time: 30min (20min active)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cuisine: Fusion
  • Allergens:
    Sesame Soybeans
Beginner friendly Kid friendly

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Equipment you'll need

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