Poke Bowl with Lettuce Base
Why this recipe works
- Fast no-cook assembly: The salmon only needs a brief toss in the dressing, so the bowl comes together in minutes without any cooking.
- Fresh texture contrast: Crisp romaine and cucumber balance the soft salmon and creamy avocado, keeping the bowl light rather than heavy.
- Clean, savoury dressing: Soy sauce brings salt and umami, rice vinegar adds lift, and toasted sesame oil gives the salmon a rounded nutty finish.
Get the most out of this recipe
Ingredient notes
- Choose the salmon carefully: Use sushi-grade salmon from a trusted supplier and keep it chilled until the moment it is dressed and served.
- Use firm avocado: A ripe but firm avocado slices cleanly and holds its shape better against the dressing.
- Dry the lettuce well: Excess water on the romaine will dilute the dressing and make the bowl feel less crisp.
Texture tips
- Assemble just before serving: Keep the lettuce and dressed salmon separate until the bowl is ready to eat so the leaves stay crisp.
- Keep the fish cold: Chilled salmon is easier to cube neatly and has a cleaner, firmer texture in the finished bowl.
Ingredient swaps
- Swap the fish: Sushi-grade tuna works well in place of salmon for a more classic poke-style variation.
- Make the dressing gluten-free: Use gluten-free tamari instead of soy sauce if you need the bowl to be gluten-free.
- Brighten the acidity: Lime juice can replace rice vinegar for a sharper, citrus-led dressing.
Make-ahead tips
- Keep components separate: If preparing ahead, refrigerate the salmon, dressing and vegetables separately, then assemble just before serving.
- Best eaten straight away: The bowl is at its best immediately after assembly, while the lettuce is crisp and the salmon is freshly dressed.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Pat the salmon dry and cut into neat 1 to 1.5 cm cubes. In a bowl, stir together the soy sauce, toasted sesame oil and rice vinegar. Finely grate the ginger into the bowl and mix well.
- Add the salmon to the marinade and toss gently to coat. Set aside for 5 minutes while you prepare the vegetables.
- Wash and dry the romaine lettuce, then tear into bite-sized pieces and divide between two bowls. Slice the cucumber, halve and slice the avocado, and scatter both over the lettuce.
- Spoon the salmon and any marinade over the bowls. Thinly slice the spring onion and sprinkle over, then finish with the sesame seeds. Serve straight away.
Recipe notes
Tips
- For the best texture, keep the salmon chilled right up until you mix it with the dressing and serve.
- Food safety: if serving raw salmon, use sushi-grade fish from a trusted supplier and keep it properly chilled; vulnerable groups may prefer using cooked salmon instead.
Substitutions
- Replace the salmon fillet with tuna steak for a classic poke-style alternative.
- Replace rice vinegar with lime juice for a brighter, citrus-led dressing.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 1 days
- Best eaten immediately. If you must store it, refrigerate the dressed salmon and prepared vegetables separately and assemble just before serving; do not store at room temperature.
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: 12min (12min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Fusion
-
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 →
Shoyu Tuna Poke Bowl
Shoyu tuna poke bowl with sushi rice, cucumber and sesame.
Salmon Sesame Poke Bowl
Salmon sesame poke bowl with sushi rice and soy dressing.
Classic Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl
Ahi tuna poke over sushi rice with avocado and cucumber.
Shrimp Poke Bowl
Shrimp poke bowl with sushi rice, avocado and edamame.
Spicy Salmon Poke Bowl
Spicy salmon poke over sushi rice with avocado and cucumber.
Hawaiian Style Salmon Poke Bowl
Hawaiian style salmon poke bowl with sushi rice and seaweed.
Shoyu Tuna Poke Bowl
Shoyu tuna poke bowl with sushi rice, cucumber and sesame.
Som Tam Thai (Green Papaya Salad)
Som tam Thai green papaya salad with roasted peanuts
Pasta al Pomodoro Fresco (Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato and Basil)
Spaghetti with fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil and parmesan
Tandoori Chicken Salad Bowl
Tandoori chicken with lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes and yoghurt dressing
Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Tomato Soup
Cheddar grilled cheese served with smooth tomato soup
Vegetarian Taco Salad with Black Beans and Avocado
Taco salad with spiced black beans, avocado and tortilla chips
Easy Poke Bowl
Easy salmon poke bowl with sushi rice, avocado and cucumber.
Quick Poke Bowl
Quick tuna poke bowl with rice, avocado and cucumber.
Shoyu Tuna Poke Bowl
Shoyu tuna poke bowl with sushi rice, cucumber and sesame.
Crispy Tofu Poke Bowl
Crispy tofu over sushi rice with fresh vegetables.
Vegan Poke Bowl
Vegan poke bowl with tofu, sushi rice and vegetables.
Vegetarian Poke Bowl
Vegetarian poke bowl with tofu, sushi rice and vegetables.
You might also like
Prawn and Leek Gratin
Prawn and leek gratin with mustard cream, cheddar and breadcrumbs
Tramezzini al Tonno e Capperi (Italian Tuna and Caper Sandwiches)
Soft tuna and caper sandwiches with mayonnaise and lemon
Silpancho (Bolivian Breaded Beef with Rice and Fried Egg)
Breaded beef over rice topped with a fried egg and salsa
Costillas en Salsa Verde (Pork Ribs in Tomatillo Sauce)
Tender pork ribs in tomatillo and jalapeño salsa verde
Polenta e Spezzatino (Polenta with Beef Stew)
Creamy polenta topped with slow-simmered beef spezzatino
Mujaddara (Lentils and Rice with Caramelised Onions)
Lentils and rice topped with caramelised onions
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.
