Tofu Sweet Chili Poke Bowl

A poke-style bowl brings together seasoned rice, protein and fresh toppings in a format that is colourful, filling and easy to adapt. Here, firm tofu is fried until lightly golden, then glazed with sweet chilli sauce, soy sauce, garlic and ginger for a glossy savoury-sweet coating. Sushi rice dressed with rice vinegar gives the bowl its gently tangy base, while cucumber, edamame and spring onion add cool crunch, freshness and bite. A squeeze of lime and roasted sesame seeds sharpen and finish the dish, making it a practical vegan lunch or light dinner with plenty of texture.
Cuisine style Vegan fusion poke-style bowl
Spice level Mild
Cooking style Meal prep friendly • Minimal cleanup
Time commitment Under 1 hour

Why this recipe works

  • Fresh texture contrast: Soft seasoned rice, lightly crisp tofu, crunchy cucumber and tender edamame give the bowl enough contrast to feel complete.
  • Balanced sweetness: Rice vinegar and lime cut through the sweet chilli glaze, keeping the bowl bright rather than heavy.
  • Fast weeknight method: The rice, edamame and tofu cook in parallel, keeping the total time practical for lunch or a simple dinner.

Get the most out of this recipe

Texture tips

  • Dry the tofu well: Patting the tofu dry before frying helps it colour more evenly and stay intact once the sauce is added.
  • Keep toppings separate if storing: Store cucumber, spring onion and sesame seeds separately from warm rice or reheated tofu to preserve their fresh texture.

Ingredient notes

  • Choose firm tofu: Firm tofu is the best fit here because it holds its shape in the pan and gives the glaze something substantial to cling to.
  • Use lime to finish: A final squeeze of lime sharpens the sweet chilli sauce and makes the rice and vegetables taste more lively.

Make-ahead tips

  • Store as components: Keep the rice, tofu and vegetables in separate containers where possible, then assemble just before serving.
  • Reheat the tofu gently: Warm the tofu in a frying pan over medium heat with a small splash of water until piping hot, so the glaze loosens without scorching.

Serving ideas

  • Add extra richness: Avocado works well if you want a creamier bowl alongside the sweet chilli tofu and crisp cucumber.
  • Finish with freshness: Extra spring onion, sesame seeds or a little more lime juice make the bowl brighter just before serving.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
Print
  1. 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 12 minutes. Take off the heat and leave, still covered, for 10 minutes.
  2. Bring a small pan of water to the boil, add the edamame and cook for 3 minutes until tender. Drain well and set aside. Transfer the rice to a mixing bowl and fold through the rice vinegar; let it cool until just warm.
  3. Cut the tofu into bite-sized cubes, then pat dry. Heat the sesame oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, add the tofu and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning, until lightly golden. Finely grate the garlic and ginger, stir in for 30 seconds, then add the sweet chili sauce and soy sauce and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the tofu is glossy and coated.
  4. Halve the cucumber lengthways and slice, then thinly slice the spring onion. Divide the sushi rice between two bowls and top with the sweet chilli tofu, cucumber, edamame and spring onion. Squeeze over the lime and finish with the roasted sesame seeds.

Made this recipe? Rate it — a comment is optional.

Recipe notes

Tips

  • For the best texture, take the tofu out of its pack, pat it dry, then leave it on a plate for 10 minutes while the rice cooks to shed a bit more moisture.
  • Keep the pan fairly hot when frying the tofu so it colours quickly before the sauce goes in, which helps it stay intact.
  • If serving to anyone who is pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised, ensure the tofu is heated until piping hot throughout.

Substitutions

  • Replace rice vinegar with white wine vinegar for a slightly sharper, less sweet tang.
  • Replace ginger root with 1 tsp ground ginger for a quicker version, adding it with the sweet chili sauce.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 2 days
  • Store components separately if possible. Reheat the tofu in a frying pan over medium heat with a small splash of water until piping hot; rice is best eaten fresh but can be microwaved with a splash of water until steaming.

Ratings & reviews

Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.

Tried this recipe?

Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.

If you leave a comment, use 10–500 characters.

Stay inspired

Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.

Tofu Sweet Chili Poke Bowl
Image by JustRecipes
Pinterest

Recipe overview

  • Servings: 2 servings
  • Total time: 35min (20min active)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cuisine: Fusion
  • Allergens:
    Sesame Soybeans
Beginner friendly Kid friendly

Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.

Add to meal planner

Equipment you'll need

Advertisement

Recommended tools for this recipe

Best overall

Misen 8-Inch Chef Knife

Sharp modern chef knife
  • AUS-10 steel
  • Balanced design
  • Less traditional feel

Got ingredients left?

Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.

Find recipes with these ingredients →

Make this recipe easier next time

Advertisement

These tools help you get better results with less effort.

Best overall

Misen 8-Inch Chef Knife

Sharp modern chef knife
  • AUS-10 steel
  • Balanced design
  • Less traditional feel
Best value

Titanium & PP Double-Sided Cutting Board

Easy-clean double-sided board
  • Separate surfaces for meat and produce
  • Resists odors and stains
  • Harder on knife edges than wood or plastic
Top quality

All-Clad HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Fry Pan 12 Inch

Premium nonstick performance
  • Top-tier build quality
  • Excellent heat distribution
  • Expensive
Best overall

OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set

Practical everyday board set
  • Two useful sizes with reversible cutting surfaces
  • Dishwasher safe and easy to clean
  • Plastic surfaces will show knife marks over time

Browse alphabetically

Looking for a specific recipe? Choose a letter below to jump directly to recipes starting with that letter or number.

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 Google

Every 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.