Poke (spicy ahi and sesame) recipe? (living in, restaurant, groceries)

[wikiwikirunner]

howzit friends,

I spent some years living in Hawaii and now live abroad where poke is absolutely not accessible. I have found a fish market here that has ahi and would like to make a go of making it myself, as it used to be a staple for me. I've obviously done a google search for recipes for my two favorite flavors, but would rather trust someone's tried and true recipe than some celebrity chef on foodnetwork.com. I have good access to pretty much every ingredient as well as Asian products here (in Spain). Can anyone share their favorite recipe for spicy ahi and sesame? Any other recipes or tips you have for making it yourself are welcome too!

Aloha

[irman]

I learned how to make Poke a long time ago, by using the basic ingredients as a seasoning, but have adapted the quantities to "My Liking" over the years.

First, the important thing is to get the freshest Ahi you can get, and then just use the (I think) basic ingredients of:
soy sauce - green onions - sesame oil - fresh ginger - chile peppers - salt - sesame seeds - macadamia nuts

If you want my recipe, I do not have one per se!
I cook like "a bit of this and a bit of that" until it either tastes or smells good ...

Just some "tips" maybe?
Soy sauce - I have tried several kinds including the sweet soy sauce. I prefer the semi-sweet kind now.
chile peppers - I now just use a pinch of dried, crushed, red peppers (the lazy way!)

Oh, I use Romaine lettuce as the base ...

Since I live today in the middle of the USA, I have a hard time finding good fresh Ahi.
I have tried expensive tuna and it was not as good as I remember.
I hope this helps you?

LBNL ... I have also tried fresh shrimp (battered and deep-fried) and then I like to make the sauce a bit spicier and sweeter yet! ALso I used Tofu, instead of fish.
Sadly, some things can only be treasured as sweet, memories from a long time ago!

[kimberlylan08]

Originally Posted by irman

ALso I used Tofu, instead of fish.
Sadly, some things can only be treasured as sweet, memories from a long time ago!

My sister actually concocted her own sauce for spicy ahi using a Tofu recipe! She basically kept mixing mayo w/ sriracha sauce (more sriracha = more spicy). Add tabiko for the "pop." It was pretty delicious, and much more spicy! Yum.

[irman]

Originally Posted by kimberlylan08

using a Tofu recipe!

I found a certain brand and firmness of Tofu, that almost "feels" like fish!

[galaxyhi]

Originally Posted by irman

I learned how to make Poke a long time ago, by using the basic ingredients as a seasoning, but have adapted the quantities to "My Liking" .....

First, the important thing is to get the freshest Ahi you can get, and then just use the (I think) basic ingredients of:
soy sauce - green onions - sesame oil - fresh ginger - chile peppers - salt - sesame seeds - macadamia nuts

If you want my recipe, I do not have one per se!
I cook like "a bit of this and a bit of that" until it either tastes or smells good ...

(Snip)

....since I live today in the middle of the USA, I have a hard time finding good fresh Ahi.
I have tried expensive tuna and it was not as good as I remember.
I hope this helps you?
!

That's about my recipe, except I never added ginger. I'm also a "little of this and that" cook who rarely measures unless for a specific recipe.

There are SEVERAL recipes online, pick one and adapt to your taste, not just foodnetwork.com. maybe here in the USA there are more poke recipes, than found in Spain on Spanish websites.

Also...irman...do you have a Wegman's grocery store somewhere near you? They have delicious fresh caught ahi. I found out what day it comes in, and appear first thing in the morning to get some. They also have another fresh caught tuna, that is just as good.

Find out which of your regional groceries carried it fresh, and what day it comes in, and go get you some!!

I live in upstate N.Y., and have no problem getting fresh tuna at Wegman's, but Wegman's is an east coast or north east coast grocery store only I think, not sure how far out west they go.

Poke and lomi lomi salmon are sooooooooooo good!
( I also get fresh salmon, the real salmon [ie NOT cheap] from weggys too.)

Good luck.

Have a great day.

[eureka1]

Out here in California the Safeway stores carry ahi poke now.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by eureka1

Out here in California the Safeway stores carry ahi poke now.

Although likely was frozen at some point. In my opinion, it tastes completely different if it’s been frozen

[MickeyE]

We have a poke restaurant here in Dublin Ohio - Pokébap: a fresh way to create - I've only been there once and I had the Island Style. That's the first poke I've had so I'm no judge of poke, but it was very good. And it's only 1.7 miles from my house. The grocery store I shop at is in the same shopping center so I should stop in every time I shop for groceries.

Mickey