Spicy Tuna & Sticky Rice at home??

Andrew and I have been doing a lot of researching on our honeymoon destination.. Hawaii!
We are so so excited to get there, probably for different reasons. Andrew's looking forward to taking a break from law school and beaching it with a frozen chick drink with an umbrella. I'm looking forward to checking out the amazing seafood culture on the islands.  I've heard nothing but amazing things about the little "poke" shops all around Hawaii, and I cannot WAIT to try them all!

"Poke" is a traditional raw salad or appetizer served in Hawaii. It's the Hawaiian verb for "section" or "to slice and cut." Poke usually consists of cubed Ahi tuna marinated with sea salt, soy sauce, chili oil, sesame oil and various other herbs and spices.

I whipped up a little at home... This is something that can be made and eaten on the spot or left to marinate in the frig for a bit.  I actually made a more "Americanized" version that's a little closer to a ceviche. For those of you that are a little nervous about eating raw fish- the acid in my recipe actually "cooks" the fish.  It becomes very very tender and filled with flavor!

It's important to buy a Sushi-grade tuna (or salmon if you'd prefer). You can ask your fishmonger at your grocery store if they recommend a sushi-grade fish. If you're unsure, a true Ahi tuna (wild caught, not frozen) from Whole Foods is always a good follow up. It can, however, be a little pricey.

Nutritional Facts:
There are only about 31 calories per ounce of raw tuna, it's a very low calorie protein.
There are tons of Omega 3 fatty acids, and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals.
Tuna ia also high in tryptophan

Ingredients for Poke:
5 ounces            Sushi Grade Ahi Tuna, cut in small cubes
1/4 cup              Rough chopped parsley (or cilantro)
1/4 cup              Finely chopped green onions
1/2 cup              Finley chopped red onion
3 tbsps               Srirachi
1/2 cup              Fresh squeezed lime juice
1/4 cup              Extra Virgin Olive Oil

good salt and pepper to taste (lots)

Directions for Poke:
Combine tuna, parsley, green onions and red onions in a bowl.  In a blender or food processor, combine dressing (sriracha, lime juice, EVOO & Salt and pepper). Once blended, add mixture to tuna mixture and mix well.




Serving Instructions:
I served mine with sticky purple rice (because I'm tired of basic brown rice).

*Purple Sticky Rice (cook using 2c water to 1c rice)

*Purple Sticky Rice, topped with tuna and then a dallop of homemade salsa, because I can :)