Looking for a vibrant, flavor-packed meal that's as satisfying as it is nutritious? This Smoked Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl brings together silky, smoky slices of ahi tuna with a homemade marinade and a medley of crisp, fresh toppings!

Featured Photo for a bright Smoked Ahi Tuna Bowl

Inspired by summertime and cravings for fresh and light meals, this hit the spot! This bowl is light, vibrant, and perfect for warm-weather cravings. Whether you're dining al fresco or packing a beach-ready lunch, it's a cool, coastal-inspired meal that captures the essence of summer with every bite.

Here's more of my favorite Summertime Recipes:

Salad with Barrel Aged Balsamic Vinegar
Steak Salad
Summertime Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Asian Cucumber Salad - Also makes for a great topping for Poke Bowl!
Coleslaw

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Ingredients
How to Cold Smoke Ahi Tuna
Step-by-Step Instructions
Substitutions and additions
Equipment
Storage
More Lighter Recipes
Video of Recipe
Recipe
Comments

Ingredients

Marinade

Ahi Tuna Filets
Soy Sauce
Sesame Oil
Rice Vinegar

Rice

Sushi Rice - a short grain Japanese rice
Rice Vinegar
Sweetener - I used Monk Fruit as a healthier option. Can also use Sugar.
Salt

Toppings

Onion - White or Sweet Onion works best. Can also use Red Onion
Cucumber - We used an English cucumber for this since it has less seeds
Soy Sauce and Sesame Oil
Toasted Sesame Seeds
Nori (optional)

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Cold Smoke Ahi Tuna

The purpose of Cold Smoking is to infuse the meat without cooking it. This is perfect for recipes like this and sashimi style meals. Here's how to do it with a smoker tube and your pellet grill.

Image of placing the ahi tuna on the pellet grill

What you'll need:

Ahi tuna (sushi-grade, high quality)
Pellet grill (or any enclosed chamber)
Smoker tube
Wood pellets (mild varieties like alder, apple, or cherry work well)
Large ice block or tray of ice
Wire rack or food-safe tray

Step 1: Pat ahi tuna dry with a paper towel.

Step 2: Set an ice block on the grill grates and then place tuna on top.

Step 3: Fill your Smoker Tube with pellets and light them. Once smoke is billowing, place it in the smoker far away from the tuna. You don't want the heat from the smoker tube close to your meat.

Step 4: Close the pellet grill to trap in the smoke and let it sit for 1 hour.

Step 5: Remove the ahi tuna from the smoker and vacuum seal (or zip lock). Tuna will be good for 3 days in the fridge if not used immediately.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Image of placing the tuna on the pellet grill with the smoker tube

Step 1: Pat tuna dry and Cold Smoke on the pellet grill for 1 hour (see detailed instructions above).

marinading the ahi tuna with soy sauce, sesame oil and rice vinegar

Step 2: Cut smoked ahi tuna into cubes and marinate with 1 ½ teaspoon Soy Sauce, 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil and 1 teaspoon Rice Vinegar. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Step 3: Cook rice will tuna marinates.

Image of how small cucumbers should be cubed

Step 4: Prep toppings by thinly slicing onion and avocado and cutting cucumber into cubes.

marinading the rice with monk fruit, vinegar and salt

Step 5: Once rice is cooked, season with 1 teaspoon Rice Vinegar, ½ teaspoon Monk Fruit or Sugar and ½ teaspoon sea salt. Set aside to cool.

distribution of ingredients on top of rice bowls.

Step 6: Separate rice between bowls and evenly distribute cucumber, onion, avocado and marinaded tuna.

Pro Tip: If time allows, set rice aside to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Placing a damp paper towel over the rice will keep it from hardening.

Finished photo of Smoked Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl

Step 7: Top your Smoked Ahi Tuna Poke Bowls with soy sauce, sesame oil, nori and sesame seeds. Enjoy!

Substitutions and additions

Protein Substitutions:
- Seafood Options - salmon, scallops, shrimp, octopus, lobster, crab or other smoked fish.
- Cooked Options - chicken, steak (rare to medium rare), pork belly
- Vegetarian Options - tofu, tempeh, chickpeas or edamame
Vegetable Additions:
- Crunchy Ideas - carrots, radishes, daikon, celery or snap peas
- Pickled Ideas - ginger, kimchi or pickled cucumbers, radishes or beets
- Green Ideas - seaweed salad, spinach, kale or sprouts
Sauce Substitutions:
- Ponzu, spicy mayo, wasabi aioli, chili garlic sauce, gochujang dressing, teriyaki, or peanut based sauces

Equipment

Smoker Tube - Great for hot or cold smoking! Comes with two tubes. I used pellets from the pellet grill for this recipe.
Ice Block - We have these from food deliveries! It comes in handy to keep a few in the freezer.
Flint and Flame Knives - I use these daily and have had them for over 2 years. I've yet to sharpen them! Definitely great quality knives. Code CHEFTIM40 to get 40% this knife or their entire website.

Storage

Store smoked tuna separately from Poke Bowl ingredients. If refrigerated in an airtight container, tuna is good for 4 days. Smoke Tuna can be frozen in an airtight container for 3 months.