Sesame Ginger Tofu Poke Bowl

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This vegan twist on Hawaiian poke bowls swaps the raw fish for marinated, flavor-packed tofu, allowing vegans and vegetarians (and the raw fish-averse in general) to get in on the action. I like to prep the rice, tofu, and veggies on Sunday and then assemble the bowls for lunch, but these are equally as fun to make with friends for dinner.

Here, I’ll fill in you in on my favorite way to prepare the tofu — and how to make the best two-ingredient topper.

Trust me — the idea of eating raw tofu didn’t appeal to me at first either. I tend to enjoy my tofu extra-crispy, whether that means roasting it in a hot oven or pan-frying it on the stove. But hear me out: Tossing extra-firm tofu cubes in a simple pantry marinade is faster and easier than any other form of preparation, and the tofu absorbs an incredible amount of flavor.

Let’s talk about this marinade. It’s a bold yet well-balanced mixture of tamari or soy sauce, garlic, fresh ginger, lime juice, sesame seeds, and toasted sesame oil. In just 10 minutes, the tofu soaks in all the toasty, garlicky, spicy ginger flavor, and leaves behind just enough sauce to drizzle on top of your poke bowls. I’m providing a range for the garlic and ginger, since those can be pretty powerful flavors. Taste and adjust as you see fit.

The drier the tofu, the better it can soak in flavor, so start pressing it at the very beginning of prep. While you’re waiting, I encourage you to make a quick batch of lime-soaked cucumber slices — it’s a trick I picked up from my friend Sarah. After thinly slicing a few Persian cucumbers, you’ll salt them and squeeze out any water (to ensure they’re super crisp), then toss them in freshly squeezed lime juice. The fresh and crunchy slices are the perfect complement to the tofu.

As far as the rest of the bowl? The only rule is to have fun with it. You can use these bowls as an excuse to clean out your kitchen — gathering up veggie scraps from the fridge and whatever grain is in your pantry — or, head to the farmers market or grocery store and pick up whatever looks most beautiful. I like to include as many colors as possible: purple cabbage, multi-colored shaved carrots, bright-pink radishes, and vibrant edamame, to name a few. Oh, and don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to vegetables. I always top my bowls with a handful of wasabi peas.