Air Fryer Tofu Poke Bowls

Craving a classic Poke Bowl? Save time and money by making this delicious poke at home!

What is Poke?

Poke bowls are traditionally from Japan and first became popular in the 1970s. Recently, they’ve become all the rage in the US as a healthy, but tasty Asian cuisine.

The word “poke” simply means “cut into pieces” in Japanese. It refers to the cubes of tofu or meat that is served on a bed of rice, vegetables, and anything else you want to add to the mix.

Most of the flavor comes from the marinade that we’ll be adding to the tofu or meat. We’re using a classic blend of soy sauce and sesame oil that goes perfectly with the firm tofu.

Gather What You’ll Need

• Tofu: I recommend extra firm tofu. I think it has the best texture. You could also substitute for salmon or shrimp!
• Sesame oil and soy sauce: We’ll use this to make a simple marinade.
• Clove of garlic: You’ll want to mince it ahead of time.
• Ginger: Ads a little bit of bite! You’ll need to grate this up beforehand.
• Cornstarch: This helps the marinade stick to the tofu.

How to Make It

1. Press the block of tofu by wrapping it in a tea towel and placing something heavy on top to absorb moisture. Leave for at least 15 minutes.
2. Make the marinade by combining sesame oil, soy sauce, and minced garlic in a bowl.
3. Transfer the tofu to a chopping board and cut it into cubes. Place the tofu into a container with a lid, then pour over half of the marinade, reserving the other half for later. Allow the tofu to marinate for at least 15 minutes.
4. Sprinkle cornstarch over the marinated tofu, then place the lid on the container and shake it around so each piece of tofu gets fully coated.
5. Preheat the air fryer to 375˚F (190˚C). Add the tofu cubes in a single layer to the basket. Cook for 10 minutes or until golden and crispy on each side, shake the basket every few minutes to ensure even cooking.
6. Add the rice to the serving bowl and top it with cabbage, avocado, carrot, cucumber, edamame, and air fryer tofu. Finish with toasted sesame and remaining marinade.

Tips and Tricks

• Not a fan of tofu? Swap it out for our air fryer salmon or air fryer shrimp.
• Try adding a bit of chili to the marinade to spice things up!

Storage

These poke bowls should last for 2-3 days in the fridge. Just make sure they’re in a sealed, airtight container!

And…I don’t recommend trying to reheat poke bowls. They’re meant to be served cold!