Quinoa Poke Bowl With Shrimp

Looking for shrimp poke bowl recipes or quinoa poke bowl recipes? Why not combine these two in one protein rich poke bowl. A customizable recipe that features quinoa as a base, smoky shrimp, creamy and crunchy toppings with probiotics and finished with a flavorful soy free sauce.

You can definitely play with ingredients and make your poke bowls compliant with your type of diet, whether it’s gluten free, dairy free, low carb, soy free, whole30, paleo or even vegan . As most of my favorite gluten and dairy free meals have the ingredient quality in focus, I always tend to adapt the poke bowls accordingly.

Quinoa Shrimp Poke Bowl Recipe

Poke bowls are known Hawaiian favorites and they’re usually made with rice as a base and raw fish as the main protein. But I’m not a fan of either of those. So in this recipe, quinoa and shrimp are the stars. But you can definitely sub the protein with chicken or other fish if you like.

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Quinoa makes a great substitution for rice in a poke bowl. Quinoa is higher in protein and fiber plus has a subtle nutty flavor which pairs very well with seafood. The trick is to cook properly the quinoa (fluffy) and the shrimp (caramelized and properly seasoned) otherwise you could ruin the entire dish.

Poke Bowl Ingredients

What you need:

• Quinoa – choose white or red or a combination of colors.
• Shrimp – I used wild frozen shrimps (raw).
• Carrots – shaved or chopped.
• Avocado – thinly sliced, about 1/3 of avocado per bowl.
• Red cabbage sauerkraut – or any other fermented food (cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon. beets or carrots).
• Microgreens or sprouts – for extra nutrients and fiber.
• Bell pepper – sliced.
• Onion and garlic for sautéing the shrimp.
• Smoked paprika and salt as seasonings (for prepping the shrimps).
• Sesame seeds as garnish.

Poke Bowl Sauce Ingredients

• Coconut aminos – as a soy sauce substitute.
• Balsamic vinegar – for more acidity and flavor.
• Olive oil -as fat base.
• Maple syrup – as a sweetener.
• Dijon mustard as an emulsifier and to make the sauce a bit creamier.

Find the complete printable recipe with measurements below.

How To Make Shrimp Quinoa Poke Bowl

Poke bowls are easy and incredibly fun to make, even for large crowds. You can set the ingredients on a table and have your guest make their own poke bowls.

1. Cook the quinoa per instructions mentioned above, so you could enjoy some properly cooked fluffy quinoa.

2. Cook the shrimp. Make sure to defrost prior to using, tap dry with a paper towel. To make the shrimp more flavorful, first I sautéed some onion and garlic in a preheated skillet with a touch of oil. Then I transferred the shrimp in the skillet (arranged in a single layer). Season with salt and smoked paprika (for a smoky flavor), cook for 1 minute then flip and cook on the other side. Add some maple syrup to the pan (optional) after you remove the shrimp, and let the juices thicken to a glaze consistency. Then add back the shrimp to coat. Set aside to cool.

3. Assemble the poke bowl. Place the desired amount of quinoa in a bowl, top with shrimp and the rest of the toppings. Don’t forget to add something pickled.

4. Finish with sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. The poke sauce will drip down into the veggies and quinoa, helping to flavor them.

How To Make The Sauce For Poke Bowl

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and give them a good whisk. There are many alternatives to a poke sauce so feel free to improvise. Here is a list of creamy sauces you could use.

Substitutions And Add-ins

• Make it paleo and low carb – replace the quinoa with cauliflower rice, zucchini doodles or some greens.
• Whole30 poke bowl – use the suggestions above and remove any sweetener.
• Use other type of seafood like scallops, tuna or salmon.
• Make a mayo based poke sauce – mix it with siracha for some heat.
• Use other pickled foods: pickled onion, seaweed, kimchi, cucumber or ginger.

How long does cooked quinoa last in the fridge?

If you have leftovers it’s ok. Once cooked and cooled quinoa will last approximately 5-6 days in the fridge. Use a tightly sealed container to store it. Or freeze for up to 2 months.

How long does cooked shrimp last in the fridge?

Cooked shrimp lasts for 3-4 days in the fridge before going bad. And remember you need to refrigerate shrimp within two hours of cooking, otherwise they will go bad faster. Or you could freeze them for up to 3 months if you can’t consume them in the timeframe.

Are poke bowls healthy?

The concept of poke bowls depicts some healthy food combinations, but is it indeed healthy? It depends on ingredient quality and amounts eaten in one meal. If you’re trying to eat healthier pay attention to the added poke sauce, sometimes it could be really high in sugar and processed ingredients.

Other Great Additions For A Poke Bowl