Poke-style spicy salmon, instant goodness

Last fall I had the incredible opportunity to visit Kauai due to the generosity of my aunt and uncle. Sunshine in November seemed like a miracle in itself but add to that the food. THE FOOD. Forget the restaurants and cafes. I ate out of farmer’s markets and ate very well. Each meal involved local fruit, avocado, and “poke.” Poke is simply a flavored raw fish, flavored with soy sauce, onion, roe, avocado, and more. There are many approaches to poke. Poke plays well with tropical fruits, especially fruit like star fruit with a low content of sugar and a high content of water. It was a meal packed with freshness, flavor, and good fats. I am well for two weeks and returned home feeling better than ever. In the months since, I try to capture a bit of that wellness right here at home in recipes much like this one.

As for the fish itself, this recipe calls for raw fish. There is some risk with raw meat in your diet but raw salmon is lower on the risk scale. I reduce my risk further by buying quality. I pay for it but I figure that a ticket to Kauai is far, far higher. Indeed, in those times in life where you have a little extra cash and need an easy meal packed with nutrition, it does not get a lot better than this. (This is the salmon is buy. I have purchased from them for over five years now and am a happy customer. We have since come to partner with them on this site. Check it out (here) and use a 10% off coupon if you’re a new customer (Code: VCAFINT).

Spicy Salmon Ingredients

• 1 pound salmon
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sesame seeds, lightly toasted
• 1 green onion, sliced thin in rounds
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise (good quality, even homemade)
• 1 tablespoon Sriracha or other hot sauce (or more, to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Salmon roe (optional for garnish)

Spicy Salmon Steps

1. Slice salmon into small bite-sized pieces
2. Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet, taking care that they do not over-heat or burn. Set aside.
3. Slice your green onions, set aside.
4. Mix together sour cream, mayonnaise, hot sauce, and salt.
5. Add the spicy dressing to the salmon and mix together. Sprinkle on the onions and sesame seeds (holding back a few of each for garnish). Toss lightly.
6. Plate and garnish with onion, sesame seeds, and roe.

Serve the salmon poke with avocado, fruit, or sushi rice. Picture yourself on a Hawaiian island. 🙂