Cheap And Easy Quinoa Poke Bowls
Here’s a easy and cheap way to get your poke bowl fix: Make your own bowls at home using quinoa as a base with a variety of affordable and flavorful toppings.
Whether you order it at a restaurant or buy it at the grocery store, poke bowls (and sushi rolls in general) are not a cheap thing to eat.
Which is why I’m constantly thinking of ways to enjoy poke bowls or sushi on a budget.
There’s good news: There are SEVERAL ways to get your poke bowl fix without spending a lot of money.
If you like poke bowls but don’t want to spend a fortune, please keep reading!
How To Create Poke Bowls On A Budget
There are poke bowl fast food restaurants popping up all over the place, and the average bowl costs about $10.00 or $11.00.
Why spend that kind of money when you can have a plentiful poke bowl for right around $3.00?
Here’s what I paid:
- Quinoa (purchased in bulk) = $1.23
- Mango = $1.00 on sale
- Carrot = $.25
- Avocado = $1.50
- Cucumber (I used half) = $.50
- Sauce = $.50
Without the smoked salmon, two large servings cost $4.98 – or $2.49 each.
The only higher cost ingredient was the smoked salmon.
The rest of the ingredients were odds and ends I found in my fridge and cupboards (like crunchy onions and black sesame seeds).
Money-saving tip: Inventory your fridge and pantry for ingredients you may already have on hand, such as:
- Kimchi
- Seaweed
- Sliced green onions
- Radishes
- Mandarin oranges
- Pineapple
- Chopped celery
- Sliced jalapeno
- Edamame
- Cabbage
- Red bell pepper
- Cream cheese
- Tofu
- Imitation crab salad
- Homemade Mexican chili crisp
Salmon Alternatives
I found salmon on the grocery store salad bar, and I was able to get enough for these bowls for about $2.50. Other budget-friendly fish/protein options:
- Spicy tuna: Mix canned tuna with mayonnaise and a bit of sriracha sauce
- Imitation crab
- Crab salad (some grocery stores sell this in the deli section)
- Fresh or frozen shrimp (baby shrimp are really inexpensive)
- Tofu (fresh or fried): Great option if you are looking for a non-fish poke bowl
Copycat ALDI Poke Bowls
ALDI sells a poke bowl that contains smoked salmon, rice, sauce, and seasoning.
This is a super easy poke bowl to recreate at home! Just build your bowl with a base of rice (or quinoa), a portion of smoked salmon, your favorite sushi sauce (eel sauce, yum yum sauce, etc.), and some toasted sesame seeds and/or furikake.
Get Your Sushi Fix On A Budget
If you’re looking for cheap sushi recipes, check out these:
Homemade teriyaki chicken rolls (Just $1.40 per person!)
Homemade California rolls (just $1.50 per roll)
Spicy tuna bowls (fully cooked)
Cheap And Easy Poke Bowls
See variations, above, for more toppings ideas. Use what you already have on hand to save money.
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed in a fine-mesh strainer
- 1/2 cucumber, peeled and chopped
- 1 large carrot, spiralized
- 1 mango, peeled and cubed
- 1 avocado, cubed
- 1/2 cup smoked salmon
- Black sesame seeds
- Crispy French fried onions
For sauce
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar or honey
Instructions
- Place quinoa and 2 cups of water into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for about 15 minutes, until water is absorbed. Remove from heat, uncover, and allow to cool to room temperature.
- To assemble quinoa poke bowls: Place half of quinoa in each bowl. Top with cucumber, carrot, mango, avocado, smoked salmon, sesame seeds, and onions.Top with sauce.
- To make sauce: Mix mayonnaise, sriracha sauce, and honey (or sugar).
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