What to Serve with Poke : 8 Easy Side Dishes

I’m always on the hunt for great side dishes to serve with poke. I love finding new and interesting ways to pair them together. It’s a fun challenge to find the perfect balance of flavors and textures that complement each other.

One day, I was at my friend’s house, and she served poke with a side of roasted sweet potatoes. Another time, I had poke at a restaurant, and they served it with rice.

I started to wonder, what are the best side dishes to serve with poke? What should you consider when pairing them together?

When it comes to side dishes, the most important thing to keep in mind is that poke is already pretty salty, so you don’t want to pair it with something that is too salty.

If you want to learn more, just keep reading. Here are my top side dishes to serve with poke:

What to Eat With Poke

1. Dinner Rolls
2. Farro Salad with Chickpeas
3. Homemade Coleslaw
4. Kimchi
5. Easy Cheesy Potatoes
6. Grilled Vegetables
7. Fries
8. Avocado Salsa

Dinner Rolls

I am starting this list with a side dish that everyone knows and loves because it is the perfect vessel for poke – dinner rolls! You can never go wrong with a classic.

There are so many different types of dinner rolls out there, but I love to use the Hawaiian sweet rolls as a side dish for poke. They have a light and fluffy texture that pairs well with the Poke.

Plus, they’re already pretty sweet, so you don’t have to worry about them throwing off the balance of flavors.

If you want to get really creative, you can even stuff the dinner rolls with poke before serving them. Just make sure not to overload them, or the Poke will start to fall out.

Farro Salad with Chickpeas

This salad is a great option if you’re looking for something a little lighter. The farro provides a nutty flavor, and the chickpeas add some heartiness.

The key to this salad is to let the flavors meld together before serving it. I like to make it ahead of time and then let it sit in the fridge for an hour or so. This allows the dressing to really soak into the farro and chickpeas.

The last time I made this side dish, everyone really loved it. I will definitely be making it again soon.

Homemade Coleslaw

Coleslaw is another classic side dish that goes great with Poke. It’s crunchy, slightly acidic, and pairs well with the fish.

Whenever I tell people to make their own coleslaw at home, they often tell me I’m coming off a bit too passionate, but it’s not that hard. Plus, it tastes so much better than the store-bought kind.

The reason I’m so passionate about it is healthier, and you can control the level of acidity.

Moreover, it’s so easy to make and elevates the Poke. If you’ve never made coleslaw before, don’t be intimidated. Just give it a try. I promise you won’t regret it.

My favorite coleslaw recipe has a vinegar dressing with just a hint of sweetness. I also like to add in some shredded carrots and red cabbage for color.

Kimchi

I love this super flavorful side dish. Kimchi is a fermented cabbage that is often served as a side dish in Korean cuisine.

It’s usually made with napa cabbage, radishes, garlic, ginger, and chili peppers. The resulting flavor is spicy, sour, and slightly sweet.

Kimchi pairs really well with poke because it cuts through the richness of the fish. Plus, the acidity helps to brighten up the dish.

If you’ve never had kimchi before, I highly recommend giving it a try. It’s one of my favorite side dishes, and I think you’ll love it too.

Easy Cheesy Potatoes

You know it is a winner in my book when it is easy and cheesy. This dish is so good and hits the spot when you’re craving something comforting.

The great thing about this side dish is that it can be made ahead of time. Just bake the potatoes and reheat them when ready to serve.

I like to top mine with some sour cream and chives, but you can really top them with anything you like. Bacon would also be great.

These potatoes are a great option if you’re looking for something a little more substantial. They’re packed with flavor, and they’re always a hit with my family and friends.

Grilled Vegetables

Poke is often served with rice, so I like to balance it out with some grilled vegetables. This is a great way to get your veggies in, and it really rounds out the meal.

My favorite vegetables to grill are zucchini, eggplant, and peppers. I just slice them up, drizzle them with olive oil, and then season them with salt and pepper. Then I throw them on the grill and cook them until they’re slightly charred.

These vegetables are so good, and they really complement the poke. Plus, they’re healthy, and they’ll make you feel good after eating them.

Fries

Fries are like every meal’s best friend. They can be served with just about anything, and they’re always a hit.

I like to make my own fries at home because they’re so much better than the ones you get at the restaurant. And, they’re really not that hard to make.

All you need is a good potato – I’m a fanatic believer in Yukon Golds – some vegetable oil and some salt.

Then you just slice the potatoes into wedges, toss them in the oil, and bake them until they’re crispy.

You can serve these fries with poke, but I also like to eat them on their own as a snack. They’re that good.

Avocado Salsa

My last pick is avocado salsa, but it’s not the least. Actually, it is my partner’s favorite, and she always requests it when we have poke.

It’s a really simple dish to make. You just need some avocado, Roma tomatoes, red onion, chopped cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice, olive oil, and salt. That’s it.

Then you just mix everything together and let it sit for a little bit so the flavors can meld. This salsa is fantastic with everything. It’s that amazing.

It is the perfect accompaniment to poke because it adds a nice creaminess and acidity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is usually in a poke bowl?

A poke bowl typically contains rice, fish, vegetables, and sauces.

What are good sides for seafood?

Some good sides for seafood are pasta, roasted/fried/mashed potatoes, salad, grilled vegetables, and fries, among others.

What is the best way to cook fish?

The best way to cook fish is to grill it, bake it, or sear it. Poke is typically served raw, but you can cook the fish if you prefer.

What is usually in a poke bowl?

Some common poke bowl ingredients are rice, fish, cucumber, tuna, avocado, seaweed, and tofu.

Conclusion

If you happen to be new to poke, it’s a Hawaiian dish made of raw fish (usually tuna) that is marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, and other seasonings. It’s usually served with rice and seaweed.

Poke is a great party food because it’s easy to make and can be served as an appetizer or main course. It’s also a healthy option, so you can feel good about serving it to your guests. When choosing side dishes for poke, there are a few things you need to keep at the back of your mind, like:

1. Poke requires side dishes that are light and refreshing. The dish itself is quite rich, so you don’t want to overwhelm it with heavy flavors.
2. I also think that Poke pairs well with acidic flavors. The acidity helps cut through the dish’s richness and brighten the flavors.

If you keep these in mind, when selecting a side dish, you won’t go wrong.