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Pineapple Teriyaki Salmon Poke Bowl with Crispy Rice

Pineapple teriyaki salmon poke bowl with crispy rice squares as a crunchy base and glossy teriyaki salmon cubes. Cold, pressed rice is fried until deep golden and audibly crunchy, then topped with bright pineapple, avocado, and fresh cabbage.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
rice cooling 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Asian
Calories: 780

Ingredients
  

Crispy rice
  • 2 cup cooked short-grain white rice Cooked then cooled completely before pressing.
  • 2 tbsp neutral oil For frying the rice squares until deep golden.
Pineapple teriyaki sauce
  • 1 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp mirin
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 garlic clove garlic clove, minced
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar Used to season the salmon.
  • 1 tsp sriracha Used to season the salmon.
Salmon poke
  • 1 lb sushi-grade salmon, skin removed and cubed 3/4 inch Cube to about 3/4 inch so it stays tender.
  • 1 cup fresh pineapple, cubed
  • 1 avocado Sliced for emerald topping.
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 3 green onions Sliced, for finishing.
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded purple cabbage
  • 1 1/4 cup edamame, shelled

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Make the teriyaki sauce
  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine soy sauce, mirin, honey, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened and glossy, coating a spoon and leaving a clean line when you run your finger through it; remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
Season and marinate the salmon
  1. Toss salmon cubes with 3 tablespoons of the cooled teriyaki sauce, rice vinegar, and sriracha until evenly coated. Refrigerate for 15 minutes to absorb flavor without breaking down the fish.
Press and chill the crispy rice
  1. Press the cooled cooked short-grain white rice firmly into a parchment-lined square container until about 3/4 inch thickness. Refrigerate for 30 minutes until firm enough to slice cleanly, then cut into 2-inch squares.
Fry the rice into crispy squares
  1. Heat neutral oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add rice squares without crowding and press each one gently with a spatula, cooking 3-4 minutes without moving until the bottom is deep golden and crispy.
  2. Flip each rice square and cook another 2 minutes until the crust is audibly crunchy when tapped.
Assemble the poke bowls
  1. Build bowls by arranging crispy rice squares as the base and placing salmon in the center. Surround with pineapple, avocado, purple cabbage, and edamame, drizzle with the remaining teriyaki sauce, then finish with sesame seeds and green onions.

Notes

Key pro tip: keep the rice fully cold before frying—compact, firm squares hold together and stay crispy instead of crumbling. Refrigerate leftovers (assembled or components) up to 2 days; crisp rice is best reheated in a hot pan or oven to regain crunch. Freezing is not recommended for the crispy rice. For a lower-sugar option, reduce honey to 1 tablespoon or use a sugar-free mirin blend (check labels) while simmering the sauce.