Who loves POKE?

Poke can be found all over Santa Clarita. This raw fish dish originated in Hawaii. It was originally meant to be a simple delicious dish made using high quality fresh fish.
The versions found around town contain ingredients you don’t typically find in a real poke bowl. Things like corn, cucumbers, cheap imitation crab or mayonnaise sauces don’t belong in a real poke bowl. The fish should also be fresh and not farm raised or previously frozen. In a world where restaurants compete on price, this is hard to find.
However, making your own poke bowl at home is super easy to do. I traveled to the Hawaiian Islands to learn how to make an authentic Hawaiian poke bowl. Over there, poke is found just about anywhere from supermarkets to gas stations. Every establishment prides themselves on making the best using super fresh local fish.
After sampling around the island, I found amazing poke at the Foodland supermarket. Over the course of a week I found the man who makes the poke and begged him to show me the ways. His name is Andy and he gave me tips little by little as we discussed the proper way to make poke.
First thing is you need good fish. Thankfully here in Santa Clarita, we’ve got some of the best. I manage the Saturday Old Town Newhall and Wednesday Canyon Country farmers markets. We’re proud to host West Coast Seafood who has over 40 years in the seafood industry. They have access to high quality fish that many others do not. Their certified fishmongers are always on hand at the Saturday Old Town Newhall market and can guide you on selecting the proper fish for eating raw.
Green onions and sweet onions are available almost all year round at both of our farmers markets. As always, when you buy at a certified farmers market, you are buying produce that is typically 12 to 48 hours old. Compare that to supermarkets where produce is typically weeks or months old. Fresher produce matters and we know our onions have a definite pop which makes this dish even better.
The recipe below is simple and that is how it is intended to be eaten. Feel free to add in other ingredients but I would beg you to just try it simple like this first.

Ingredients:
• 1.5 lbs. Sushi grade fish, raw
• 1 small sweet onion, chopped or diced
• 3 green onions, chopped with green and
light green parts only
• 1 TB Sesame oil
• 1 TB Soy sauce (shoyu)
• 1/4 tsp Hawaiian or kosher salt
• 2 TB ground kukui nut (optional)
• Sriracha sauce to taste (optional)

Directions:
Chop fish into bite sized pieces and add to bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Serve immediately or let sit in fridge for up to 24 hours before eating. Eat alone or pair with sides.

The Old Town Newhall Farmers Market operates every Saturday from 8:30 until 1pm in the parking lot of the Old Town Newhall library. The Canyon Country Farmers Market operates every Wednesday from 4pm until 8pm in the parking lot of the Canyon Country Community Center. Both markets are certified farmers markets and operate year round, rain or shine. The markets can be found on Facebook, Instagram or at www.newhallfarmersmarket.com and www.canyoncountryfarmersmarket.com.

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