How to Make the Best Poke Nachos with Ahi Tuna

I know you're going to love this poke nachos recipe, loaded with marinated yellowfin tuna, crispy wontons, seaweed salad, creamy avocado, and cucumber, and drizzled with eel sauce and a creamy sriracha aioli. It's the perfect combination of salty, sweet, spicy, and sour--everything you need to satisfy your taste buds. If you've ever been to Yard House, you may have had this appetizer--mine is similar to that recipe, except I omit the serrano peppers and white truffle oil.

this recipe

So what is ahi poke? It's sushi-grade ahi tuna, cut into small pieces and then marinated in a soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil mixture. Every chef's recipe is different, so the marinade ingredients will differ depending on where you get your poke.

This poke nachos recipe is inspired by the flavors of my favorite poke of all time. The first time I had ahi poke was when I went to Kauai, Hawaii to visit my mother-in-law. She has a condo in Poipu, and there's a great little fish market in nearby Koloa Town that serves THE BEST ahi poke bento boxes. Their recipe is simple--sushi rice, succulent tuna chunks, eel sauce, spicy mayo, and a little wasabi--but that's what you want when you have high-quality ingredients. Now, whenever we go to visit, our first stop after landing is the fish market. I cannot wait to go back! Until then, this recipe is a great way to satisfy my craving.

Variation: Ahi Poke Bowls

I think what I love most about this recipe, though, is that the tuna mixture can be used in many different ways. Make poke bowls, with all the fresh flavors of poke instead of nachos for an easy weeknight meal. Serve the poke mixture over sushi rice, add your favorite toppings, and voila!

Another tuna recipe that I know you'll love is my Creamy Kale Caesar Salad with Grilled Tuna. If you're looking for other Hawaiian recipes, I know you'll love my Teriyaki-Glazed Spam and Egg Musubi and Homemade Dole Pineapple Whip recipes. Or maybe you're interested in other great appetizer dishes? Check out my Old El Paso Layered Taco Dip, Creamy Fried Dill Pickle Dip, and Carolina Caviar. Or maybe it's other seafood dishes you're after. You'll love my Easy Skillet Shrimp with Homemade Honey Garlic Sauce and Old Bay and Honey Butter Roasted Salmon recipes.

Jump to:

• Variation: Ahi Poke Bowls
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Tasty tip
• Frequently asked questions
• Related
• Even more
• 🍽Get the recipe
• Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
• Food safety

Ingredients

Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this recipe.

• fresh ahi tuna
• soy sauce
• fresh garlic clove
• fresh ginger
• green onions
• light brown sugar
• rice vinegar
• sesame oil
• wonton wrappers
• vegetable oil
• kosher salt
• sriracha
• mayonnaise
• seaweed salad
• avocado
• cucumber
• eel sauce

(See recipe card for quantities.)

Instructions

Now that we've got our ingredients, let's follow these step-by-step instructions and get cooking!

Hint: To make sure the oil doesn't get too hot when frying the wontons wrappers, I highly recommend using a candy thermometer to gauge the temperature.

Substitutions

Looking for ways to make this recipe your own? Check out these substitution options:

• Tuna - instead of yellowfin tuna, feel free to use another type of tuna. Just make sure it's super fresh, and sushi-grade.
• Seafood - use sushi-grade salmon or another fresh fish in place of the tuna.
• Eel sauce - sweet soy sauce is a great alternative to eel sauce. It's just as sweet and has the same consistency.
• Rice vinegar - use another mild vinegar or lime juice in place of the rice vinegar in the marinade.
• Wonton chips - don't feel like frying your own chips? Serve the ahi poke on a bed of tortilla chips or pita chips (right out of the bag) instead.

Variations

Here are even more ways to change up this recipe:

• Super Spicy - add more sriracha to the mayo mixture to kick this up a notch. You can also add sliced serrano or chile peppers to the top.
• Deluxe - the world is your oyster when it comes to additional toppings for these nachos. Add diced mango, crispy fried onions, sliced nori strips, sesame seeds, fresh cilantro...the possibilities are endless.

Equipment

For this recipe, the most important tool you'll need is a sharp chef's knife. You'll also need a Dutch oven and metal tongs for frying the wontons. I also highly suggest a candy thermometer too.

Other basics you'll need are measuring spoons, dry measuring cups, a mixing bowl set, and a whisk.

Storage

This recipe is best served right away, but if you do have leftovers they'll be fine the next day. Store the ahi poke and the toppings in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. Store the wonton chips in a zip-top plastic bag or airtight container.

This recipe does not freeze well.

Frequently asked questions

Related

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Even more

Here are more of my favorite recipes:

🍽Get the recipe

Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips

When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:

• Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
• When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
• I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
• When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.

Food safety

Finally, don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making this recipe.

• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw meat or seafood.
• Wash your hands after touching raw meat or seafood.
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
• Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.