Sweet Potato Rice Poke Bowl

On any given morning, I can be found eating a sweet potato bowl for breakfast. Nope, not kidding! This dish is so filling and delicious, it’s great for any meal of the day. To make this recipe even more healthy and stunning in color, try adding these Japanese purple sweet potatoes to the mix!

Personally, I’m not much of an early breakfast person and usually find myself waiting until around 10 a.m. to eat breakfast which is sometimes steel-cut breakfast oats or healthy grits. Though I’m always up early, I like to get a little work done and get in my morning walk before even thinking about food. That’s one reason I think this recipe really resonates with me because it can be eaten any time of the day.

Reasons you will love this recipe

• Versatile and Satisfying: This sweet potato and rice bowl is perfect for any meal of the day, offering a hearty and balanced option whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
• Nutrient-Packed: Loaded with vitamins from sweet potatoes and fiber-rich rice, this bowl provides essential nutrients to fuel your day.
• Easy to Customize: Add your favorite veggies, plant-based proteins, or sauces to make this bowl your own, creating endless delicious combinations.
• Quick and Simple: With minimal prep, this bowl is easy to whip up, making it a great go-to meal for busy schedules.

Ingredients you will need

• Cooked sweet potatoes- Rich in vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, sweet potatoes enhance the nutritional value of the bowl while providing a hearty, filling base.
• Rice- Steamed brown rice is a great base for a vegan sweet potato poke bowl because it adds a nutty flavor and chewy texture that complements the tender sweet potatoes.
• Cilantro- Adds a fresh, citrusy flavor to a vegan sweet potato poke bowl, brightening up the dish and balancing the sweetness of the sweet potatoes. Cilantro offers antioxidants and essential nutrients, contributing to the bowl’s overall health benefits.
• Lime juice- A zesty, tangy kick, balancing the sweetness of the sweet potatoes and enhancing the flavors of the other ingredients.

Methods for cooking sweet potatoes

This meal is really easy to prepare and is perfect if you already have leftover sweet potatoes in your refrigerator which is what I always plan on. I buy a bag of 5-6 sweet potatoes every week and cook them all at one time.

There are a lot of different ways to cook sweet potatoes, so below I’ve provided directions for a number of cooking methods.

• Baking in the oven: When baking sweet potatoes in the oven, I always double wrap mine, first with parchment paper and then foil. Since there have been some studies showing a link between aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease, I like to err on the side of caution and make sure the foil isn’t directly touching my food. After wrapping the sweet potatoes, bake at 350°F for about 90 minutes. Larger potatoes may need a little longer.
• Cook in crockpot or slow cooker: Another great option is the slow cooker method. If you aren’t in a hurry, this is a great way to get perfectly tender sweet potatoes. Place sweet potatoes in a slow cooker with about 1/3 cup water and set to low and allow to cook for approximately 5-6 hours. Then, they are ready to use in recipes like this one and my Vegan Sweet Potato Muffins.
• Instant Pot cooking method: An Instant Pot really speeds up the process of cooking sweet potatoes and anything else for that matter. Simply add about 1 cup of water to your insert along with the sweet potatoes. Place the lid on and turn the vent to ‘SEAL.’ Use the Manual setting and set the time to 30 minutes. It will take about 10-15 minutes to reach pressure before the cooking actually begins. When the timer beeps, allow pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes before releasing the rest of the pressure.
• Microwave method: Pierce the washed sweet potatoes 3 or 4 times with a fork or knife and place them in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high for 5 minutes and carefully test for doneness. If they aren’t tender, allow them to cook for another couple of minutes until a fork can easily pierce it.
• Air fryer method: Use a fork or knife to pierce clean sweet potatoes 3-4 times. Place them in an air fryer and set the temperature to 400°F for 45 minutes. Of course, allow them to cool before handling.

How to make sweet potato rice bowls

The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.

STEP #1: Cook your rice on the stovetop, microwave, or in an Instant Pot. I can show you how to make flawless brown rice in your Instant Pot every time!

STEP #2: Dice the cooked sweet potato into chunks. Place your cooked rice in a medium-sized bowl and top it with the tender cooked sweet potatoes.

STEP #3: Mince up fresh cilantro and sprinkle over the top of the bowl. I know some folks don’t care for cilantro, but it really adds a lot of flavor to this recipe. If you are not a fan, maybe try a little fresh parsley instead.

Next, drizzle with lime juice or try my delicious Vinegar Oil-Free Sauce which is super easy to make in about 5 minutes. I also like to add a splash of soy sauce and even a sprinkle of homemade furikake Japanese rice seasoning. Add sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, or avocado if desired.

Sauce seasoning options

I like to keep it simple with lime juice, but you could also use rice vinegar or any of these other oil-free sauces.

• Vinegar Sauce
• Teriyaki Sauce
• Orange Miso Sauce
• Balsamic Dijon Oil-Free Dressing

Frequently Asked Questions