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Black rice & roasted pepper and sun-dried tomato poke bowl

Where tradition meets modern flair. While poke bowls may have roots in Hawaii, this Black Rice & Roasted Pepper with Sun-Dried Tomato Poke Bowl brings a bold Mediterranean twist.
Made with Riso Gallo Nero rice, which has a rich, slightly nutty taste with subtle earthy undertones. It holds up beautifully against the other bold ingredients.
This dish is vibrant, nourishing, and full of texture—perfect for when you want something light but deeply satisfying.
Course Main Course
Cuisine hawaiian, Italian
Keyword Healthy bowls recipes, poke bowl, poke bowl recipe, roasted pepper recipe, Sun dried tomato poke bowl recipe, sun-dried tomato poke bowl
Servings 3 people

Ingredients

For the pesto

  • 180 g Roasted peppers in oil, drained
  • 4 slices of plump Sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1 tsp tomato puree
  • 2 large garlic cloves, peeled
  • 70 ml extra virgin olive oil
  • 40 g Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
  • 1 1 small lemon, zested
  • Salt and pepper to season
  • Small bunch fresh basil leaves

For the poke bowl

  • 1 1 large red onion
  • 50 ml white wine vinegar plus the same amount of water
  • 300 g Riso Gallo Nero (black rice)
  • 400 g tin chickpeas (drained, reserve the aquafaba for making pasta)
  • 1 large courgette, sliced into thin batons
  • 1 large red pepper, sliced
  • 300 g cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 ripe avocado, peeled & sliced
  • 1/2 lemon Juice of 1/2 a lemon
  • Salt and pepper to season, as required
  • Dried oregano, as required
  • Extra virgin olive oil, as required
  • 30 g flaked almonds, toasted
  • Lemon zest, to finish

Instructions

For the pesto

  • Into a mini food processor, add the drained peppers along with the sun-dried tomatoes, tomato puree, garlic clove and pulse.
  • Pour in the olive oil, a little at a time and continue to pulse.
  • Sprinkle in the Parmigiano Reggiano along with the lemon zest and basil leaves. If needed, you can add a little more oil to loosen the pesto. Taste and adjust seasoning as required.

For the poke bowl

  • Peel the red onion and slice. Pop the onion into a small bowl and cover the onion with a combination of 50% white wine vinegar and 50% water. Allow the onion too steep for as long as possible. This technique will make the onion pink and vibrant in colour and also a little sweeter.
  • Cook the Riso Gallo black rice as per packet instruction, for approximately 18 minutes. Once cooked, drain the rice and allow to cool.
  • Drain the chickpeas and pop them onto a lined baking tray with the courgette batons, sliced red pepper and halved cherry tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or a flavoured oil of your choice.
  • Bake for 20 minutes at 180C fan-assisted.
  • Peel and slice the avocado, sprinkle with salt.
  • Zest the lemon and reserve the zest for finishing the dish. Add a spritz of lemon juice to the sliced avocado. This will add flavour and will also discourage the avocado from changing colour.
  • Combine the cooled black rice with the prepared pepper pesto. Taste and season to your own taste.
  • Drain the red onion and rinse with water. Pat dry.
  • Into a bowl, layer the roasted ingredients along with the pesto rice. Season and dress with extra virgin olive oil.
  • Finish off with a flurry of flaked toasted almonds, the beautiful red onion strands.
  • Sprinkle with the reserved lemon zest.