Ground Turkey Rice Bowls (Printable View)
Seasoned ground turkey with crisp vegetables and creamy spicy Bang Bang sauce over steamed rice.
# What You Need:
→ Bang Bang Sauce
01 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
02 - 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
03 - 1 tablespoon Sriracha, adjust to taste
04 - 1 tablespoon honey
05 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
→ Seasoned Ground Turkey
06 - 1 pound ground turkey
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
10 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
11 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Bowl Assembly
13 - 2 cups cooked jasmine or long-grain white rice
14 - 1 cup shredded carrots
15 - 1 cup thinly sliced cucumber
16 - 1/2 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
17 - 1/4 cup chopped scallions
18 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, optional
19 - Fresh cilantro or mint for garnish, optional
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, and rice vinegar until completely smooth and well combined. Set aside to allow the flavors to meld.
02 - Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger, sautéing for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add the ground turkey, breaking it apart with a spatula or wooden spoon. Season with soy sauce, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 7 to 9 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the turkey is no longer pink and has developed a light caramelization.
03 - Divide the cooked rice evenly among four serving bowls. Layer each bowl with the seasoned ground turkey, shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, and red bell pepper.
04 - Drizzle each bowl generously with the prepared Bang Bang sauce. Sprinkle chopped scallions and sesame seeds over the top. Garnish with fresh cilantro or mint leaves if desired. Serve immediately while the turkey is still warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The bang bang sauce hits that perfect sweet heat zone where you keep going back for one more bite even though you are full.
- Everything cooks in one skillet which means cleanup is almost nonexistent and that is never a bad thing on a weeknight.
- It is genuinely customizable so picky eaters and adventurous ones can sit at the same table and both walk away happy.
02 -
- Do not walk away from the garlic and ginger in the hot oil because they go from fragrant to burnt in seconds and burnt garlic will make the whole dish bitter.
- Let the turkey sit undisturbed for a minute or two at a time while cooking so it actually caramelizes instead of steaming in its own juices.
03 -
- Toasting the sesame seeds in a dry pan for two minutes transforms them from a garnish into something people actually notice.
- Use tamari instead of soy sauce and double check your sweet chili sauce label if you are cooking for someone who is gluten free.