Ground Turkey Rice Bowls (Printable version)
Seasoned ground turkey and crisp veggies over rice, topped with creamy spicy Bang Bang sauce.
# Ingredient list:
→ 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
# Directions:
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 into small crumbles. Season with soy sauce, salt, and black pepper. Continue cooking 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 the Bang Bang sauce generously over each assembled bowl. Sprinkle with chopped scallions and sesame seeds. Garnish with fresh cilantro or mint leaves if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The Bang Bang sauce is that magical combination of creamy, sweet, and spicy that makes you want to drizzle it on literally everything.
- It comes together in 35 minutes start to finish, which means less time cooking and more time eating.
- Ground turkey is lean and affordable, but tastes anything but boring when seasoned right.
02 -
- Do not rush the turkey browning step because those crispy caramelized bits carry most of the flavor.
- Letting the sauce sit for even ten minutes in the fridge helps the flavors meld into something far better than when first mixed.
03 -
- Grate the ginger directly into the hot oil with a microplane so the fibers melt right into the dish rather than chunking up.
- Use a potato peeler to shave the carrots into thin ribbons for a more elegant look and better texture in every bite.