Bang Bang Ground Turkey Bowls (Printer-Friendly)

Savory turkey bowls with zesty chili mayo sauce, crisp vegetables, and fragrant rice.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bang Bang Sauce

01 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
02 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
03 - 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
04 - 1 to 2 tablespoons Sriracha
05 - 1 tablespoon honey
06 - 1 clove garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated

→ Ground Turkey

08 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
09 - 1 pound ground turkey
10 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
11 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
12 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Bowl Components

13 - 2 cups cooked long-grain white rice
14 - 1 small carrot, julienned
15 - ½ cucumber, thinly sliced
16 - ½ cup red cabbage, thinly sliced
17 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
18 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
19 - Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
20 - Lime wedges for serving

# Direction Steps:

01 - Cook rice according to package directions and keep warm.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Taste and adjust Sriracha or honey to achieve desired heat and sweetness level. Set sauce aside.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until no longer pink, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
04 - Season cooked turkey with soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Stir well and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Remove from heat.
05 - Divide warm rice evenly among four serving bowls.
06 - Top each bowl with an equal portion of seasoned ground turkey.
07 - Arrange julienned carrot, sliced cucumber, and red cabbage around or on top of turkey in each bowl.
08 - Pour a generous amount of bang bang sauce over the turkey and vegetables in each bowl.
09 - Sprinkle sliced scallions and sesame seeds over each bowl. Garnish with cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges.
10 - Squeeze fresh lime juice over bowls, mix ingredients together if desired, and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like restaurant takeout but costs half as much and uses ingredients you probably already have.
  • The bang bang sauce is dangerously good and you will start putting it on everything from salmon to roasted broccoli.
  • You can prep all the vegetables ahead of time and just cook the turkey and rice when youre ready to eat.
  • It is endlessly customizable so picky eaters and adventurous eaters can both be happy at the same table.
02 -
  • Do not overcook the turkey or it will turn dry and crumbly, pull it off the heat as soon as it is just cooked through.
  • Make the sauce first and let it sit while you cook so the garlic and ginger have time to infuse and mellow.
  • Julienne your vegetables as thinly as possible, the finer the cut the better the texture and the more elegant the bowl looks.
  • If your bang bang sauce tastes too sharp, add a tiny pinch of sugar or an extra drizzle of honey to balance it out.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before sprinkling them on, it amplifies their nutty flavor tenfold.
  • Use a microplane to grate the ginger and garlic, it breaks them down finely so they blend seamlessly into the sauce.
  • If you have time, chill the bang bang sauce for 15 minutes before serving, it thickens slightly and tastes even better.
  • Always taste your sauce before drizzling, every brand of sweet chili sauce and Sriracha has a different heat level and you want to get it just right.
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