Bang Bang Ground Turkey Bowls (Printable Version)

Tender turkey in tangy-sweet chili mayo sauce over fluffy rice with crunchy vegetables and sesame-scallion topping.

# 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 Assembly

13 - 2 cups cooked long-grain white rice
14 - 1 small carrot, julienned
15 - 1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced
16 - 1/2 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

# Method:

01 - Prepare rice according to package instructions and keep warm until assembly.
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 for desired heat and sweetness level. Set aside.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it apart 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 an additional 1 to 2 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Remove from heat.
05 - Divide warm rice equally among four serving bowls. Top each bowl with an even portion of seasoned ground turkey.
06 - Arrange julienned carrot, sliced cucumber, and red cabbage around or on top of the turkey in each bowl.
07 - Drizzle a generous amount of bang bang sauce over the turkey and vegetables in each bowl.
08 - Sprinkle sliced scallions and sesame seeds over each bowl. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges on the side.
09 - Squeeze fresh lime juice over bowls to taste. Mix ingredients together if desired and consume immediately for optimal texture and flavor.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It delivers restaurant-level flavor in under 45 minutes with ingredients you probably already have.
  • The creamy, tangy sauce with a kick of heat makes plain rice and turkey taste like something you'd pay $15 for at a trendy bowl spot.
  • You can prep the vegetables and sauce ahead, then just cook the turkey and rice when hunger strikes.
  • It's endlessly customizable: dial the spice up or down, swap proteins, or use whatever crisp vegetables are in your crisper drawer.
02 -
  • Don't skip tasting the sauce before you drizzle it; Sriracha brands vary wildly, and you might need more honey or less heat depending on what's in your pantry.
  • Use a skillet that's large enough to spread the turkey out in a single layer so it browns instead of steaming, which makes all the difference in texture and flavor.
  • If your rice is sitting for more than a few minutes, keep it covered with a lid or a clean kitchen towel so it doesn't dry out before you're ready to serve.
03 -
  • Toast the sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before sprinkling them on top; it makes them nutty and fragrant in a way that raw seeds just aren't.
  • If your turkey starts to stick to the pan, add a splash of water or chicken broth to deglaze and create a bit of extra sauce that clings to the meat.
  • Always prep your vegetables before you start cooking the turkey so you can assemble the bowls quickly while everything is still warm and the rice is at its fluffiest.
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