Bang Bang Ground Turkey Rice Bowls (Printable)

Tangy-sweet chili turkey bowls with crisp vegetables and creamy sauce

# 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 - 1 cup long-grain white rice uncooked
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

# Directions:

01 - Prepare rice according to package directions and keep warm until serving.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Adjust Sriracha and honey to achieve desired heat and sweetness level. Set aside.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook while breaking apart with a spatula until no pink remains, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
04 - Season cooked turkey with soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly and continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Remove from heat.
05 - Divide warm rice evenly among four serving bowls.
06 - Distribute cooked seasoned turkey equally over rice in each bowl.
07 - Arrange julienned carrot, sliced cucumber, and shredded red cabbage around or atop the turkey in each bowl.
08 - Drizzle generous portions of bang bang sauce over turkey and vegetables in each bowl.
09 - Sprinkle sliced scallions and sesame seeds over each bowl. Top with fresh cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges on the side.
10 - Squeeze fresh lime juice over bowls, mix ingredients if desired, and serve immediately.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in one skillet and one pot, so cleanup is a breeze even on your busiest nights.
  • The bang bang sauce is ridiculously versatile and tastes like the kind of secret weapon you'd guard in a recipe box.
  • You get crunch, creaminess, heat, and sweetness all in one bite without any fancy technique.
  • It's endlessly adaptable to whatever vegetables are languishing in your crisper drawer.
02 -
  • Don't skip tasting the sauce before you drizzle it, because heat tolerance varies wildly and you want it just right for your palate.
  • If your turkey releases a lot of liquid, drain some off before adding the soy sauce so the meat stays nicely browned and not steamed.
  • Prep all your vegetables before you start cooking so you can assemble the bowls quickly while everything is hot and fresh.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before sprinkling them on top, it makes them nutty and fragrant in a way that elevates the whole bowl.
  • Let the cooked turkey rest for a minute before assembling so it stays juicy and doesn't wilt your fresh vegetables with residual heat.
  • Make a double batch of bang bang sauce and store it in the fridge, it keeps for a week and turns boring leftovers into something you actually look forward to eating.
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