Bang Bang Ground Turkey Rice Bowls (Printable Version)

Savory turkey in spicy chili mayo over rice with fresh veggies

# 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

# How to Make It:

01 - Prepare rice according to package instructions and keep warm until assembly.
02 - Whisk together rice vinegar, mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a small bowl. Taste and adjust Sriracha or honey for desired heat and sweetness level.
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 - Add soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper to the cooked turkey. Stir thoroughly and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Remove from heat.
05 - Divide warm cooked rice equally among four serving bowls, creating an even base for each portion.
06 - Top each rice bowl with an equal portion of the seasoned ground turkey.
07 - Place julienned carrot, sliced cucumber, and thinly sliced red cabbage around or over the turkey in each bowl.
08 - Generously drizzle bang bang sauce over the turkey and vegetables in each bowl.
09 - Sprinkle sliced scallions and sesame seeds over each bowl. Add cilantro leaves as garnish and serve with lime wedges on the side.
10 - Squeeze fresh lime juice over the bowls at the table. Mix ingredients together if desired and serve immediately while rice and turkey are still warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in under half an hour, so you can have a restaurant-style bowl ready faster than delivery arrives.
  • The bang bang sauce is dangerously good: tangy, creamy, sweet, and spicy all at once, and you will want to drizzle it on everything.
  • You get to pile on as many crunchy vegetables as you like, making every bite feel fresh and satisfying.
  • It is endlessly adaptable: swap the protein, change the vegetables, dial the heat up or down, and it still works beautifully.
02 -
  • Do not skip tasting the sauce before drizzling it, because heat tolerance varies wildly and you want it just right for your palate.
  • Let the turkey cook undisturbed for a minute or two before breaking it up so it gets a little golden crust, it adds so much more flavor.
  • Prep all your vegetables before you start cooking the turkey, because once it is done, everything comes together fast.
  • If the sauce feels too thick, whisk in a tiny splash of water or rice vinegar to loosen it up.
03 -
  • Make a double batch of the bang bang sauce and keep it in the fridge, it transforms grilled chicken, roasted broccoli, and even scrambled eggs.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for a minute before sprinkling them on, it makes them nutty and fragrant.
  • If you want the turkey even more flavorful, let it sit in the soy and sesame mixture for 10 minutes before cooking.
  • Julienne your vegetables as thin as possible so they blend seamlessly into every bite instead of feeling like separate components.
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