Spicy Bang Bang Turkey Bowls (Printer-Friendly)

Flavor-packed turkey rice bowls with crisp vegetables and spicy bang bang drizzle

# What You Need:

→ Bang Bang Sauce

01 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
02 - 2 tablespoons sriracha or chili sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon honey
05 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
06 - 1 teaspoon soy sauce or tamari
07 - 1 clove garlic, finely grated

→ Ground Turkey

08 - 1 pound ground turkey
09 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
10 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
12 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
13 - 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
14 - 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
15 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
16 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Bowl Assembly

17 - 3 cups cooked jasmine or basmati rice
18 - 1 cup shredded carrots
19 - 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
20 - 1 cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced
21 - 1/2 cup shredded purple cabbage
22 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
23 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
24 - Fresh cilantro or mint leaves for garnish
25 - Lime wedges for serving

# Directions:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sriracha, sweet chili sauce, honey, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and grated garlic until smooth and well combined. Set aside.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and ginger, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes until fully browned and cooked through.
04 - Stir in soy sauce, hoisin sauce, red chili flakes, and sesame oil. Cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
05 - Divide cooked rice evenly among 4 bowls. Top each bowl with the seasoned turkey mixture and arrange shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, bell peppers, and cabbage around the turkey.
06 - Drizzle each bowl generously with bang bang sauce. Sprinkle with scallions and sesame seeds. Garnish with fresh cilantro or mint leaves and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The bang bang sauce hits that sweet-spicy-creamy trifecta that makes you crave it all week long.
  • It comes together faster than delivery would arrive, yet tastes like you've been cooking all day.
  • Customizable toppings mean everyone at your table gets exactly what they want.
02 -
  • Don't make your sauce until right before serving, or the mayo base will separate and the texture becomes grainy rather than creamy and luxurious.
  • Brown your turkey properly over medium heat rather than cranking it to high, because rushed meat tastes rushed, but patient meat tastes intentional.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes before sprinkling them on, because this tiny step multiplies their flavor about tenfold.
03 -
  • If you're batch-cooking these for the week, keep your sauce separate and drizzle it fresh on each bowl just before eating, because the rice will get soggy sitting in sauce overnight.
  • Swap ground turkey for crispy tofu pressed and crumbled if you want to go vegetarian, and the bang bang sauce covers any flavor gap beautifully.
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