Korean-Style Ground Turkey (Printable Version)

Quick ground turkey with Korean-style spicy-sweet glaze, garlic, ginger, and sesame. Ready in 30 minutes.

# List of Ingredients:

→ Sauce

01 - 1/4 cup soy sauce, low sodium preferred
02 - 2 teaspoons cornstarch
03 - 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
04 - 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes

→ Turkey

05 - 2 tablespoons sesame oil
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
08 - 15 ounces ground turkey

→ Finishes and Garnish

09 - 6 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
10 - 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, cornstarch, brown sugar, and red chili flakes until cornstarch is fully dissolved. Set aside.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add sesame oil. Once hot, add minced garlic and grated ginger; stir-fry for approximately 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until no longer pink and completely cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
04 - Pour prepared soy sauce mixture into the skillet and stir well to coat turkey. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on high heat, allowing sauce to thicken and turn glossy. Add 1 tablespoon water if sauce becomes too thick.
05 - Stir in chopped chives, reserving some for garnish. Remove from heat.
06 - Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and remaining chives over the turkey mixture. Serve hot over steamed rice with vegetables of choice.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than delivery and tastes like you actually tried.
  • The sauce gets glossy and clings to every bite in a way that makes plain rice exciting.
  • You can dial the heat up or down without losing any of the rich, nutty depth.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully and somehow taste even better the next day.
02 -
  • Do not skip the cornstarch whisking step or you'll end up with gummy clumps floating in your sauce.
  • Let the garlic and ginger sizzle just until fragrant, any longer and they'll burn and turn bitter.
  • The sauce will look thin at first but it thickens fast once it boils, so don't panic and add more cornstarch.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for two minutes before adding them, it wakes up the oils and makes them taste incredible.
  • Use a wooden spoon to break up the turkey into small crumbles, it helps the sauce coat every piece evenly.
  • If your skillet isn't nonstick, deglaze with a tiny splash of water halfway through cooking the turkey to keep things from sticking.
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