Korean Style Ground Turkey (Printable Version)

Quick ground turkey with Korean-inspired spicy-sweet glaze, fresh aromatics, and sesame finish. Perfect weeknight meal.

# What You Need:

→ 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 Base

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

→ Garnish and Finishing

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

→ Accompaniments

11 - Steamed white or brown rice, optional
12 - Steamed or sautéed vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, or carrots, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, cornstarch, brown sugar, and red chili flakes until cornstarch is completely dissolved. Set aside.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sesame oil and once it shimmers, add minced garlic and grated ginger. Stir-fry for approximately 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet. Break it apart with a spatula while cooking until no longer pink and fully cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
04 - Pour the prepared soy sauce mixture into the skillet with the turkey. Stir thoroughly to coat all meat. Cook on high heat for 2 to 3 minutes until sauce thickens and turns glossy. If sauce becomes too thick, add 1 tablespoon of water to reach desired consistency.
05 - Stir in chopped chives, reserving some for garnish. Remove from heat immediately.
06 - Transfer to serving dishes. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and reserved chives over the top. Serve hot over steamed rice with vegetables of choice.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It delivers restaurant-level flavor in under 30 minutes, which means no more sad takeout on busy nights.
  • The sauce clings to every bit of turkey, creating that glossy, savory-sweet coating that makes you want to lick the spoon.
  • You probably have most of these ingredients already, so it's one of those recipes you can pull off without a special grocery run.
02 -
  • Don't walk away during the sauce step, it thickens fast and can go from glossy to gummy if you're not watching.
  • If the sauce gets too thick or starts to stick, add a tablespoon of water and stir, it will loosen right back up.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for a minute or two if they're raw, the difference in flavor is huge.
03 -
  • Use a hot pan before adding the oil so the garlic and ginger sizzle immediately instead of sitting in lukewarm oil and turning bitter.
  • Break up the turkey into small, bite-sized crumbles as it cooks, it helps the sauce coat every piece evenly and makes it easier to eat over rice.
  • If you can find it, use dark sesame oil instead of light, the flavor is richer and more authentic to Korean cooking.
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