Korean-Style Ground Turkey (Printable)

Spicy-sweet Korean ground turkey with garlic, ginger, and toasted sesame seeds. Quick weeknight dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Sauce

01 - 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
02 - 2 teaspoons cornstarch
03 - 1/2 tablespoon packed brown sugar
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 Finish

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

# Directions:

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. Add sesame oil and once hot, 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 and stir well to coat the turkey evenly. Cook on high heat for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy. Add 1 tablespoon water if the sauce becomes too thick.
05 - Stir in chopped chives, reserving some for garnish. Remove from heat immediately.
06 - Transfer to serving plates. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and reserved chives. Serve hot over steamed rice with vegetables of choice.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It takes less time than waiting for takeout and uses ingredients you probably already have tucked in your pantry.
  • The glossy, spicy-sweet sauce clings to every bit of turkey, giving you that addictive balance of heat and umami in every bite.
  • It's flexible enough to dial up or down on spice, swap proteins, and still deliver that craveable Korean-inspired flavor.
  • Cleanup is a breeze since everything cooks in one skillet, leaving you more time to actually enjoy dinner.
02 -
  • Whisk the cornstarch thoroughly into the sauce before adding it to the pan, otherwise you'll end up with gummy clumps instead of a silky glaze.
  • Don't skip toasting the sesame seeds, the nutty depth they add is worth the extra two minutes in a dry pan.
  • If the sauce thickens too much, a splash of water brings it back to life without diluting the flavor.
03 -
  • Use a hot skillet to get a slight sear on the turkey before adding the sauce, it adds an extra layer of flavor you won't get from gentle cooking.
  • Grate ginger on a microplane instead of chopping it, you'll get more flavor and no fibrous bits.
  • Keep a jar of toasted sesame seeds in your pantry so you're always ready to finish dishes like this with a nutty crunch.
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