Ground turkey, which is known for having a dry texture and bland taste, is a protein source that can be turned into a variety of dishes, including meatballs, skillet stir-fry, spaghetti, rice bowls, and soup. When compared to either pig or beef, ground turkey is a more nutritious choice since it contains less calories, less cholesterol, and less saturated fat than other ground meats.
Turkey that has been processed into a ground or minced form has a combination of light and dark turkey meat along with the turkey’s skin and fat, all of which have been crushed together.
This beef may be browned in a short amount of time and added to any recipe; doing so will make the dish substantial and full of protein. The mild taste of ground turkey makes it an excellent complement to more robust flavors, such as green salsa and spicy tomato sauce.
What can you serve alongside ground turkey? You may make a wide variety of meals using ground turkey since it goes well with a variety of ingredients, including vegetables, nuts, cheeses, herbs, spices, and drinks depending on the recipes.
In addition, you may enhance the taste by combining it with sauces like soy sauce, vodka sauce, or Worcestershire sauce, which can be mixed into sauces like the one used for spaghetti.
This page offers suggestions for dishes that are delicious when combined with ground turkey. The following provides answers to some of the most often asked concerns about how to best cook ground turkey with other dishes, what veggies are recommended to eat with ground turkey, and what foods go well with ground turkey.
Contents
What goes well with ground turkey?
The addition of vegetables to ground turkey in any form, from a vibrant vegetable salad to perfectly roasted potatoes, baked broccoli, green beans, and peas, elevates the dish to a level that is both more nutritious and more delectable. Dinner options like fried rice, pasta, spaghetti, or noodles work particularly well with this dish.
The ground turkey is an adaptable cut of meat that goes well with a variety of different side dishes, may serve as the fundamental foundation for any dish, or even be the whole dinner on its own. It is possible to have ground turkey for breakfast, lunch, supper, or even as an appetizer, depending on the time of day when the meal is served.
Consider adding one or more of the following to one of your recipes in the future to get an idea of what flavors complement ground turkey well:
- Spices: taco seasoning, chili powder, nutmeg, garlic powder, paprika
- Herbs: parsley, rosemary, marjoram, basil, oregano, cilantro, thyme, sage
- Nuts: pine nuts, cashew, pumpkin seeds, walnuts
- Cheese: cheddar, American, asiago, cottage, ricotta, parmesan
- Legumes: pinto beans, black beans, kidney beans, red beans
- Rice: brown rice, white rice, wild rice
What vegetables go well with ground turkey?
Including veggies is your best hope for producing a healthier and more flavorful ground turkey dish than any other method. On the other hand, not every kind of vegetable is compatible with ground turkey.
When combined with raw or cooked vegetables, ground turkey is a delicious accompaniment. Even though ground turkey on its own has a rather muted taste, adding aromatic fresh vegetables, oil, salt, and pepper along with herbs may transform the meal into one that is aromatic and bursting with flavor.
The following are some of the vegetables that go particularly well with ground turkey:
- broccoli
- spinach
- green beans
- peas
- zucchini
- brussels sprouts
- carrots
- bell peppers
- potatoes
- avocado
- cabbage
Best way to eat ground turkey
The most delectable method of consuming ground turkey is by preparing pesto meatballs or turkey zucchini burgers, both of which are popular choices among both children and adults. The meal is elevated to a whole new level of deliciousness by the use of sumac yogurt sauce.
A breakfast that is both simple and more enjoyable may be made by transforming ground turkey into turkey meatloaf pieces that are topped with cheese. You may use ground turkey instead of ground chicken, beef, or pork to make lettuce cups stuffed with stir-fried minced turkey and serve it.
The recipe you choose, as well as what sounds and looks appetizing to your tongue, will both play a role in determining how you should consume ground turkey.
Here are some tried-and-true ways to enjoy meals that include ground turkey:
- Breakfast: turkey sausage or patties, eggs, egg skillet, scramble, breakfast burritos, egg casserole
- Lunch: lettuce wrap, rice bowl, salad, pasta, tostadas
- Dinner: Shepard’s pie, spaghetti, burger, lasagna, chili, meatballs, meatloaf, soup
- Appetizer: stuffed peppers, dip sauce, meatballs, taco, bites, pot stickers
FAQs
Is it healthy to eat ground turkey?
Both ground beef and ground turkey are healthy meats that supply a range of essential nutrients, including protein, fat, and a number of vitamins and minerals. When compared to beef, turkey typically has a lower percentage of saturated fat. As a result, it could be a better option for the health of your heart. If you’re trying to lose weight, the leanest choice in terms of both calories and fat content is fat-free turkey.
What to add to ground turkey to give it flavor?
To improve the flavor of ground turkey, start by seasoning it with some salt and pepper before using it. Also, if you want a more pungent taste, try adding some garlic powder and onion powder. The taste of ground turkey may be affected by cooking it as well.
When should you not eat ground turkey?
The hue of fresh ground turkey will be a pale pink, and it should have a shimmering appearance as if it were damp. If you check at the turkey flesh and see that it has changed color in any way, especially toward a grayish tint or mold, and that it looks slimy, then the turkey meat has gone bad.
Why is ground turkey so bland?
Because leaner ratios of ground turkey lack the flavor boost that comes from a larger fat level, these turkey mixtures need some additional assistance in the flavor area. The ground turkey will not develop any flavor if it is not seasoned with salt and pepper before it is cooked, as well as with any additional herbs and spices.
Conclusion
People who already have heart disease or are at a greater risk for developing heart issues may consider switching to ground turkey rather than other types of ground meat. Due to its lack of robust taste, it cannot be considered one of the more unusual types of meat.
In point of fact, it has a taste that is not overpowering and can be used in almost every application that calls for either beef or ground pig. On the other hand, since it contains vitamin B, iron, and zinc, ground turkey is the leanest and most nutritious alternative to red meat.
As a direct consequence of this, the majority of people like ground turkey over other types of minced meat. Because of its unremarkable and subdued taste, it goes particularly well with a wide variety of foods, including vegetables, nuts, cheese, herbs, spices, and sauces.
In addition, turkey pounded into a paste may be used to produce a flavorful sauce for pasta, soup, or the filling for meat pies; this helps to deepen and enhance the taste.
Depending on the recipe, ground turkey may also be a tasty addition to bean and rice dishes. This meat may be used to make sweet, spicy, and savory meals in a variety of cuisines, ranging from Asian to Mexican.
In addition, ground turkey that has been stir-fried may be served on top of a salad, even wrapped in lettuce leaves and served as a wrap around fresh vegetables, or it can be tossed with vegetables and served as a side dish.
Turkey pounded into a powder is a common ingredient in various recipes that may be enjoyed at any time of the day, from breakfast to supper, to appetizers and snacks. When the moment is perfect for you, you may want to utilize ground turkey, so keep these flavor combinations and tried-and-true recipes in mind.