Description
This vibrant Thai-Inspired Ground Turkey Stir Fry combines lean ground turkey with fresh vegetables and a tangy, spicy sauce made from lime juice, fish sauce, Sriracha, and soy sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, this quick and flavorful dish is perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner that delivers authentic Thai flavors with minimal fuss.
Ingredients
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lime juice
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sweetener of your choice (such as agave nectar)
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 onion, cut into thin slivers
- 2 red bell peppers, cut into long strips
- 3 large cloves garlic, sliced
- 1 cup chopped basil leaves or Thai basil leaves
Main Protein & Oils
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground turkey
- 1 tablespoon peanut oil
- 1 teaspoon peanut oil (additional, if needed)
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, fish sauce, Sriracha, soy sauce, and your chosen sweetener until well combined. Set aside.
- Prep vegetables and aromatics: Thinly slice the onion into slivers, cut the red bell peppers into long strips, and peel and slice the garlic cloves.
- Heat the wok or pan: Place a wok or large heavy frying pan over high heat for about 1 minute until very hot.
- Season the oil with garlic: Add 1 tablespoon of peanut oil to the hot pan and heat until shimmering, about 45 seconds. Add the sliced garlic and quickly stir-fry for less than a minute until fragrant, then immediately remove and discard the garlic to prevent burning.
- Cook vegetables: Add the onion slivers and red bell pepper strips to the wok and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until just starting to soften. Remove the vegetables from the pan and set aside in a bowl.
- Cook turkey: If the pan seems dry, add the remaining teaspoon of peanut oil. Add the ground turkey and stir-fry for about 5 minutes, breaking it apart with a turner. Continue cooking until any moisture evaporates and the turkey begins to lightly brown.
- Combine vegetables and meat: Return the cooked vegetables to the pan with the turkey. Stir well to combine and cook for about 1 minute.
- Add basil: Stir in the chopped basil leaves and cook for about 1 minute until they start to wilt.
- Add the sauce: Pour the prepared stir-fry sauce over the meat and vegetable mixture, stirring well to evenly distribute.
- Finish cooking: Cook for another 2 minutes, allowing the sauce to mostly absorb into the ingredients and heating the dish through thoroughly.
- Serve immediately: Transfer to plates and enjoy while hot for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Fresh lime juice is preferred for the most vibrant flavor in the sauce.
- Use Thai basil for a more authentic taste; regular basil can be used as a substitute if unavailable.
- Peanut oil is recommended for stir-frying due to its high smoke point and mild flavor; vegetable oil can be substituted if necessary.
- Adjust the sweetness by choosing a sweetener you prefer, such as agave nectar, honey, or sugar.
- To make this dish gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Discarding the garlic after flavoring the oil prevents burning and bitterness in the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Thai
