Spiced Turkey Rice Bowls (Print)

Seasoned ground turkey with colorful vegetables over fluffy rice, finished with cilantro and lime.

# Ingredient list:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 lb ground turkey

→ Grains

02 - 1¼ cups long-grain white rice, uncooked

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 zucchini, diced
05 - 1 cup frozen peas
06 - 2 spring onions, sliced

→ Spices & Aromatics

07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - ½ teaspoon ground coriander
12 - ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
13 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Toppings

15 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
16 - Lime wedges

# Directions:

01 - Cook the rice according to package directions and keep warm until ready to serve.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until mostly browned, about 5 minutes.
03 - Add the minced garlic, ground cumin, smoked paprika, coriander, turmeric, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant and the spices are well toasted.
04 - Stir in the diced bell pepper and zucchini. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes until the vegetables have softened but still retain some bite.
05 - Fold in the frozen peas and cook for another 2 minutes until heated through.
06 - Taste the turkey and vegetable mixture and adjust salt, pepper, or cayenne as needed.
07 - Divide the warm rice among four bowls. Spoon the spiced turkey and vegetable mixture over the rice and garnish with sliced spring onions, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It takes one skillet and about forty minutes from start to finish.
  • The spice blend is warm and complex without being overwhelming.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day for lunch.
  • It is completely dairy free and easily adapted for gluten free diets.
02 -
  • Do not rush the spice toasting step because those two minutes of sautéing are where the depth of flavor actually develops.
  • Ground turkey releases moisture as it cooks so wait until that liquid evaporates before adding spices for better browning.
  • Frozen peas do not need to be thawed before adding them directly to the pan.
03 -
  • Toast your whole spices in a dry pan before grinding them for an even more intense flavor.
  • Let the cooked turkey mixture rest off the heat for two minutes before serving so the juices redistribute and every bite is moist.

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