Sesame Turkey Lettuce Wrap Bowls (Printable)

Korean sesame turkey with fluffy rice, crisp lettuce, cucumber ribbons, and fresh vegetables for a satisfying meal.

# What you need:

→ Sesame Turkey

01 - 1 pound ground turkey
02 - 2 tablespoons sesame oil
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
05 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
06 - 1 tablespoon gochujang
07 - 1 tablespoon honey
08 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
09 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
10 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
11 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Bowl Components

12 - 2 cups cooked jasmine or short-grain rice
13 - 1 large head romaine or butter lettuce, leaves separated
14 - 1 large cucumber, cut into ribbons
15 - 1 large carrot, cut into matchsticks
16 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
17 - 1/4 cup pickled radishes

→ Finishing

18 - Additional toasted sesame seeds
19 - Lime wedges

# How to make it:

01 - Prepare rice according to package instructions and keep warm.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, add sesame oil. Sauté garlic and ginger for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet. Cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
04 - Stir in soy sauce, gochujang, honey, and rice vinegar. Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the turkey is well coated and slightly caramelized.
05 - Stir in green onions and sesame seeds. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
06 - Arrange rice in serving bowls. Top with the sesame turkey mixture.
07 - Add lettuce leaves, cucumber ribbons, carrot matchsticks, cilantro, and pickled radishes as desired to each bowl.
08 - Garnish with additional sesame seeds and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes restaurant-quality: The sesame-ginger turkey is genuinely craveable, not just another protein bowl you tolerate.
  • Everything comes together in 35 minutes: No waiting, no stress, just dinner on the table while it's still warm enough to enjoy.
  • It's endlessly customizable: Swap vegetables, adjust heat, use lettuce wraps instead of rice—it bends to what you have and what you want.
02 -
  • Don't skimp on the sesame oil heat: Let it get fragrant enough to fill your kitchen—that's when the garlic and ginger release their essential oils and wake up the whole dish.
  • The lettuce leaves are structural: They're not just a topping; they're meant to cradle the turkey and vegetables, so keep some sturdy leaves on the side for people who want to build actual wraps.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds: Buy them raw and quickly dry-toast them in a skillet for 30 seconds—the difference in flavor is remarkable and worth the extra minute.
  • Lime is not optional: A squeeze of fresh lime at the end brightens everything and ties all the flavors together in a way that feels almost magical.
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