Bang Bang Turkey Recipe (2024)

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kitchenonfire

I also replaced the Chinese black vinegar with 1 part balsamic, I part rice wine vinegar, and 3 parts wanter and I added some cayenne and some chili sambal as well. Definitely double the sauce!

Kathy

Made it with rotisserie chicken on a hot night. I would double the sauce next time. The family loved it!

Jan

Made this with store-bought rotisserie chicken, (hot nights , no cooking) and substituted palm sugar for superfine, added garlic and ginger, really good.

Christine

Can't find the sauce ingredients? Try a good quality Peanut Sauce. I tried to buy Chinese Black Vinegar at the Asian Market today and they directed me to Worchestershire Sauce...

Jeanne M

I replaced the Chinese black vinegar with 1 part balsamic, I part rice wine vinegar, and 3 parts wanter

LH

If you have a reasonably good grocery, as I do, it may be worthwhile to occasionally enjoy crunchy, refreshing salads such as this even when the produce will not be local. After Thanksgiving, my family loves the novelty of the crunch of uncooked salad veggies and Asian flavors. Remember, the perfect is the enemy of the good!

By the way, another good addition to the salad base is long thin strips of yellow or orange pepper. And matchstick carrots always add pretty color to an Asian salad.

Mimitcooks

This is delicious. I made it with chicken (Ina Garten's roasted chicken breasts), romaine lettuce and added basil leaves as well. It was bright, refreshing and not without some heat. I doubled the sauce recipe and used some to make a warm dinner - chicken with broccoli, and my boys loved that too. This is a keeper.

N

Delicious, even with many modifications based on what was in the house: cashew butter rather than peanut butter, no cilantro, the substitution for Chinese black vinegar in other comments, no sugar (does not need it) and Chinese chili-garlic sauce rather than chili-bean. Not that it's even quite the same recipe at that point, but just to let folks know it still works. We made the listed amount of sauce with 3 c. shredded turkey and it was plenty.

Rita

They sell Chinese black vinegar in the Asian food section of my grocery store, and any Asian food store has it. Balsamic is an OK substitute, but the real thing works best.

BEVERLY A SAUER

I solved the vegetarian/carnivore debate with this sauce. My husband ate leftover roast chicken with the sauce. I used tofu--marinated in the sauce before serving with the salad. The sauce provides a delicious,simple-to-make sauce for a quick but healthy lunch.

Thelesis

If you've had your fill of turkey sandwiches, this is a fantastic use for Thanksgiving leftovers. Based on comments that the Bang Bang Sauce needed some additional heat, I added two teaspoons of sambal oelek and was pleased with the result.

Carol M

I added bean sprouts to the lettuce base for extra veg. A complete transformation of the dreaded leftover turkey!

lkp

Didn't have Chinese chili-bean sauce, so I took Ruth's advice and used 1 Tbs. miso and 1 Tbs. chili garlic sauce. For sauce: reduced peanut oil to 1 Tbs.; added 1 tsp. grated ginger; had only chunky p.b., which worked just fine. For salad: added 1 julienned carrot; seeded but didn't peel 1 Persian cuke; and used Napa cabbage (doesn't wilt like lettuce).

Husband and I found it refreshing alongside turkey vegetable soup.

DawnJM

My whole family, including picky children, loved this. Made 1.5 x the dressing, reserved some for individual servings. We think some crunch would be a nice addition, like wontons, perhaps? A crowd pleaser. I followed the recipe as written.

Maria

I did not have Chinese black vinegar, so I used regular Chinese rice vinegar and added a little water. My mint plant was having a bad day so I substituted a few leaves of basil. Otherwise, I followed it to the letter and it turned out light and delicious. I had some doubts at first because we smoke our turkey, but I used the breast, which acquires very little smoked taste. Totally enjoyable and a post-Thanksgiving staple from now on.

kay RI

Made twice the amount of sauce (used a mixture of miso and chile crisp instead of the chili bean sauce, as I wasn’t sure what that was and we didn’t have any). it was a perfect counterpoint to the heavy flavors of Thanksgiving!!

PNWcook

This has become a post Thanksgiving tradition at our house. After a couple days of carbs and sweets this is crunchy, refreshing and delicious. Takes turkey in a whole new direction. I’m grateful to be close to an H Mart for the ingredients!

KateRPCV

This is not only a favorite the day after Thanksgiving but a boon in hot weather. You can substitute miso + some hot sauce for the Chinese chili bean sauce, and it tastes great.

Brendan Hasenstab

The Bang Bang recipe really requires the full slate of ingredients, such as Chinese Black Vinegar and Donin Jiang —all of which you can find at Asian markets near you, I should think. But with fresh herb on hand and some shredded chicken rather than turkey you can have a 12-month salad close at hand. It really is delicious if you have a spare cucumber on hand and the scallions and mint. One of my favorite meals any month of the year, not just at Thanksgiving.

Lynn Koch

Made this recipe without cilantro or mint. My family really enjoyed it and they're very fussy.

Isabelle

I’m not sure why (I added garlic and ginger, per comments) this didn’t turn out that well. I had to use balsamic vinegar — perhaps that’s why. It was slightly improved by microwaving for 30 sec. Fortunately I didn’t toss everything in the sauce so i can repurpose the leftovers for something else.

Delicious Thai Turkey Salad

I loved this dish, but would recommend shredded Romaine, add cashews and maybe make a little more sauce.

Kevin Merz

VERY IMPORTANT -- missing an essential ingredient: roasted, ground, Sichuan peppercorns!!!

Brown Brooklyn

What could I use to substitute for the peanut butter?

Gale

Sesame paste!

Sally

Dressing from Thai Mkt is just as good and saves 20 min!!

Julie Steinberg

This was a huge hit. I had a little trouble procuring all the sauce ingredients but in the end it was worth it. I added red peppers, carrots, mandarin oranges, and Chinese crunchy noodles, and also served it with a side of cooked chow mein noodles. Delicious, nice mix of hot and sweet, soft and crunchy, hot and cold. Will make it again.

Ron Rogowski

Not a hit with my family, although I liked it. Peanut butter flavor was too strong, lacked subtlety.

karen

Add chopped red bell pepper next time

karen

Add avocado and chopped peanuts

Lakelady

Such a refreshing use of leftover turkey! I added some garlic and ginger as suggested by others, and will use bang bang sauce in many ways in the future. We also put the turkey, with sauce on it, and the vegetables and herbs, tossed with sauce, on tacos. Great.

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Bang Bang Turkey Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make ground turkey taste better? ›

How do you add flavor to ground turkey? Turkey meat can be flavored with easy ingredients like kosher salt and pepper, bell peppers, garlic powder, and olive oil. If you're cooking meat, specifically turkey taco meat, hot sauce and enchilada sauce are your best mates.

How do you add fat to ground turkey? ›

An easy ratio to remember is 2 tablespoons unsalted butter per 1 pound ground turkey or chicken. Here's what I do: Add the ground poultry and any add-ins (like egg, panko, or parsley) to a large bowl. Then take a box grater or Microplane and grate the butter directly into the bowl.

How to season a turkey? ›

Stick with salt and pepper, put herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage to work, or take spicy Cajun seasoning for a spin for some kick. Whatever blend you choose, spread it all over the turkey—on top, underneath, between the body and wings and legs, under the skin, and even in the cavity of the bird.

How to cook a turkey Jamie Oliver? ›

Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. You want to cook a higher-welfare bird for 25 to 30 minutes per kilo, and a standard bird for 35 to 40 minutes per kilo. Higher-welfare birds generally have more intramuscular fat, which means they cook quicker than standard, lean birds.

How do you make ground turkey not taste bland? ›

Before you start cooking, be sure to season the ground turkey well with salt and pepper. Also consider including dried herbs and spices for additional flavor. If you're cooking meatballs or meatloaf, pinch off some of the seasoned mixture and cook it in a skillet to taste.

How to season ground turkey to taste like hamburger? ›

Whenever I made turkey burgers, I would dissolve some beef bouillon in a little water and add it to the turkey with a little canola oil, then season and form the patties. The bouillon gave it some flavor and the water and oil helped with moisture. Just make sure not to overcook.

What can I add to ground turkey to make it taste like beef? ›

All you have to do, is add 1 tablespoon of Kitchen Bouquet Browning & Seasoning Sauce per 1 pound of ground turkey. Then incorporate the Kitchen Bouquet into the meat. Now, this is to give the turkey the flavor of beef.

What can I add to ground turkey to keep it moist? ›

Adding some fat in the form of healthy oil would work, as would adding a flavorful liquid such as chicken stock or vegetable stock. You can also add finely chopped vegetables which retain moisture, such as mushrooms, zucchini or eggplant.

What can you add to ground turkey to make it stick together? ›

Try adding some dry breadcrumbs to the turkey mixture before you shape the patties.

What can I put on my turkey to give it flavor? ›

Fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, and sage along with a half lemon go a long way to add flavor, and stuffing it into the bird takes almost no time at all. (While you're at it, season the cavity with a good amount of salt and pepper.) Brining is an essential step to ensure a juicy bird.

Should I put butter or oil on my turkey? ›

Rub the skin with fat

Fat is going to help the skin get brown and crisp, and contrary to what most might think, butter isn't better. Butter does an okay job, but because it contains a lot of water, oil is a better fat to rub on the skin to ensure it gets extra crispy.

Should I put a stick of butter in my turkey? ›

Impart rich flavor and add moisture to your Thanksgiving turkey by adding a layer of butter under the skin before roasting. Learn how to do this simple (but genius) technique for a delicious Thanksgiving turkey. I'm Kelly Senyei with http://www.epicurious.com, and this is how to put butter under turkey skin.

How does Martha Stewart cook a turkey? ›

Roast 1 hour, then baste every 30 minutes with pan liquids, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of thigh (avoiding bone) registers 125°F, about 3 hours. Remove foil; raise oven heat to 400°F. Continue roasting, basting occasionally, until thigh reaches 180°F, 45 to 60 minutes more.

How does Trisha Yearwood cook her turkey? ›

Bake for exactly 1 hour and turn off the oven. Do not open the oven door! Leave the turkey in the oven until the oven completely cools; this may take 4 to 6 hours. Reserve the pan juices and refrigerate the turkey if it will not be served soon after roasting.

How does Gordon Ramsay keep the turkey moist? ›

Ramsay's key for a guaranteed delicious and juicy turkey is a parsley and garlic butter that gets generously slathered both under the skin and on top of the turkey. While the turkey is cooking, you'll want to baste the bird with the melted butter pan juices to ensure a crispy skin while cooking.

Can you season ground turkey to taste like beef? ›

Ground turkey isn't as flavorful as ground beef, but if you want it to feel a little bit more like ground beef, try adding some Worcestershire sauce.

How do you make ground turkey taste more savory? ›

You could try adding some Worcestershire Sauce, or some smoked paprika, savory, chili powder. What are some ways to cook chicken breast or ground turkey so that it is not plain? After you brown the meat, use it in a recipe. Most recipes that work for ground beef will also work for ground turkey.

How do you make 99% lean ground turkey taste good? ›

Enhance Flavor with Seasonings

While ground turkey has a mild flavor, adding the right seasonings can make it truly delicious. Experiment with a variety of herbs and spices like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, or dried oregano. Don't be afraid to get creative and adjust the flavors to your liking!

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