Spicy Korean Turkey
Spicy Korean Turkey is a bowl recipe ready in 20 min. It makes 4 servings, each 260 kcal with 22 g protein. Beginner level, 13 ingredients, and it keeps for work lunches.
Recipe by @bitesofberi, adapted and measured by Cookpath.
- 20 min18 min hands-on
- Beginnerlevel
- 260kcal a serving
- 22 gprotein
What is Spicy Korean Turkey
Turkey mince stir-fried with onion, garlic and ginger in a slightly spicy, sticky gochujang sauce, served over rice or in lettuce wraps.
- Bowls · Chicken
- Sautéing & stir-fry
- Work lunch
How to make Spicy Korean Turkey
Tips from the cook
- Use mild or medium-hot gochujang: very hot gochujang or too much gochugaru makes it fiery.
- Want more heat? Stir in more gochugaru at the end.
- Brown the turkey fully before the sauce goes in, then cook a few minutes more so the sauce turns sticky.
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Meal prep and storage
Still good after 2 to 3 days in the fridge, cold or microwaved.
Keeps 3–4 days in the fridge; reheat in the microwave or on the stove.
See this week’s meal prep plan on the blog, or plan your own week in the app.
Spicy Korean Turkey substitutions
Out of something, or cooking around an allergy. Each swap was checked against a source.
Gochujang2 options
- Miso + chilli powder or paprika + pinch cayenne + honey 1 tbsp = 1/2 tbsp miso + 1/2 tbsp chili
Less sweet.
Still contains soy.
- Chilli powder + mushroom powder + honey (soy-free) 1:1
Less depth.
Soy sauce2 options
- Tamari (labelled gluten-free) 1:1
Still soy.
Still contains soy.
- Coconut aminos 1:1 (sweeter, use a bit more salt)
Less salty; dark, sold in health-food aisles.
Gochugaru2 options
- Sweet paprika + cayenne (3:1) 1:1 by volume
Less fruity.
- Sweet paprika alone 1:1
No heat.
Sesame oil2 options
- Neutral oil (sunflower or rapeseed) 1:1
Loses the toasted nutty flavour in dressings.
- Peanut oil (not for peanut allergy) 1:1
Still contains peanuts.
Onion2 options
- Leek, white and light-green part 1:1 by volume
Still an allium; raw dishes.
- Fennel bulb, finely diced 1:1 by volume
Sweet aniseed note; raw dishes.
Sesame seeds2 options
- Leave out (garnish only) leave out (garnish only)
- Poppy seeds 1:1
Different flavour.
Spring onions2 options
- Chives 1:1 by volume, add at end
Not cooked well.
- Leek, thin use 1/2 as much (stronger)
Serve it with
- White rice
- Lettuce leaves
- Kimchi
- Cucumber salad
