How to Make Ground Turkey Taste Good? 6 Tips
Preparing and cooking meat is not easy, especially when it comes to the meat that takes more time to be done. When it comes to turkey, there are many different cooking methods, but you never know which ones will make your turkey taste good. So, how can you give your ground turkey delicious flavors?
If you want to make ground turkey taste good, you need to pick a quality type of ground turkey first. Secondly, you need to make sure that your meat is cooked through and even. Lastly, do not forget to add veggies and a variety of spices to obtain rich and delicious flavors.
In order not to waste time in search of the perfect ground turkey recipe, you just need to follow a few simple tricks, and you will achieve the taste you desire. I have shared some of the basic tips you can use, so you will make your ground turkey taste good and flavorful. You will see that ground turkey is not as complicated as it seems.
How to Make Ground Turkey Taste Better?
Many people like to avoid cooking meat if they are not sure how to cook it properly. Ground turkey belongs to the group of dishes that are usually avoided because you have to spend a lot of time to achieve rich and tasty flavors.
However, this process does not need to be so hard, meaning you just have to learn the right ways to make ground turkey taste better. Below, I have included some very simple tricks that will help you achieve the taste you are expecting in a ground turkey.
Some of the tips I have listed might not seem suitable for you, while others might come quite beneficial. In other words, you do not need to follow all of the tips to improve the taste of ground turkey, but just the ones that you find according to your taste.
Opt For High-Quality Ground Turkey
To obtain the flavors you desire, you need to have something to work with. This means that you need to obtain a quality ground turkey that will provide some good meat flavors. If you choose ground turkey with fillers in it, you will be prevented from adding more flavors, meaning you will not really have the opportunity to improve the taste.
Therefore, always opt for something that is already seen as high-quality, i.e. it is proven to work well with other ingredients and spices. Once you obtain high-quality meat, you are off to a good start. Usually, you can find a high-quality piece of meat at a butcher shop.
Make Sure That You Have All the Necessary Ingredients
Obtaining the right ground turkey is not enough. You need to have other ingredients at your disposal to improve the taste of your dish. Getting all of the necessary things before you start cooking is crucial. This way, you will avoid any obstructions that might come in the way of your cooking.
To achieve a delicious and flavorful taste of ground turkey, you need some simple ingredients that will do miracles to the end result. Therefore, make sure that you obtain the following ingredients:
- Chopped vegetables, such as scallions, yellow onion, and red bell peppers. These kinds of veggies are great for obtaining some tasty flavors, as well as colors for your ground turkey dish.
- Minced garlic will give you the amazing pungent flavor that everyone looks for in meat dishes.
- Cilantro is a lovely ingredient for the finish of your ground turkey. It will intensify the flavors and contribute to the tempting smell of the dish.
- Chilli powder will give you the chance to obtain the right seasoning for your meat. This way you will have the opportunity to spice up the ground turkey a little bit without making it too hot.
Ensure That Your Ground Turkey Is Cooked Through
The most common cause of distasteful meat is it not being cooked for enough time. Sometimes ground turkey might need more time to be fully cooked, so do not haste the process. You need to wait for the meat to get a nice and even brown color without any pink spots.
Usually, it takes 15 minutes for the ground turkey to get the brown color you need. However, some stoves might be more powerful, so they might do the job more quickly. That is why it is essential to monitor the cooking process the whole time. Make sure that you cook it on medium heat.
Experiment With Spices
Meat always tastes better with spices, so do not hesitate to add something that you believe will make your turkey more delicious. Usually, chili powder can do wonders to ground turkey, but some people cannot tolerate the hot flavors. However, you may always add really tiny amounts of chili powder, so you will just obtain a pinch of the flavor, nothing much.
On the other hand, you can always go with a little bit of garlic instead of chili powder. This way, your ground turkey will not be spicy at all, but it will have some unique flavors for a better taste.
Season Ground Turkey Before Cooking
Seasoning of any kind of meat is quite important. You do not get tasty meat without going through the process of seasoning first. Therefore, make sure that you season your ground turkey before you put it on the stovetop.
For the seasoning, you may add some olive oil, salt, pepper, and chili powder. Later, you add the chopped veggies that go with your recipe. When it comes to seasoning, make sure that you use fresh aromatics.
Fresh aromatics contribute to the taste of the ground turkey, so always strive to add as much fresh aromatics as possible. Usually, the best way to go is with chopped vegetables, such as cilantro, yellow onions, and scallions. Also, you should not forget about the lovely flavors of minced garlic.
Cook Your Ground Turkey on a Stovetop
The best way to cook a ground turkey is on a stovetop. This process is very similar to stir-frying turkey. Always include the chopped veggies in this process because that is how you actually get the flavors.
In addition, ensure that you are monitoring the whole process because you would like the ingredients mixed perfectly. This is how you get the flavors you desire. The whole cooking process lasts around 15 minutes. To be sure when your ground turkey is done, you should wait for it to become brown without any pink sports.
What to Add to Ground Turkey to Make It Moist?
Usually, different kinds of vegetables added to ground turkey contribute to its moisture. As I said, you may use yellow onions, scallions, and cilantro. However, if you want to obtain real moisture in your ground turkey, then you might want to try something else.
Adding tomato sauce will contribute to moisture. If you opt for tomato sauce, you can add Mediterranean spices such as basil and oregano. By adding these ingredients, you will get a delicious sauce that goes great with pasta.
Mushrooms are known to be a great addition to ground turkey for several reasons. Firstly, they contribute to a significant amount of moisture in the meat, and secondly, they are a healthy option for a dish. Mushrooms have a lot of beneficial properties and features, so they would be a great addition to your diet. [1]
Different kinds of mushrooms might be added to dry ground turkey. You will certainly end up with a juicy and mouthfeel flavor once the cooking process is done. When you chop mushrooms in tiny bits, they quickly and evenly mix with the ground turkey, so you obtain the delicious flavors you look for.
Since there are a lot of types of mushrooms, you can choose the kind that suits your taste the most. However, you need to be careful not to choose the kind that might mess up the flavors of other ingredients included with ground turkey. Some mushrooms are characterized by really strong flavors, so that is why it is important to make your selection carefully.
Therefore, if you want stronger flavors you may go with portabella or crimini mushrooms. On the other hand, if you want just some juiciness, then you should stick to button mushrooms. Button mushrooms are usually the most common choice since they do not contain really strong flavors, and they match the color of the ground turkey.
Can You Mix Ground Turkey And Ground Beef?
People usually feel skeptical when it comes to mixing different types of meat in one dish. However, the combination of ground turkey and ground beef is one of the best blendings you can do in your meals. Ground turkey and ground beef make a nice texture, and they contribute to one another’s flavors.
For instance, if you want to make sure that your ground turkey will be moist and juicy, you should give ground beef a chance to do that. Ground beef can keep your meal really juicy, and turkey will intensify the flavors. However, mixing two types of meat might make your dish high in calories, so you may not want that if you are trying to maintain a balanced diet.
How Long to Cook Ground Turkey on a Stove?
Usually, it takes around 15 minutes for ground turkey to be done on a stove. However, sometimes this time might be shortened or prolonged depending on the stove you are using. Some stoves are really powerful, so they might get your meat ready quickly, i.e. even before 15 minutes pass.
On the other hand, some stoves might be slower, so you might need some more time to get your ground turkey ready. Therefore, you need to rely more on your cooking and observing skills rather than time. Once your ground turkey becomes brown and there are no pink spots anywhere, you might consider that it is done.
As you could see, there are several things you can do to intensify the flavors in your ground turkey and make it taste better. You do not need any special ingredients to make this possible, but rather simple tricks that will contribute to better flavors in your ground turkey.
How To Make Ground Turkey Taste Good?
Ingredients
- 16 oz ground turkey
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion
- 2 carrots
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 cups tomato sauce
Instructions
- In a large skillet or pot over medium heat, heat oil.
- Add onion, carrots, and garlic and cook until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add ground turkey and cook until no longer pink, 5 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add tomato sauce and dried oregano.
- Let simmer until thickened, 10 to 15 minutes.
