If you’re a fan of Thai food you have to try this amazing Thai-Inspired Ground Turkey Stir Fry; you’re going to love this recipe! And this tasty stir fry dish with ground turkey, peppers, onions, and fresh basil is extra low in carbs.
One of the things that’s a blessing-in-disguise about being a food blogger is the need to constantly update older recipes with new and improved photos. And today I’m happy to have new photos for this ultra-popular Thai-Inspired Ground Turkey Stir Fry.
This recipe was inspired by one of my favorite Thai dishes from a restaurant in Salt Lake, and Thai food has a lot less sugar when you make it at home! And we loved everything about this ground turkey stir fry when we re-tested the recipe! If you like Thai flavors, peppers, and Thai basil or sweet basil, you have to try this recipe!
As a food blogger who loves discovering new flavors I’m always on the hunt for recipe inspiration that takes my tastebuds on an adventure. Lately I’ve become obsessed with experimenting with ground turkey Thai basil stir-fries. The combination of savory turkey, bright Thai basil, and aromatic spices makes for a dish that excites my palate. In this article, I’ll share my journey into the world of ground turkey Thai basil stir-fries and provide some tasty recipes for you to try at home.
I first discovered ground turkey Thai basil stir-fries a few years ago when a friend made a version she had learned during her travels in Thailand One bite and I was hooked! The ground turkey provided a hearty, meaty base while the Thai basil added a pop of sweet licorice flavor. The stir-frying method allowed every component to retain a pleasant crunchy texture I loved the complexity of flavors and knew I had to try making it myself at home.
After some research, I found that ground turkey works really well as the protein base for these Thai-inspired stir-fries. It readily absorbs the pungent seasonings and stands up well to high-heat cooking. Its mild flavor allows the Thai basil and aromatics to shine. Ground turkey is also lower in fat than other ground meats, making these stir-fries a bit lighter and healthier.
Key Seasonings for Delicious Flavor
To give my ground turkey Thai basil stir-fries tons of flavor, I like to use a combination of Thai-inspired seasonings. Here are some of my go-to’s:
- Fish sauce: Provides a savory, umami punch
- Lime juice: Brings a bright acidity
- Sriracha: Gives a gentle heat and spice
- Soy sauce: Adds saltiness and depth
- Thai basil: Brings sweet licorice notes
- Garlic and ginger: Provide aromatic flavor
By playing around with these seasonings and tweaking amounts to my taste preference, I can create all sorts of flavor profiles. Sometimes I’ll make it more spicy, other times more tangy and bright. The possibilities are endless!
Quick Tips for Success
Through trial and error in my kitchen, I’ve learned some tips and tricks for easily making tasty ground turkey Thai basil stir-fries at home. Here are a few I keep in mind:
- Cut ingredients uniformly for even cooking
- Use a heavy pan or wok for quick, high-heat cooking
- Stir and toss ingredients constantly while stir-frying
- Add tender herbs like basil at the very end
- Balance salty, sour, sweet, spicy, and umami flavors
- Cook over high heat to maintain texture and moisture
- Don’t overcook the turkey to avoid dryness
Satisfying Recipe Ideas
I’ve developed a handful of favorite ground turkey Thai basil stir-fry recipes that satisfy my cravings. Here are two that I make over and over again:
Spicy Thai Basil Ground Turkey
This recipe has a nice kick from Sriracha that’s balanced by sweet basil and maple syrup. It comes together quickly right in one pan.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 Thai chiles, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp Sriracha
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 cup packed Thai basil leaves
Instructions:
- In a large pan or wok, cook ground turkey over high heat, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Add garlic, onion, chiles and bell pepper. Cook 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Add soy sauce, Sriracha and maple syrup. Cook 2 minutes more.
- Remove pan from heat. Stir in Thai basil until just wilted.
- Serve over steamed rice. Enjoy!
Thai-Inspired Ground Turkey Stir Fry
This recipe has a balanced Thai-inspired sauce flavored with lime, fish sauce, soy sauce, and a touch of sweetener. It’s so quick to make but packed with exciting flavors.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 red bell peppers, sliced into strips
- 1 Tbsp peanut oil
- Sauce:
- 2 Tbsp lime juice
- 1 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Sriracha
- 1 Tbsp sweetener
- 1 cup Thai basil leaves
Instructions:
- Whisk together sauce ingredients.
- In a large pan or wok, stir fry onion and peppers in oil over high heat just until tender. Remove to a bowl.
- Add ground turkey to pan. Cook until browned and cooked through, breaking up with a spoon.
- Return veggies to pan and stir together.
- Add prepared sauce and Thai basil. Cook just until basil is wilted.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Expanding My Flavor Horizons
Cooking ground turkey Thai basil stir-fries at home has allowed me to savor complex, exotic flavors right in my own kitchen. I love experimenting with different ingredient combinations to discover new taste sensations. This journey has expanded my culinary horizons immensely. I can’t wait to see what other flavor adventures await! What ground turkey Thai basil stir-fry will you whip up next?
Is this ground turkey stir fry an authentic Thai recipe?
This recipe was created by me and my nephew Jake, based on a dish we both loved in a Thai restaurant, so I am certainly not claiming it’s an authentic Thai recipe. But the recipe does have the sour-sweet-spicy-salty-bitter flavor notes that make Thai cooking so distinctive.
What ingredients do you need for this recipe?
(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)