Turkey is a widely consumed, economical, and healthy meat. While the majority of people use whole turkey pieces to make their favorite recipes, many people also use ground turkey.
Ground turkey is most flavorsome when fried in a pan or wok like ground beef. However, you may be wondering if it is possible to make a dish with boiled ground turkey.
Read on because we will share everything you need to know about it!
Let’s Get Frying First
The recommended way to cook ground turkey is to stir-fry it in a little oil in a wok. This gets some caramelization on the meat and gives it that delicious umami flavor that we all love.
When cooked like this over high heat, it will be ready in about fifteen minutes. Of course, you should add flavorings or gravy according to your recipe.
You’ll know the mince is done when there is no more pink color on it and it has some sticky brown bits. In addition, you can use a kitchen thermometer to check if the ground turkey has a temperature of over 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can You Boil Ground Turkey?
Yes, you can! For various reasons, including health or the avoidance of oil, some people would prefer to boil their ground turkey.
You can do it but you will need to be sure to add flavor because you will be missing out on the browning step.
First Defrost The Turkey
Defrost the ground turkey first because it will be difficult to boil it from frozen. One method is to put the package of mince into a sinkful of cold water. It should defrost within an hour or two.
Another method is to use the “Defrost” mode on your microwave. Once the meat has defrosted, be sure to boil it right away to make sure there’s no bacterial growth.
How To Cook Boiled Ground Turkey
The best thing to boil the turkey in is a Dutch oven. Its heavy base will ensure even cooking. If you don’t have one, use a heavy-based saucepan.
1. Put the ground turkey into it along with things like dried onion flakes, herbs, salt and pepper, Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce.
Other spices, according to your recipe, may be needed. You can also add cubed potatoes and vegetables such as diced carrots or peas.
2. Pour enough water or chicken stock over the turkey to just cover it. Do not add too much or the flavor will be bland and the consistency too runny.
The important part comes now.
3. Use your fingers or a fork to break up the bits of meat so that they are evenly distributed throughout the water or stock. Failure to do this will result in the meat clumping together as it boils, leaving you with hard, unappetizing lumps.
4. Put the Dutch oven over a high flame and bring everything to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the flame to low, put the lid on, and allow the mixture to simmer gently for about twenty minutes to develop the flavor, tenderize the meat, and cook the vegetables
How To Thicken The Mixture
Once the ground turkey has boiled, you will probably need to thicken the watery gravy.
1. You may either use a spoon or two of flour mixed with a little cold water or a spoon or two of cornstarch, mixed to a slurry with a little cold water. Add this to the Dutch oven, stirring constantly as it thickens.
2. Allow everything to boil for a minute or two. If it’s too thick, add a little more stock or water.
3. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. This can now be used as a pie filling or served on rice or mash for an easy weekday family meal.
To Conclude
We have established that you can indeed boil ground turkey. You just need to take care that you do not add too much water and that you add plenty of flavorings.