If you haven’t realized this yet, Mexican food is a thing around here. Taco Tuesday is cute and all, but I could eat it any day of the week, and bowls are an easy way to lighten things up if your quarantine diet is out of control should you so desire. Below is my go-to taco meat recipe, tweaked slightly to work with ground turkey. The base is entirely up to you. White rice, brown rice— maybe Golden Rice? Or if you really want to keep things light, opt for greens like chopped romaine. As for the toppings, choose your own adventure! I’ve listed some of my favorites below, but you do you. Post photos with #tablesaltstyle. I’d love to see what you come up with!
Serves 4.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- olive oil
- salt
- 3 cups base of your choice – cooked grains or chopped greens
Suggested Toppings
- chopped tomato
- torn cilantro
- Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
- black beans
- avocado
- pickled jalapeños
Method
Combine all of the spices in a small bowl, mix to combine and set aside. In a large skillet or dutch oven, heat olive oil – about three turns of the pan – over medium high heat. Generously season the turkey with salt, and add it to the pan, salty side down. Pour your spice mix over the top. Then, use a wooden spoon to break up the meat, mixing in the seasoning at the same time. I find this really boosts the flavor!
When the turkey is brown, add the tomato paste. Cook for a minute or two. Next, stir in the broth. Bring to a bubble, and then reduce the heat to low. Cover, and simmer for about an hour, stirring occasionally. About 15 minutes before serving, remove the lid and turn up the heat to medium. Let most of the remaining liquid evaporate, leaving just a little bit of a thicker sauce behind.
To plate, add ¾ of a cup of your base into each bowl. Spoon the turkey meat over the top. Finish with your choice of toppings, or let guests build their own!
