Ground Turkey???

[AlexTina]

My DH has high cholesterol and so we have been looking at ways to reduce the amount of red meat that we eat. We've been making a lot of chicken and fish for dinner lately. So this weekend I suggested we try ground turkey for my DH was hesitant but suggested we buy just one pound to try it before we commit . So anyhow do you just use it like you would ground beef? Are there any tricks? It seems as though it will likely stick to the pan due to the lack of fat so what do you do I was thinking that adding a little water while cooking would work. Finally do you have any wonderful recipes that you/your family just love using ground turkey??

TIA

Tina

 

[luvmy3]

I use ground turkey in any dish I would use ground beef, like dirty rice, tacos, stuffed peppers. The texture is a little different, but if your dish has alot of spices and flavor the taste is just fine.
I do not make meatballs, or burgers with ground turkey because its just not the same as using beef.
I do make meatloaf with half ground beef and half ground turkey, and stuffing mix instead of bread crumbs. Its one of my kids favorite meals.

 

[Master Mason]

I put a little bit of oil in th pan when I brown ground turkey. Also, you will have to season it a lot more than beef.

 

[Hoodie]

We use ground turkey almost exclusively. You don't get those little hard bits of fat that can be in ground beef. Ground turkey breast is better healthwise than just ground turkey.

We use it in anything that would take ground beef. The only time it doesn't seem to work well is in burgers/meatballs in a pure form. Turkey is a bit softer than ground beef and the texture can be odd. It can also fall apart. In those cases I usually either mix it with some ground beef or some breadcrumbs to get it to stick together better.

 

[ead79]

We love ground turkey! We just season it a bit, and it's great. I also think turkey burgers are delicious. My turkey burger recipe calls for mixing ketchup and mustard into the meat before cooking it, which is a great way to give it some extra flavor.

 

[kimmikayb]

When making burgers, add shredded carrot and finely chopped onion. Plus an egg. It gives it juice and flavor!

 

[lovemygoofy]

I very seldom cook with ground beef anymore. Much more prefer ground turkey. I do not like the turkey in the chubs though. It just grosses me out. I actually pretty much only use butterball. I don't use the ground turkey breast too often as I find it to be a bit dry. I prefer the regular ground turkey.

I keep a spray pump of olive oil and put a touch in my pan when cooking. I use it for any recipe that I would use ground beef. I also like the turkey sausage and turkey cutlets and turkey meatballs.

If you do make patties from the ground turkey make sure to keep moisture inside them and season them well before cooking.

 

[tazdev3225]

My mom cannot eat any red meat because of the iron content in it, weird I know. She has switched to ground turkey for everything including meatballs and burgers. She fed them to me one time before I knew what they were and they were awesome. For her burgers she adds garlic, onion and salsa. The salsa adds moisture and gives them an incredible flavor. I actually prefer them to beef now.

 

[hiwaygal]

I use ground turkey for everything!! Burgers, meatballs, meat loaf...in sauces...any recipe that uses ground beef (I haven't eaten beef in over 20 years). I add bread crumbs and egg to the meatballs and meat loaf, but I don't add anything to the burgers.

While the ground turkey breast is a little "healthier", to me it doesn't do as well in burgers and meatballs because it's so lean. I just use regular ground turkey for that stuff.

I don't add anything to the pan except maybe some PAN or some other non-stick spray. It doesn't stick to the pans. I have used a little olive oil sometimes, but usually I don't need it.

 

[java]

First the easiest way is to start with the "lean" not the extra lean kind(Jennie o is my favorite to use)

My family now prefers turkey meatballs to regular ones-
Here's what I do
in a bowl I mix one egg, about half a cup of milk, half a cup of parmesean cheese Garlic powder and then seasoned bread crumbs and tons of pepper. You want a kind of slurry texture- thick but still a little runny. Then add in the turkey and mix
I'll either fry them in a tbsp of olive oil- or I'll just dump them into my sauce and cook on LOW for about an hour or until they are done.


Now my mom who is way healthier than I am - doesn't use any cheese or milk- she does chopped mushrooms(for moisture) and some wine with sauted onions and garlic she uses a tiny bit of bread crumbs. Her's are good to me but my family doesn't like them that way(they need the cheese)

 

[Par8hed]

When making burgers, add shredded carrot and finely chopped onion. Plus an egg. It gives it juice and flavor!

They're trying to limit cholesterol intake. Adding eggs to the turkey is defeating the purpose.

 

[SpecialK]

For things like chili or tacos, which are heavily seasoned, I just replace the ground beef with turkey. The turkey breakfast sausage and Ital. sausage is very good.
To replace ground beef with turkey in other recipes, you really need to amp up the seasoning and be careful of the meat drying out. I soak a slice of bread in milk and add it to meatballs along with an egg white. The salsa sounds like a good idea. (Salsa is also a good replacement for butter on baked potatoes.)

 

[luvmy3]

You guys that use turkey for your burgers and meatballs, do you put any spices into the meat mixture? I would glady make mine using ground turkey, but I know dh won't like it compared to a beef one. He comments on the other dishes, but because they always have alot of flavor, he likes it and will eat it .
The kids will judge a turkey burger by the look of it but I could always force them to eat it

 

[hiwaygal]

I like my turkey burgers plain (only add salt and pepper...lots of pepper) while cooking. I have added spices, bbq sauces, onion soup mix, etc...but for some reason, I just like them plain!

For meatballs, yes I add spices just like I would for beef. I make them exactly the same as I used to with ground beef and they come out fine. Although I do have to admit java's idea of adding parmesan cheese sounds good too!!

 

[mjkacmom]

They're trying to limit cholesterol intake. Adding eggs to the turkey is defeating the purpose.

Actually, I think they've found that eggs increase your good cholesterol, and they're no longer a no-no. Ground turkey has the same amound of fat as lean ground beef, so you might want to transition to ground turkey breast.

 

[powellrj]

be careful because many times the turkey can have added things like the skin and dark meat that defeats the benefits. We have a beef product called Lauras Lean and its really low fat.

 

[kristilew]

tex mex tortilla bake (mexican lasagna-type dish)

1 lb ground turkey
2 c shredded 4 cheese blend
2 scallions, chopped
1 12ox jar mild green chili salsa
1 4oz can diced green chilis
1 tomoto, chopped (1/2 cup)
flour tortillas
1 can sliced ripe olives, drained (if you like)

Combine turkey, 1 c cheese, scallions, 1 c salsa, olives, and green chilis, mix well. (a sort of paste will form)

Line a 12x8 baking dish with tortillas (2ish), extending partway up sides of dish

Spread half the turkey mixture over tortillas. Top with 2 more tortillas, torn to fit atop mixture

Top with remaining turkey mixture, then 2 more tortillas. Sprinkle top with remaining 1 c cheese, remaining salsa, and tomotoes.

Cover with foil. Bake 400 for 30 min, remove foil, bake another 30 min (or until turkey is cooked through)

To serve, cut into squares, top with sour cream and guacamole if desired.



*I spice this dish up more with spicier salsa and canned diced tomatoes that have spices added

 

[mjkacmom]

tex mex tortilla bake (mexican lasagna-type dish)

1 lb ground turkey
2 c shredded 4 cheese blend
2 scallions, chopped
1 12ox jar mild green chili salsa
1 4oz can diced green chilis
1 tomoto, chopped (1/2 cup)
flour tortillas
1 can sliced ripe olives, drained (if you like)

Combine turkey, 1 c cheese, scallions, 1 c salsa, olives, and green chilis, mix well. (a sort of paste will form)

Line a 12x8 baking dish with tortillas (2ish), extending partway up sides of dish

Spread half the turkey mixture over tortillas. Top with 2 more tortillas, torn to fit atop mixture

Top with remaining turkey mixture, then 2 more tortillas. Sprinkle top with remaining 1 c cheese, remaining salsa, and tomotoes.

Cover with foil. Bake 400 for 30 min, remove foil, bake another 30 min (or until turkey is cooked through)

To serve, cut into squares, top with sour cream and guacamole if desired.



*I spice this dish up more with spicier salsa and canned diced tomatoes that have spices added

Sounds delicious, but I'm guessing the 2 cups of cheese might defeat the purpose of using turkey!

 

[AlexTina]

Actually, I think they've found that eggs increase your good cholesterol, and they're no longer a no-no. Ground turkey has the same amound of fat as lean ground beef, so you might want to transition to ground turkey breast.

Good to know, never would of thought it . Thanks for the ideas everyone. We already buy the extra lean ground beef and usually rinse it under hot water to remove more of the fat prior to seasoning so who knows if the turkey will actually make much of a difference. I was thinking of using the ground turkey breast which I bought in either tacos or lasagna tonight but either way they will have cheese added, the lasagna more than the tacos but still. Sort of seems that most of the things I would use it in are going to have cheese or some other bad for you ingredient .

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

I make turkey burgers for my family and they love them!

I use the ground turkey (love butter ball, hate the chubs), egg substitute, a package of onion soup mix (which you can delete if you are watching salt -- but if you delete it, add fresh onion and some Mrs. Dash seasoning and ground pepper), and then I "wrap" the turkey burgers in a strip of turkey bacon and put it on the grill.

For meatballs, I used ground turkey, egg substitute, parsley, garlic, italian herbs, and freshly grated parmesan cheese (which is a low fat cheese and is OK per my dad's nutritionist...but check with your doctor to see if it is "legal" for you). You need to add more seasoning that you normally would since turkey is bland.