Sloppy Joes are one of my favorites from childhood. Ours were always made in the traditional way with ground beef in a tomato sauce. But today’s Asian Turkey Sloppy Joes are a whole new flavor profile that is delicious! A lovely new take on the American classic.
Your kids and guests alike will love these new sloppy joes. They are perfect for weeknight meals or weekend lunches, quick and easy to make. I think they would be a really fun Halloween dinner idea for next weekend!
The filling smells so good as it is cooking, don’t be surprised if the family gathers around, anxious to taste it!
I would love these for any occasion … they make every day more fun and delicious! Quick and easy to make, you will have them ready in a jiffy.
This version uses ground turkey for a healthier option. It is a fairly neutral meat that takes on the flavors you add to it. The rich and umami-filled hoisin sauce is blended with tomato sauce, fresh ginger, lime juice, onions, garlic, and cilantro and served on a hamburger bun like usual. A beautiful blending of foods you love.
I recommend you use ground dark turkey meat if you can find it. Dark meat in poultry is much more forgiving and harder to overcook. Most butchers, if they offer ground poultry meats will have both available.
Hoisin, if you haven’t experienced it yet, is a delightful Asian sauce that is thick and a little sweet, salty, and savory, packed with umami flavor in every bite. Some consider it an upscale Asian barbeque sauce. You will find it in many Asian dishes thanks to its versatility, and know when you see it as one of the ingredients, that the dish will be delicious.
Bonus ~ it is easy to make these turkey sloppy joes gluten free by just using GF hoisin sauce and using gluten free buns! Kikkoman makes a GF version of hoisin that is fairly easy to find at your local grocery store or you can order it online.
You can make this turkey mixture as spicy as you like by using the cayenne pepper. Or you can use your favorite gluten-free hot sauce to add some kick to every bite. I think a little Sriracha would be a great addition. It is totally up to you! Pass extra hot sauce at the table so everyone can customize their sandwiches.
You might be surprised to see cilantro in an Asian recipe but it is common in many cuisines around the world. If you hate the taste of it – some say it tastes soapy to them – you can leave it out or substitute parsley. Maybe some Thai basil would be tasty, lots of options.
Gluten-free hamburger buns can be tricky to find. Trader Joe’s has a good chance of having them as well as Target and Walmart. And look in the frozen section, they may be there. I also like Katz’ English muffins as a good alternative. I used regular buns for my husband’s dinner that you see in today’s post photos. You can also use GF bread slices and make a yummy sandwich with those.
I really hope you make these Asian Turkey Sloppy Joes. Loaded with ginger, garlic, hoisin, and more ingredients, this may well become a family favorite and one of your go-to recipes in your regular menu rotation. It is a delightful healthier alternative worth trying out!
See you back here on Monday with another chocolate favorite for you to try! Have a fabulous weekend!
If you try this recipe, let me know! Please leave a star rating in the recipe card, comment below, and don’t forget to snap a pic and tag it @theheritagecook on Instagram! Seeing your creations makes my day and I love hearing from you!
Ingredients needed for Asian Turkey Sloppy Joes:
- Oil, red onion, garlic, fresh ginger, cayenne or hot sauce, ground turkey, salt, tomato sauce, hoisin sauce, cilantro or parsley, fresh lime juice, hamburger buns, green onions
PRO Tip:
I recommend you buy ground dark turkey meat if it is available. It is less likely to get dry and is more forgiving if you cook it too long.
PRO Tip:
The hoisin has soy in it and is both salty and slightly sweet so be careful with the salt you add. Be sure you taste the mixture first! And fresh ginger can be on the spicy side, so be careful with the cayenne or hot sauce – you can always add more!
How to make Asian Turkey Sloppy Joes:
1. Sauté the onions in a large nonstick skillet about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, ginger, and cayenne (or hot sauce) and cook, stirring constantly, about 1 minute. Add the turkey and cook, continuing stirring, breaking up the meat into small pieces, about 4 minutes.
2. Stir in the tomato sauce and hoisin sauce, increase the heat to medium-high, and cook stirring often, until thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro and lime juice. Taste and add more lime juice and salt if needed. Scoop servings onto the toasted hamburger buns and serve immediately.
PRO Tip:
If you don’t like cilantro, you can use parsley or Thai basil. The basil will change the flavor profile but I think it would add a lot to the final dish.
PRO Tip:
When slicing onions, cut the onion in half through the root and lay it flat side down. Trim the ends off. If you want the onions to melt into the sauce, cut along the equator of the onion. If you want the onions to hold their shape more, cut the opposite direction, lengthwise.
Recommended Tools (affiliate links; no extra cost to you):
- Kitchen scale
- Grater/zester
- Chef’s knife
- Citrus reamer (for juicing the limes)
- 12-inch nonstick skillet
Gluten-Free Tips:
* My preferred brand of kosher salt is from Diamond Crystal. If you use Morton’s, another kosher brand, or table salt, you will not need as much because they are saltier.
You will get the best and most consistent results by using a digital kitchen scale and weighing your ingredients, especially when you are baking. Use grams, they are much more accurate than pounds and ounces.
All recommended ingredients are gluten-free as of the writing of this article. Always check to be sure the products haven’t changed and are still safe to consume.
Asian Turkey Sloppy Joes (GF)
Sloppy Joes are one of my favorites from childhood. Ours were always made in the traditional way with ground beef in a seasoned tomato sauce. But today’s Asian Turkey Sloppy Joes are a whole new flavor profile that is delicious! A lovely new take on the American classic.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp canola oil or vegetable oil
- 1 medium red onion, peeled, halved and thinly sliced
- 1 medium clove garlic, peeled and grated finely
- 3/4 tsp finely grated fresh ginger
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper or gluten-free hot sauce
- 1 lb (454g) ground turkey (preferably dark meat)
- 1/4 tsp. kosher salt *
- 1 (8-oz; 227g) can tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup (60 ml; 4 tbsp) gluten-free hoisin sauce, such as Kikkoman brand
- 3/4 cup (177 ml) fresh cilantro leaves or parsley leaves
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice + more to taste
- 4 split hamburger buns, gluten free if needed, toasted if desired
- 2 green onions, chopped finely, for garnish
Instructions
1. Heat the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spatula, until softened, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, add the garlic, ginger, and cayenne/hot sauce and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the turkey and cook, stirring constantly, breaking into small bite-size pieces, until just cooked through, about 4 minutes. Stir in the salt.
2. Stir in the tomato sauce and hoisin sauce, increase the heat to medium high, and cook, stirring often, until thickened, if needed, 3 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro and lime juice, adding more lime juice to taste. Taste and add more salt or other ingredients if needed.
3. Serve on the buns. Garnish with chopped green onions. Pass additional hot sauce or cayenne at the table so everyone can add the heat they like.
Recipe found at www.theheritagecook.com
Notes
* My preferred brand of kosher salt is from Diamond Crystal. If you use Morton’s, another kosher brand, or table salt, you will not need as much because they are saltier.
You will get the best and most consistent results by using a digital kitchen scale and weighing your ingredients, especially when you are baking. Use grams, they are much more accurate than pounds and ounces.
All recommended ingredients are gluten-free as of the writing of this article. Always check to be sure the products haven’t changed and are still safe to consume.
Adapted from a Fine Cooking recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 350Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 4gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 92mgSodium: 686mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 3gSugar: 8gProtein: 24g
The nutritional information for recipes on this site is calculated by online tools and is merely an estimate. If you need nutritional calculations for medical reasons, please use a source that you trust.
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