Thai Basil Turkey is one of those fun, easy dinners you can throw together fairly quickly, especially if you prepare the garnishes ahead of time. And be generous with those garnishes!
I love recipes that combine opposing flavors – sweet/salty, fresh/cooked, etc. It just makes the dish more interesting. This recipe, when garnished generously, combines fresh, cool cucumber with comforting, creamy turkey, zingy lime, salty fish sauce and pungent green onions. It gets bonus points for being easy to make, and it comes together quickly! We have it often on a week day when I’ve prepared the garnishes ahead.
If you like, you can substitute ground chicken for the turkey. I prefer the flavor of turkey, but that’s totally your call.
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
๐,
Wendi
Thai Basil Turkey
Course: MainCuisine: AIP, PaleoDifficulty: Super Easy4
servings15
minutes10
minutesThai Basil Turkey is one of those easy dinners you can throw together fairly quickly, especially if you prepare the garnishes ahead of time. And be generous with those garnishes!
Ingredients
1 T. ย coconut oil
1 lb. ย ground turkey (or chicken)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 t. ย ground ginger
3 T. ย fish sauce
1 C. ย full fat coconut milk
3 T. ย chopped fresh basil (Thai or sweet)
Rice of your choiceย (Note: If you haven’t yet re-introduced rice successfully, try cauli rice, or plantain rice.)
1 cucumber, sliced lengthwise, seeded, and sliced into half-moons (for garnish)
Scallions (for garnish)
Limes, ends cut off, quartered (for garnish)
Directions
- In a large saucepan, melt coconut oil over medium high heat.
- Add turkey and brown until no pink remains. ย (Ok, it won’t actually get brown since it’s turkey. It’ll be more white.)
- Add garlic and ginger. ย Sautรฉ for about a minute.
- Turn heat down to medium. ย Add fish sauce and coconut milk. Heat through.
- Add basil. ย Sautรฉ for a minute.
- Serve immediately over your rice choice with garnishes.
Notes
- Pro tip: offer crushed red pepper as a garnish for the non-AIPers in your life. ย ๐
Made this tonight! Yum! And easy, which is important to me. ๐ Thanks for tasty, quick, AND anti-inflammatory recipes Wendi! I appreciate you!
THANK YOUUUUUU! ๐
ANDDDDDD Ms. Wendi, Riley said he liked it lots and to add it to his list of favorite meals. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!! :))
Well now, THAT is huge. Thanks for telling me that. It gave me a big smile! ๐
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Made this tonight and it was not only quick, easy, and super tasty but my picky parter really enjoyed it. I added some mushroom and broccoli and served over glass noodles. Satisfied my Thai food delivery craving. Thank you so much!
EXCELLENT! I’m glad you like it, and even more excited that a “picky partner” likes it, too. That’s the real test, isn’t it? ๐ Have a wonderful day!
Is cinnamon basil Thai basil? Do you eat the pink flowers or purple stems of the basil?
I use the leaves. Here’s the scoop on Thai Basil: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_basil . Most of the time, I just use regular basil! ๐
Iโm overdue leaving this review. This was delicious & so quick to assemble. I love Thai flavors. Iโll be making this again this week. Thank you!
I’m so glad you like this one, too! My family loves it. It seems a little weird at first glance, but…YUM!