Spiced Turkey Rice Bowls with Turmeric Almond Rice and Creamy White Sauce

Craving the bold, vibrant flavors of street cart food without leaving your kitchen? These spiced turkey rice bowls bring all the delicious layers-fragrant turmeric rice with crunchy almonds, perfectly seasoned ground turkey, juicy diced tomatoes and not one but two sauces: a cool, creamy white sauce and a kick of hot sauce. Warm pita wedges on the side make every bite a perfect dipper.

Ready in just 20 minutes, this recipe is ideal for busy weeknights when you want something satisfying and packed with flavor. The combination of shawarma spice, buttery rice and tangy sauces will have you coming back for more.

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Ingredients

3 tablespoon Sour CreamView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

15 ounce Ground TurkeyView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit PitasView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.75 cup Jasmine RiceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

3 unit Chicken Stock ConcentrateView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 unit LemonView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 teaspoon TurmericView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Shawarma Spice BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon MayonnaiseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit TomatoView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit ScallionsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Garlic PowderView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon Hot SauceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 ounce Sliced AlmondsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

3 teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon (tsp) Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

3 tablespoon (tbsp) ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small pot over medium heat. Stir in ¼ teaspoon turmeric until combined. Add ¾ cup jasmine rice, 1¼ cups water and a big pinch of salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook until rice is tender, 15-18 minutes. Keep covered off heat until ready to use.
2. While rice cooks, bring 2 tablespoons butter to room temperature. Quarter the lemon. Trim and thinly slice the scallions, separating white parts from green tops. Dice the tomato.
3. In a small bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder and a squeeze of lemon juice. Add water 1 teaspoon at a time until the sauce is thin enough to drizzle. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the scallion whites and cook until fragrant, 30-60 seconds. Add ground turkey, 1 tablespoon shawarma spice blend, ¾ teaspoon salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat, until browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes. Stir in 3 chicken stock concentrate packets and ¼ cup water, scraping up any brown bits. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until slightly thickened, 1-2 minutes.
5. Fluff the rice with a fork; stir in sliced almonds and half the scallion greens. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toast the pitas, then spread with the softened butter. Cut each pita into 4 wedges.
6. Divide the rice between bowls. Top with turkey and diced tomato in separate sections; sprinkle tomato with a pinch of salt. Drizzle turkey with hot sauce to taste. Drizzle white sauce over the bowls and garnish with remaining scallion greens. Serve with pita wedges and lemon wedges on the side.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different type of rice?

Yes, but cooking times may vary. Basmati or long-grain white rice work well. Adjust water and cooking time according to package directions.

What can I substitute for the shawarma spice blend?

You can make your own blend with cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon and allspice. Use about 1 tablespoon total.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

The recipe contains pitas which have gluten. For a gluten-free version, serve with gluten-free flatbread or omit the pitas.