Turkey Sloppy Joes with Hoisin and Cilantro

This quick and delicious weeknight meal was such a hit at our table that I had to share it with you right away.  Most dishes we blog here hang around for a week or two before I have the time to finish tweaking a decent photograph, and write the content of a post.  Of course, there are also some meals that don't quite make the Oui, Chef grade in the first place, garnering mixed reviews at our table and deemed unworthy of sharing with the wider world.  

Not so with this treat.  These Joes are so easy and tasty that we wanted to shout-out the recipe right away.

I found the recipe in the Feb/March issue of Fine Cooking Magazine (one of my favorites!), and suspected just from the title that it was a winner.  A quick perusal of the ingredient list confirmed my hunch, this was indeed a healthy dish with fresh, bold flavors, and a fun spin on an old standby that I knew our gang would LOVE.

The transformation from being just a plain old Joe starts with the use of ground turkey, not the pork or beef you would normally see.  Then, a trio of Asian inspired ingredients take this sandwich to a whole new level.  Fresh ginger, cilantro and hoisin sauce deliver fresh, spicy and sweet elements in perfect balance.  If this dinner doesn't make you a star with your kids, nothing will.

Cheers - Steve

 

Turkey Sloppy Joes with Hoisin and Cilantro

by: Lori Longbotham - Fine Cooking Magazine Feb/March 2013 Issue

(Print Friendly Version)

 

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 medium red onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 medium clove garlic, mashed to a paste with 14 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
• 3/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice; more to taste
• 4 hamburger rolls

 

Method:

1. Heat the oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently until softened, about 5 minutes.  Reduce the heat to medium and add the garlic, ginger, and cayenne and cook, stirring constantly until fragrant, about 1 minute.  Add the turkey and cook, stirring constantly to break it up into small pieces, until no longer raw, about 4 minutes.
2. Stir in the tomato sauce and hoisin sauce, increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring often until thickened, 5-7 minutes.  Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro and lime juice, adding more lime juice to taste.  Serve in the buns.

Serves 4