This Teriyaki Ground Turkey Eggplant Rice Bowl is a delicious, healthy meal that comes together easily for meal prep. With lean turkey mince, sauteed eggplant, and a flavorful teriyaki sauce, it's a perfect balance of protein, carbs, and veggies. Plus, it freezes and reheats wonderfully, making it a great option for the busy week ahead.note - ingredients can be approximate.
Prepare the 250 g(1 ¼cups) rice according to packet instructions, your own way or see my tips and tricks.
Finely dice: 1 globe eggplant and 1 brown onionNote - the finer the dicing, the quicker they'll cook and the easier they'll absorb the teriyaki.
Mince: 3 cloves garlic and 1 tsp ginger. Then, whisk together with ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup brown sugar, 3 tbsp mirin, 1 tbsp maple syrup until sugar has dissolved. Taste and adjust as necessary.
Cook
Heat 1 tbsp high heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté 1 brown onion until lightly browned (approx. 2 minutes). Then, add 1 globe eggplant and cook until golden brown (approx. 2 minutes).
Decrease the heat and cook until the eggplant starts to decrease in size (approx. 5-10 minutes)
Add 500 g(1lb) turkey mince, breaking it up as it cooks until browned and fully cooked.
Combine ¼ cup water and 1 tbsp cornstarch and add to the sauce, mixing well. Then add the sauce to the mince and eggplant mixture. Continue stirring and as it heats, it should thicken and cling to the mince and veggies.
Spoon the teriyaki turkey and eggplant mixture over the rice, garnish with sliced green onions or sesame seeds, and serve!
Video
Notes
Note 1 - Turkey MinceYou can get a few options of turkey mince. I prefer turkey breast mince (it's slightly lighter in colour and leaner). However, this is more expensive. You can use regular turkey mince, but it may have additional water content which means you'll be left with less once cooked.Note 2 - Soy SauceSubstitutions - low-sodium, tamari (for gluten-free)Note 3 - MirinSubstitutions - a white vinegar + some sugar (per 1 tablespoon vinegar, add ¼ teaspoon sugar)Note 4 - Garlic & GingerFresh recommended. Paste or pre-minced can work, but less powerfulNote 5 - Maple SyrupSubstitutions - honey or more brown sugarStoringStore mince mixture and rice separately (or opposite ends of container) for up to 4 days in fridge.ReheatingAdd splash of water or icecube to rice and sauce to loosen. Reheat 1 minute intervals for approx. 3 minutes. FreezingFreeze ground turkey with eggplant separately to rice for up to 6 months (3 months for best texture as eggplant continues to soften).