# Ground turkey (it's what's for dinner?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 28, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341 "2005-02-28T20:59:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341/1 "2005-02-28T20:59:14Z")
Apparently it is…so what do I do with it? We got a bunch of it…and made some turkey burgers which came out rather well I thought. Now I want to use the rest of it. Thoughts? It has to be something very basic as the snow’s already started so I’m not going out to the store again. I was thinking a turkey loaf…so does anyone know what’s good to put in (or leave out) as opposed to a (beef) meat loaf? Please help me with my boring and uninspired dinner :). Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341/2 "2005-02-28T21:07:42Z")
A. Anything you’d put in stuffing. B. Anything you’d put in hamburger (also, you can cook just as if it were hamburger; it’s marginally lower in fat, and different). ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341/3 "2005-02-28T21:14:17Z")
I’ve used it in pretty much anything I’d use hamburger for. Turkey loaf is good, I just added the things I add to meatloaf. (egg, bread, worcester sauce, pepper and garlic) I once used a mixture of 1/2 ground turkey and 1/2 italian sausage for lasagna and it was really good. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341/4 "2005-02-28T21:18:17Z")
What they said. I like to use it in stroganoff (to which I also add French-cut green beans – yum!). ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341/5 "2005-02-28T21:36:38Z")
I like to do Greek-style meatballs. Saute some chopped onion and garlic, then add to the turkey with a bit of oregano and dried mint, salt and pepper. I use a bit of ground oatmeal and an egg to help them hold together. Mush it all up and form into 1" balls. Brown the meatballs, then add some Italian-style tomato sauce with a pinch or two of cinnamon. Serve with pasta, rice or cous-cous. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341/6 "2005-02-28T22:19:26Z")
Mix the turkey goo with an ounce or two of pesto (preferably fresh), fry it up. Put it in the bottom of a casserole dish, and add sliced zuchinni, onion, cucumber and tomato, plus some tomato sauce with a heaping tablespoon per cup cornmeal, seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic and **savory**. Top with buttery/garlicky breadcrumbs, and cook at 350°F for 45 min. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341/7 "2005-02-28T23:58:02Z")
This is a recipe specifically designed for turkey. Unstuffed Peppers 1 lb turkey. 1 small onion. 2 cloves of garlic. 1 bottle of V-8. (I get the low-sodium kind and add salt to taste later.) 2 green peppers, chopped. 2 tsp dried basil Salt and ground black pepper. In a nonstick skillet, brown the turkey. Add the onions and garlic and cook until onions start to soften. Add the green peppers, basil, and V-8. (Not the whole bottle. Use your judgement.) Simmer until peppers are tender and the V-8 is reduced down a bit. Serve over rice. Or sometimes I mix in 3 c of cooked rice. (In that case, I make it with extra V-8). Spicy V-8 works good too, but it’s too salty for me, so I just use lo-salt and add tabasco! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341/8 "2005-03-01T00:09:13Z")
LOL. It took me a while to realize you are talking ground-up turkey. I was thinking: As opposed to turkeys that live in trees? Or Air-turkey? Sorry, I got nothing, I was just amused. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341/9 "2005-03-01T00:18:10Z")
I am still unfamiliar with the workings of this board. Please forgive me if I’m being rude, but I don’t see the “art, drama, literature, movies, music” connection here. Is Café Society a literal café where recipes are discussed? ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341/10 "2005-03-01T00:21:46Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > I am still unfamiliar with the workings of this board. Please forgive me if I’m being rude, but I don’t see the “art, drama, literature, movies, music” connection here. Is Café Society a literal café where recipes are discussed? _Cafe Society_ is generally the forum for everything at all arts related. Music, movies, books, arts and crafts, cooking, etc… Putting a thread about recipes in another forum like _IMHO_ wouldn’t get you in trouble or anything, but a moderator would move it over here. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341/11 "2005-03-01T01:16:09Z")
Pasta sauce made with ground turkey: Dice one medium onion, chop 3 cloves of garlic, and brown in some olive oil until the onion becomes translucent. Then brown 1 pound of ground turkey in the above mix until cooked thru. Add 29 oz tomato sauce (or same amount fresh or canned tomatos) along with 12 oz of tomato paste, 1 can of campbells beef consomme (skip if you’re trying to avoid beef products). Consider adding 1 tablespoon of vegemite, to really jazz the flavor and give it a beefier aspect. Then add 1/2 tsp oregano, basil, marjoram, and 2 tbsp parsley, and 1/2 tsp of ground pepper, and 2 tbsp lemon juice, stir it all up, throw in a basil leaf or two, and simmer on low for a few hours. Serve over your favorite pasta. The recipe works good for ground beef or pork or whatever, too. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341/12 "2005-03-01T01:24:33Z")
It’s a great substitute. Actually, it’s graduated from sub and completely replaced red meat in my diet. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341/13 "2005-03-01T01:41:55Z")
> [@Waenara](#): > > _Cafe Society_ is generally the forum for everything at all arts related. Music, movies, books, arts and crafts, cooking, etc… > > Putting a thread about recipes in another forum like _IMHO_ wouldn’t get you in trouble or anything, but a moderator would move it over here. OK, thanks. I guess I’m too much of a fast food junkie to remember that other people view cooking as one of the arts. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341/14 "2005-03-01T01:57:31Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > OK, thanks. I guess I’m too much of a fast food junkie to remember that other people view cooking as one of the arts. 😛 That’s the saddest thing I’ve heard all week. The kitchen is the second-most important art to be practiced in _our_ home. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![James\_Westphal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@James\_Westphal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Westphal)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ground-turkey-its-whats-for-dinner/292341/15 "2005-03-01T02:52:48Z")
If I were you, I’d be making turkey spaghetti right about now.