I’m willing to bet this Korean Turkey Bowl will become a favorite after you try it. It’s quick, easy, delicious and, best of all, can be enjoyed after weight loss surgery.
Traditionally this dish uses ground beef but I chose to use ground turkey instead because many bariatric post ops struggle with beef and it’s lower in calories. Honestly, I could not tell the difference between this version and when I used beef.
This dish has a bit of a sweet and spicy flavor. The sweetness is from a small amount of honey that I used. I opted to use honey instead of artificial sweetener because I felt it tasted better and just used less of it. I think you will be satisfied too.
With that being said, I would suggest counting the honey as your carb for the meal, and eat this with cauliflower rice instead of traditional rice. The carbs in a 3 oz portion is 12g which is still within the bariatric nutrition parameters.
How to make this Korean Turkey Bowl
First, mix up the sauce and set to the side. Then add a small amount of olive oil, garlic and and ground turkey to a medium size saucepan. Cook until the turkey is browned (about 5-8 minutes), then add sauce and green onions and cook for another minute. Then remove from heat and serve with cauliflower rice or favorite veggie.
If you are less than 6 months after surgery or still feel you have a significant amount of weight to lose then you might want to consider holding off on this meal.
While I believe you can enjoy a variety of foods after bariatric surgery, when you are still in the active losing phase it is helpful to use your calories for more nutrient dense items. The honey in this meal provides flavor without a lot nutrition. You could omit the honey or try this meal when you are in the maintenance phase.
Bariatric Diet Modifications
Pureed:
- Not recommended
Soft:
- Omit green onions. Consider eliminating honey to continue to help accelerate weight loss.
Regular:
- Serve as is over cauliflower rice.
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PrintKorean Turkey Bowl
An easy, fast, delicious meal to eat after bariatric surgery.
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Method: Pan
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes, or more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix together honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, red pepper and ginger. Set aside.
- Over medium heat saute garlic in olive oil in a saucepan. Add turkey and brown (5-8 minutes). Add sauce and green onions. Remove from heat.
- Portion out into 3 oz servings and garnish with sesame seeds. Enjoy.
Notes
Bariatric Diet Modifications
Pureed:
- Not recommended
Soft:
- Omit green onions. Consider eliminating honey to continue to help accelerate weight loss.
Regular:
- Serve as is over cauliflower rice.
If this looks yummy please be sure to share 😉
