1Turkey has twice as much protein and half the fat as beef. Substituting turkey for ground beef in recipes provides many health benefits when it is practiced on a regular basis.
- Using turkey can be versatile. Turkey meat lends itself well to cooking with a wide variety of herbs and spices. Because it is mild-tasting, it absorbs the flavour of other food dressings with ease. The secret to cooking with ground turkey instead of beef is to season it ahead of time. Add the seasonings, herbs, salt and spices directly to the meat before adding any more ingredients. Ground turkey can be used anywhere that ground beef is used, but may need a few extra dashes of the appropriate seasoning.Eating ground beef has a dense texture. Therefore, it will still hold a chunky shape in spite of vigorous stirring and chopping. Ground turkey has a fine texture and cannot withstand as much agitation when it is raw or it will lose its ground appearance. Ground turkey should be left in bigger chunks during cooking if the intention is to simulate the appearance and texture of beef. Ground turkey makes a great meatloaf, shepherd’s pie, chilli con carne, taco filling or any other recipe that calls for ground beef.Try and substitute turkey since it has a wide variety of other applications as well. Turkey can be formed into burgers, frozen and barbequed. Turkey can be used to make bacon, sliced luncheon meat and hot dog wieners. Turkey breasts can be marinated with a little mustard, tarragon, basil, lemon zest and garlic or try injecting this into the flesh with a cooking syringe. Try slow-cooking a tenderloin with the same seasonings you would use for a beef stew. Turkey cutlets can be breaded and fried in olive oil with rosemary, garlic and lemon pepper. Many people boast that a deep-fried turkey is the best tasting roast on the table.Keeping in mind that aside from its superior protein and low fat composition, turkey has a unique amino acid structure that increases the production of serotonin, a proven sleep and mood enhancer. Serotonin helps to maintain the balance between sleep and activity, excitement and depression. Add cooked and cubed turkey to salads and soups. This simple action will increase the protein level in your diet, help control weight and enhance your good mood for the rest of the day.Actively check the meat section of your grocery store for different kinds of cuts of turkey, use your imagination for recipe ideas. A little turkey goes a long way.
