Tastes Lovely

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Healthy Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

   

Happy first day of spring! Now let’s get bikini ready with these easy, healthy Asian ground turkey lettuce wraps.

Healthy Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

I have 2 reactions when it starts to get sunny outside.

1. Yea! It’s almost summer!

2. Oh my GOD! I’m going to need to wear a swim suit soon.

Please tell me you all do that too.

Healthy Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

So I’ve been hitting the gym since Monday telling myself, “I can be bikini ready in a month? Right? Oh MAN! Why didn’t I start this in January like everyone else?!” Then I answered myself with “That’s because……I was…….injured…….Oh yea!…..That’s right! From that hard fall skiing in January? And I thought I broke my butt, but really I just bruised my tail bone? And it hurt to even sit down, let alone do sit ups. That’s why I tell ya!”

Then I don’t feel so guilty.

Healthy Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Along with working out all week (and walking around like a cripple because my legs are so sore from doing squats and lunges), I’ve been eating better. Which means Shawn is eating better too. Yesterday I came home from the gym starving and asked him at 5:30 if he was hungry for dinner.

Healthy Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

“Meh.”

“Meh? What do you mean meh? You’re not starving? Wait a minute, Shawn. Whatdidyouhaveforlunch?”

“Chipotle.”

“Shawn! You had Chipotle for lunch?! That’s not fair! I had a protein shake and snap peas. I’m going to kill you.”

“Don’t worry Nat. It was a veggie burrito! I didn’t even get meat. It was basically a salad.”

The guys got a lot to learn about nutrition.

Healthy Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Truth be told, I would choose these healthy Asian ground turkey lettuce wraps over a Chipotle burrito any day. They are that good! It’s lean ground turkey cooked with onion, fresh ginger and soy sauce. Spoon it into a lettuce cup, top it with crunchy shredded carrots, green onions, peanuts and that amazing Asian peanut sauce I made on Tuesday. Oooohweee it’s tasty!

Healthy Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

And easy to make too. I can have this dinner on the table in 25 minutes. Great for days after the gym when I’m so hungry I could eat the couch, but so wiped out all I want to do is lay on that couch as I eat it. Poor couch. Don’t worry, I won’t eat you. I’ll just sit on you as I eat my way thru at least 3 of these Asian turkey lettuce wraps.

Healthy Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

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Healthy Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

★★★★★ 4.7 from 6 reviews
  • Author: Tastes Lovely
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 25 mins
  • Yield: 4 people
Print Recipe

Ingredients

For the turkey mixture

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 3″ long piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1/4 cup of soy sauce

Toppings

  • 1 head butter, Bibb or Boston lettuce
  • 3 scallions, sliced
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/2 cup salted peanuts
  • Asian peanut sauce

Instructions

  1. In a medium size skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add in the onions, ginger, salt and pepper, cooking until the onion starts to turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
  2. Add the ground turkey to the same skillet along with the onions, garlic and ginger, breaking it up as it cooks, about 10 minutes. Add in the 1/4 cup soy sauce, turn the heat up to high until all of the soy sauce is absorbed. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
  3. Spoon the cooled ground turkey into the lettuce cups and top with shredded carrots, green onions, peanuts and Asian peanut sauce.
  4. The turkey mixture will keep in an airtight container for 1 week in the fridge.

Notes

The cold leftovers make an amazing salad the next day. Just tear the lettuce and top with the cold turkey mixture, shredded carrots, scallions, peanuts and asian peanut sauce.

 

Lovely comments so far...

  1. Yeahh! I had a feeling there was other Asian food coming after seeing your peanut sauce on Tuesday. These lettuce wraps are just perfect for the first “official” day of spring. Your photos are gorgeous as usual—these wraps look so bright and fresh!

    • NOTE ON THE SALT :These wraps are so flavorful and delicious but ..I just made them….and I accidentally made them with half the salt and they were waaaaaay to salty. I love salt but even for me way too salty ….just thought I’d share ….the opinion was unanimous with the whole fam …..was still yummy and I’m looking forward to making it again with just the soy sauce as the salt source. :)

      ★★★★

      • Glad you liked them, even if they were too salty. I’m coming to realize we are a salt loving family, hahah! So definitely use a lot less if you don’t like your food that salty. Thanks for sharing!

    • Thanks Layla! I’ve been thinking of doing a few more “step by step” photos, if only to help out people who aren’t that confidante of a “cook”. I noticed you did some today too! Great minds think alike : )

  3. The truth is I’ll take your lettuce wraps over the Chipotle burrito as well. As much as I love Chipotle I love lettuce wraps even more and they don’t leave me feeling like I just ate a truck. Haha :) Natalie, seriously, these look fabulous.

    ★★★★★

    • You and me both Kathy! Especially with summer coming up. I hate being super full when it’s warm out. You’re so right about feeling like you ate a truck after eating one of those burritos, haha! Thanks for your compliments Kathy!

    • I knowwwww! Here in California swim suit season comes much too early. Like, April. At least you have more time in Michigan. But that also means you probably have more winter too.

      These lettuce wraps are so good! I bet even your kids would like them : )

  5. Turkey lettuce wraps are a favorite in our house. I definitely need to try them with the Asian peanut sauce! And I don’t even want to start thinking about swimsuit season. I don’t have as much time to work out in the spring because I am so busy with work, so I always dread having to fit into my swimsuit :)

    • I love lettuce wraps. I make so many different kinds, but this one might be my favorite. And the peanut sauce definitely makes it. I bet this is a crazy time of year for you Ashley. April 15 can’t come soon enough!

  7. Mmm I could go for some of these tonight for sure. I made pad thai earlier this week with a peanut sauce, but this looks more bikini season friendly. Whenever I’m trying to eat healthy, Jon always has a bag of salt and vinegar chips around. Not nice! At least Shawn ate it during work so you didn’t have to be tempted :)

    • Ooooh, now I want pad thai! But I’m trying to not eat carbs for a while. So hard! Whenever I’m eating healthy I force Shawn to do it too. Otherwise I would go nuts. But as you can tell, he pretty much does what he wants when I’m not around. Hahaha!

  10. 1) Welcome to my life. I was always pudgy kid and now turned into a, ahem, pudgy adult, haha. Even as a guy, bathing suit season stinks!

    2) Love lettuce wraps. Love peanut sauce. Add them together, amazing!!!

  11. I know exactly what you’re talking abt Nat! daylight savings comes around and my first thought is omg sunlight happiness yay!! and then my second is sh** I’ve gotta be practically naked in front of people soon – PANIC. lol so glad we all do it.

    These looks seriously incredible! pinning / adding to my meal plan next week :)

    • Ha! It’s like we have the same brain! Why must swim suits be so revealing! Thank goodness for self tanner. Makes me feel a little better. Thank you so much for your compliments Christine! You da best : )

  13. So glad you got your bikini ready already, Natalie! Thanks for the happy reminder that summer is on its way!
    Every time I see a recipe a little similar to this, I really want to try it. Love your recipe especially though as it’s so easy … and I bet the peanut sauce just finishes it off beautifully!

  14. I *love* lettuce wraps! You know how to make me hungry…even though I just ate. And it’s funny, because as I was reading the post, I was thinking how great the leftovers would be for lunch when I brown bag it. Then I saw your note at the bottom of the recipe. Great minds think alike!

    Glad to hear your butt is better! Ha! A bruised tailbone is no fun. But hooray for you for hitting the gym. Get it, girl! You’re definitely going to show that bikini who’s boss!

    • The leftovers make a great salad! Great minds definitely think alike. And you totally inspired me to start working out more. If you can train for a marathon, I can get on the elliptical for 30 minutes! Right? Have a good weekend Ashley!

  15. 1)tailbone bruises are THEE WORST.
    2)are you spooning ginger?? Am I about to learn a magical ginger peeling secret???
    3) a veggie burrito is basically a salad. I’m with Shawn.
    4) this looks amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing.

    • I totally peel my ginger with a spoon! Do you use a veggie peeler? I probably should do that. But I was watching a Martha where she said to use a spoon, and I figured she’s the expert. Haha!

  16. Haha I love that! “It’s basically a salad”. Don’t worry, after this birthday weekend of OVER indulging on cake we agreed to “whip into shape” umm..that is difficult with cravings! Love these wraps, they look delicious and love that they are healthy – probably best for me to start on them!

    ★★★★★

  18. These lettuce wraps are stuff dreams are made of! Talk about a perfect recipe for healthy eating while still enjoying an awesome and flavorful meal. “It was basically a salad” — haha! I’ve heard a few lines like that before. Oh men. :)

    …and I must be overtired because I read the garlic cloves in the recipe as “ground cloves”. I was going to comment on what an interesting flavor twist, Natalie! Haha

  19. Yum, love lettuce wraps and yours look incredible Natalie! They sound perfect with the yummy peanut sauce and love that they are bikini-friendly too :) Gorgeous photos too – pinning :)

  20. YUM! Holy cow, this looks amazing. I love lettuce wraps…everything about them! Eeks, the thought of bathing suit season upon us, shakes me up too lol. BUT what better time to start working on things than right now right? Eating healthy can be delicious, like this recipe. Thanks for sharing, can’t wait to try!

  21. Same page! I was just telling my husband this morning that I need to buckle down and get serious with trying to lose weight. I’ve been wanting to make lettuce wraps and these look devine! Definitely must make these! And I love love love your photos. You always take beautiful pictures but these are some of my favorite so far. :)

  25. Can you believe that I had a lettuce wrap for the first time two weeks ago? They never really appealed to me, but boy, was I wrong! I’m now obsessed with lettuce wraps and can’t wait to give yours a try, especially with the peanut dipping sauce!

  27. Love this recipe! I have already made it twice – definitely a new regular for me! So quick, easy & tasty!!! not to mention healthy!

    ★★★★★

    • I am so happy to hear that Katie! This recipe is one of my families favorites. Thank you for letting me know you liked my recipe! You just made my day!

  28. I made this last night and it was really good! I added some sesame oil while stir frying. I found the boston lettuce leaves were really fragile so I made some brown rice and threw everything else on top. I also added some sriracha.

    It was delicious! My man liked it too! I will be making this again for sure.

    ★★★★

    • I am so glad you liked it Krista! I love your idea of adding rice. I want to try that next time! Thanks for taking the time to let me know you liked my recipe. You just made my day!

  29. this looks great and trying this out tonight. I’m not sure if the peanut sauce is 1cup peanut sauce or 1cup sweet chili sauce. Is it reversed or is it right?

    • The peanut sauce is 1 cup sweet chili sauce and a big tablespoon of peanut butter. You want it to still be “pourable”, if you do too much peanut butter it gets real thick. Feel free to adjust the amount of peanut butter until it’s the consistency you like. Hope you like it when you try it!

Trackbacks

  9. […] Lettuce wraps are such a fun way to have dinner. It just makes you feel so dainty! Now if the lettuce options are sparse or looking wilty, don’t forget you can just eat the filling by itself or put it on rice or steamed vegetables. As delicious as it is in lettuce, I’m aware that not all countries have good lettuce. Add more veggies in the filling and call it a meal! Recipe: Tastes Lovely […]