Low fat, low carb, but full of flavor, these Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps pack a powerful flavor punch. Seasoned with ginger, garlic, sesame, and chili, mild-mannered turkey goes bold. Ready in about 10 minutes, but perfect for making ahead of time, we like these lettuce wraps for lunch or a quick weeknight dinner. They also make a beautiful appetizer for your next cocktail party or pot-luck.
Topped with cilantro and paired with a tangy sweet dipping sauce, these Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps are addictive and easy to prepare.
Easy preparation
To watch a video showing the preparation of this recipe, click here for my Instagram post.
- Sauté garlic, ginger, peppers, and chili flakes.
- Add peppers and turkey.
- After turkey is browned, add Tamari and Rice Wine Vinegar.
- A squeeze of lime and a sprinkling of fresh cilantro and they are ready to eat!
Variations and Substitutions
*This recipe is also delicious over a bed of thinly sliced Napa cabbage, Romaine or tossed with rice vermicelli noodles. Use the dipping sauce as a dressing for your salad or noodles. So delicious!
*If you don’t have fresh ginger or garlic on hand, you can substitute 1/2 teaspoon of ginger and 1 teaspoon minced garlic. While I prefer the flavor and texture you get from fresh grated ginger and garlic, sometimes time is of the essence and dried spices save the day!
*You can also use ground pork, beef, or cubed tofu in place of the turkey in this recipe.
Tips and Tricks
I LOVE my garlic press and ginger grater and use the both often. The garlic press saves my fingers from smelling of garlic all the time (no offense, garlic, I love you but don’t always want to smell you!) and the ginger grater doubles as a fine parmesan grater or cute spoon rest. Both have become frequent fliers in my kitchen and I highly recommend them.
Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps
- Total Time: 15 minutes
Description
Low fat, low carb, but full of flavor, these Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps pack a powerful flavor punch. Seasoned with ginger, garlic, sesame, and chili, mild-mannered turkey goes bold. Ready in about 10 minutes, but perfect for making ahead of time, we like these lettuce wraps for lunch or a quick weeknight dinner. They also make a beautiful appetizer for your next cocktail party or pot-luck.
Ingredients
1 pound ground turkey
2 cloves garlic, minced
1” grated ginger (about 1 Tablespoon)
1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
1 Tablespoon avocado or canola oil
3 Tablespoons tamari (wheat-free soy sauce) *Soy sauce can be substituted.
3 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1/2 red pepper finely chopped
1 bunch of cilantro
8 leaves of Bibb or Boston lettuce
For Dipping Sauce:
2 Tablespoons Tamari
3 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon honey
Instructions
For turkey filling:
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, sauté garlic, ginger, chili flakes for 1 minute.
- Add turkey and peppers and cook until browned. Crumble the turkey as it cooks.
- Add tamari, rice wine vinegar, and cilantro.
- Serve in Bibb lettuce leaves/Boston lettuce leaves
- Garnish with cilantro and lime if desired.
For Dipping Sauce:
Whisk all ingredients together, adding the honey last. It can be used as a dressing for a salad version, too! Alternatively, you can use your favorite Asian dipping sauce, like bulgogi or peanut.
Notes
*This is also delicious over a bed of thinly sliced Napa cabbage or tossed with rice vermicelli noodles. Use the dipping sauce as a dressing for your salad or noodles. So delicious!
*If you don’t have fresh ginger or garlic on hand, you can substitute 1/2 teaspoon of ginger and 1 teaspoon minced garlic.
*This recipe could be adapted for pork or tofu by using them in place of the turkey.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
