Summer Body Turkey Lettuce Wraps (Printable Version)

Light turkey and fresh veggie wraps offer a healthy, protein-rich summer meal with crisp veggie sticks.

# What You Need:

→ Turkey Filling

01 - 1.1 lbs lean ground turkey
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
05 - 1 medium carrot, finely grated
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
08 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
09 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
10 - 1 tablespoon gluten-free hoisin sauce
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes
13 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Lettuce Wraps

14 - 1 large head butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated, washed, and dried

→ Crunchy Veggie Sticks

15 - 2 small carrots, cut into sticks
16 - 1 small cucumber, cut into sticks
17 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into sticks
18 - 1 celery stalk, cut into sticks

→ Garnishes

19 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
20 - 2 green onions, sliced
21 - Lime wedges

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and chopped red onion, sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and softened.
02 - Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until no longer pink, approximately 5 minutes.
03 - Stir in grated carrot, diced bell pepper, ginger, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, black pepper, and chili flakes. Cook for 3-4 minutes until flavors meld and vegetables soften slightly.
04 - Remove from heat and stir in chopped cilantro.
05 - Lay lettuce leaves on a serving platter. Spoon turkey mixture into each leaf and sprinkle with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds.
06 - Arrange carrot, cucumber, bell pepper, and celery sticks on a serving plate.
07 - Serve lettuce wraps and vegetable sticks together with lime wedges on the side for a fresh, crunchy meal.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You'll finish eating and feel genuinely satisfied, not like you're punishing yourself with rabbit food.
  • Everything comes together in under thirty minutes, which means you can make this on a Tuesday night without losing your mind.
  • It's naturally low-carb and gluten-free without tasting like a compromise or missing anything.
  • The flavor combination is complex enough to feel special, but simple enough that even a tired home cook can nail it.
02 -
  • Dry your lettuce leaves thoroughly or they'll tear when you try to scoop filling into them—I learned this the hard way and it's a small step that makes everything better.
  • Don't skip the ginger; it's what makes this taste interesting and craveable instead of like plain ground turkey.
  • The filling can be made ahead and reheated gently in a skillet, but assemble the wraps just before serving so the lettuce stays crisp.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for thirty seconds before sprinkling them on—it wakes up their flavor and makes a noticeable difference in the final dish.
  • Serve the turkey filling warm and the vegetables cold; the temperature contrast is half the appeal and keeps things interesting with every bite.
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