Description
Delightful asian turkey lettuce wraps deliver a flavor-packed meal with lean protein and crisp vegetables. Diners appreciate the quick preparation and balanced combination of savory meat, fresh herbs, and zesty sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 grams) ground turkey
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup water chestnuts, diced
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoons (tbsps) fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsps hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp sriracha or chili garlic sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 head butter lettuce or romaine (leaves separated and washed)
- Chopped peanuts or cashews
- Extra green onions or sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Aromatic Foundation: Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, gently sautéing onions until they become soft and translucent, releasing their delicate sweetness.
- Flavor Infusion: Add garlic and ginger, stirring swiftly to prevent scorching while awakening their intense aromatic qualities, creating a robust base for the dish.
- Protein Transformation: Introduce ground turkey, breaking it into uniform crumbles and cooking until it transitions from pink to a rich golden brown, ensuring complete and thorough preparation.
- Flavor Layering: Pour soy sauce, hoisin, rice vinegar, and sriracha over the simmering mixture, then fold in shredded carrots and water chestnuts, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.
- Final Melding: Simmer the mixture, stirring intermittently to ensure even coating and develop a glossy, appetizing finish that speaks to the dish’s complex flavor profile.
- Serving Composition: Carefully nestle the warm, seasoned turkey mixture into crisp lettuce leaves, creating individual wrap vessels that showcase the vibrant filling.
- Finishing Touches: Embellish with chopped peanuts, green onions, or a sprinkle of sesame seeds to add textural contrast and visual intrigue, elevating the dish’s overall sensory experience.
Notes
- Meat Moisture Control: Break ground turkey into ultra-fine crumbles to prevent clumping and ensure even cooking, allowing better sauce absorption and uniform texture.
- Temperature Precision: Maintain medium-high heat to quickly caramelize turkey without drying out the meat, creating a golden-brown exterior while preserving internal juiciness.
- Sauce Balancing Technique: Add liquid ingredients gradually and taste incrementally to control saltiness, especially with soy sauce and hoisin, preventing an overly salty final dish.
- Lettuce Selection Strategy: Choose sturdy, crisp lettuce varieties like iceberg or butter lettuce that can hold the warm filling without wilting, providing structural integrity for easy wrapping.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg