Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps mix your favorite Asian flavors into a crisp, healthy lettuce wrap. Ground turkey is simmered in lime juice, ginger, soy sauce and red chili garlic sauce and mixed with brown rice. Top these with fresh cilantro, matchstick carrots and crunchy peanuts and you have a healthy meal.
THAI TURKEY LETTUCE WRAPS
I think it is time to come to terms with my addiction for lettuce wraps. I think it has become a weekly occurrence in my house to eat them and I don’t feel bad about it.
We love all kinds of lettuce wraps from these Asian Chicken Zoodle Lettuce Wraps, Mexican Turkey Lettuce Wraps or these Asian Pork Lettuce Wraps.
Today’s recipe for Thai Turkey Brown Rice Lettuce Wraps are my favorite of all the lettuce wraps I make.
I can feel good about eating these for dinner- they are healthy and light. I usually just pair these with a simple side salad and I am a satisfied, happy girl.
I have never been a believer in dieting, but of course to each their own.
I have no problem with people choosing what is best for them, but for me dieting has never been something I do.
I like to eat in moderation which means if I want a cookie or a piece of chocolate once in a while I will eat it.
I do not believe in depriving myself of the things I love but I try hard to balance it with a lot of healthy food including vegetables, greens, legumes and grains.
We follow the 80/20 in my house and it has always worked for me.
Today’s Thai Turkey Brown Rice Lettuce Wraps recipe provides protein, vegetables, greens and grains, all in one little lettuce wrap.
My kids haven’t jumped on the lettuce bandwagon yet so I usually just give them the ground turkey mixture separate from the lettuce and let them experiment how they want.
I figure some day maybe they will get curious and give lettuce a try if it is on their plate.
It seems like P.F. Chang’s put lettuce wraps on the map.
I have a lot of friends in Chicago that would go there and always order their lettuce wraps. I must admit, they are mighty tasty.
But I will also say that I think my Thai turkey lettuce wraps could rival those lettuce wraps.
And a bonus is, you are making them yourself, so you know exactly what is going in and can control the ingredients.
One important thing to keep in mind with some Asian food at restaurants is the amount of sodium that is added to the dish.
There are a few ways to take care of this for those that are watching their sodium, including using a low-sodium soy sauce and not adding salt into the dish after cooking.
You really don’t need to add any salt because the flavors and sauces that go into the dish will give it plenty of flavor. You won’t even miss that extra salt!
And don’t just think these Thai Turkey Lettuce Cups are for dinner!
They make a wonderful, light and easy lunch too. I like to add the brown rice in because I like the texture it adds and I think it bulks up the lettuce wraps to help you feel like it is a heartier meal.
Oh, and it gives you some of your grains! Feel free to try a variety of options including basmati rice, quinoa or white rice.
Thai Turkey Brown Rice Lettuce Wraps
Thai Turkey Brown Rice Lettuce Wraps mix your favorite Asian flavors into a crisp, healthy lettuce wrap. Ground turkey is simmered in lime juice, ginger, soy sauce and red chili garlic sauce and mixed with brown rice. Top these with fresh cilantro, matchstick carrots and crunchy peanuts and you have a healthy meal.
Ingredients
For the ground turkey mixture:
- 1/2 cup cooked brown rice {or rice of your choice}
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onion {about 1/4 of a medium onion}
- 1 bell pepper, diced {I used 1/2 a red and 1/2 a green}
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- 2 Tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated
- 3 Tablespoons soy sauce, low sodium if possible
- 2 teaspoons red chili garlic sauce {I use Huy Fong, Chili Garlic Sauce}, more or less for spiciness
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped {plus extra for garnish}
- 3 green onions, green part chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 head of Bibb/Boston Lettuce, washed and separated
Garnishes:
- Extra fresh cilantro
- Unsalted peanuts
- Matchstick carrots
Instructions
- Cook the rice according to the package.
- While the rice cooks heat the 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet and add the onion, sautéing for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and the bell peppers peppers and continue to sauté for 2 more minutes.
- Add the ground turkey, fresh lime juice, ginger, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce and continue cooking until the turkey is browned.
- Mix the rice into the turkey mixture along with the fresh cilantro and green onions and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve the Thai turkey mixture with crisp bibb lettuce and extra cilantro, matchstick carrots and unsalted peanuts for garnish.
Notes
Serving size is 1 3/4 cup of the turkey mixture and 4 Bibb lettuce leaves. You would use a little less than 1/2 cup of the mixture in each piece of lettuce.
I actually think the leftovers for these Thai Turkey Brown Rice Lettuce Wraps are just as good as the first day! The flavors really meld together a day or two later.
You can use whatever you favorite rice from white to basmati.
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