Summer Body Turkey Lettuce Wraps (Printable)

A fresh blend of seasoned turkey and crunchy veggies wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves for a light summer meal.

# What you'll 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 hoisin sauce, gluten-free
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes, optional
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, optional
20 - 2 green onions, sliced, optional
21 - Lime wedges, optional

# Method:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and 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, allowing flavors to meld and vegetables to soften slightly.
04 - Remove from heat and stir in chopped cilantro.
05 - Lay lettuce leaves on a platter. Spoon the turkey mixture into each leaf.
06 - Sprinkle wraps with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve with lime wedges on the side.
07 - Arrange veggie sticks on a plate. Serve wraps and veggie sticks together for a fresh, crunchy meal.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you've been simmering something all day.
  • The lettuce leaves stay crispy while the turkey filling is warm and flavor-packed, creating this satisfying contrast.
  • You can eat this with your hands while standing at the counter, which somehow makes the whole experience feel more fun than sitting down to a proper meal.
02 -
  • If you cook the cilantro too long, it turns into grass clippings—always add it at the very end so it stays fragrant and fresh.
  • Don't use pre-grated ginger from a jar; fresh ginger adds a brightness that changes everything about how the dish tastes.
03 -
  • If you want to make this vegetarian, crumbled firm tofu absorbs the sauce beautifully and gives you almost the same textural experience as ground turkey.
  • A tiny pinch of chili flakes or a drizzle of sriracha transforms this from fresh-and-light into something with a little kick that wakes up your palate.
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