There is something fun and child like about eating lettuce wraps. We love the tofu and turkey lettuce wraps for that reason and frequently make it as a low carb healthy light dinner meal. Feel free to add some rice if you are worried that it won’t be filling but surprisingly the high protein content of turkey usually makes for a very satisfying dinner.
Can I substitute other proteins for tofu or turkey?
Absolutely! We like to use tofu and turkey as they are both very light and healthy and contrary to popular belief pack a lot of flavor considering almost no fat! However if these aren’t your cup of tea don’t worry! There are plenty of other proteins that work great with this style of meal. Ground pork is a very common choice for lettuce wraps. You can also use sliced pork belly or rib meat similar to this bbq style ribs. Beef steak cuts such as flank and skirt steak work very well. You can also just use plain diced fried tofu. Any number of seafood options work well specifically shellfish such as scallops, shrimp, or fried oysters.
Since lettuce wraps are such a convivial style of eating here are some fun toppings to think about:
There are any number of toppings that you can add for a festive dinner where guests can choose their own path to spice levels, flavor combinations, and textures. Here are a few recommendations we recommend since chefs often bond over lettuce wraps (we have tried a million combinations trust us!)
- Fried shallots and fried garlic chips
- kimchee
- Pickled cucumber or Daikon in rice vinegar
- Pickled onions
- Sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and peanuts
- Nori
- Fresh herbs- cilantro, lemon balm, mint, basil
- Sauces such as this hoisin bqq or gochujang ketchup
Tofu and Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground turkey
- 14 ounces Firm tofu
- .5 ounces Ginger peeled and chopped
- .5 ounces Garlic chopped
- 1 tbsp Sesame oil preferably untoasted
- 4 ounces Water add more if needed
- 2 tbsp Cornstarch
- 3 tbsp Low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Oyster sauce
- .5 cups Peanuts roasted (optional)
- 1 ea Lime cut into wedges for squeezing
- .5 pounds Romaine lettuce leaves only, whole pieces
- 3 ounces Radish thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp Gochujang optional for condiment
Instructions
- Portion the tofu and turkey. You can begin to break apart the tofu into smaller pieces by hand to make the frying easier.
- Portion the ingredients you will need for the cooking of the proteins. You can finely chop the peeled ginger and garlic together in a food processor if desired.
- Meanwhile gather what you will need to assemble the lettuce wraps after cooking. For this recipe we chose gochujang, peanuts, scallion, cilantro, and radish in addition to the romaine hearts. Feel free to add other toppings!
- To cook the filling begin by lightly toasting the ginger and garlic with sesame oil, then add the turkey and tofu. Continue to cook and break apart the meat as it cooks. Add the oyster and soy sauces.
- Meanwhile make a "slurry by mixing the cornstarch with a couple of tablespoons of cold water, then add this to the cooked meats to bind and thicken. Add the remaining water and continue to cook for about one minute.
- Turn out into a serving bowl and add toppings as desired. Assemble to order as each person can customize according to what they like!
