These spicy turkey lettuce wraps are a fun and flavourful family dinner idea, and full of healthy ingredients. Made with shredded turkey, they combine fresh ginger and turmeric for a fresh and tasty meal with a hint of spice. These healthy turkey lettuce wraps are gluten free, dairy free and low histamine.
Turkey is a little neglected most of the year, but come the holidays it becomes the basis of so many meals. You may like to try my spicy turkey stew, which is perfect for that week after Christmas when we often have a spare package in our fridge or freezer! Or for a cold option, my turkey pasta salad is always a crowd-pleaser!
And for summer BBQs, or indoor grilling if the weather isn't being kind, my grilled herb turkey kabobs are a fun family dinner.
This recipe combines the turkey with veggies and spices and uses lettuce wraps, making it feel a bit lighter than regular wheat wraps or tortillas. I think you will enjoy this family dinner!
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Why you'll love this recipe
Turkey lettuce wraps are a fun evening meal for all the family. You can add a few lettuce wraps to each plate and spoon on the filling or have a fun sharing plate in the centre of the table, alongside any side dishes of choice.
- One pan dish - you only need a skillet to make the turkey filling (and a bowl to make the ginger tahini sauce - but I'm not counting that one hehe!).
- Festive evening meal - turkey always feels festive, and this is perfect for a weekend dinner during the Christmas and holiday season.
- Lower carb meal - using lettuce wraps rather than wheat wraps means it is a lower carb option, and a gluten free meal.
- Low histamine diet option: by cooking and shredding the turkey rather than using ready-done ground turkey, these are more suitable for those on a low histamine diet.
Ingredients
For these healthy turkey lettuce wraps you will need:
- Turkey breast fillets: this recipe serves two people, so purchase the size of fillets to your appetite!
- Olive oil, white onion and garlic: the classic ingredients to flavour your turkey filling.
- Bell pepper and zucchini: you can adjust the vegetables you prefer, but I think these work best for the turkey filling.
- Turmeric and ginger: for the main spicy flavour of the dish. The Simply Organic turmeric is good. Try and use fresh ginger as it gives a better flavour for this dish.
- Lettuce leaves: you want a larger leaf lettuce such as a butter lettuce to hold the turkey filling.
- Apple juice: just a touch to ensure the turkey doesn't get too dry.
- Tahini* and honey: alongside fresh ginger to make the ginger tahini dressing.
- Sesame seeds* and parsley: to garnish the lettuce wraps. The Terrasoul organic hulled sesame seeds are good.
*Please note that sesame (for the tahini and sesame seeds) is a potential allergen. It should only be consumed if you know you tolerate well.
Make sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredient amounts and instructions!
Step by step instructions
Making these turkey lettuce wraps at home is very simple, but feels like a fun meal you would have at a restaurant. Just a few steps:
STEP 1
After dicing the turkey into smaller pieces if required, fry in a large pan, in a little olive oil, until cooked through. They should have an internal temperature of 165F if using a meat thermometer and be white throughout, with no pink meat.
Remove from the pan and use two forks to shred the turkey.
STEP 2
Fry the onion and garlic in the same pan, until softened. Add the turmeric and stir to combine. Add the bell pepper, zucchini and grated ginger to the pan and fry until the vegetables are softened.
STEP 3
Return the shredded turkey to the pan, along with the apple juice. If the mixture seems overly dry add a touch more juice. Stir well to combine.
STEP 4
Make the tahini dressing by combining all the ingredients and stirring (or whisking) until it forms a thin sauce. If required, add more water to come to the texture and consistency you prefer.
Place the lettuce leaves on a large plate and spoon the turkey mixture into the centre of the leaves. Drizzle with the tahini dressing, and sprinkle with sesame seeds and parsley.
Lower carb turkey lettuce wraps
Using lettuce wraps rather than bread means that these healthy turkey lettuce wraps are a low carb option for those with that dietary requirement or preference. It also means this is a gluten free recipe.
Ginger tahini dressing
Turkey can err on the dry side, so I would suggest a dressing both to help with this and of course, for lots more flavour.
This ginger tahini dressing is very simple to make, with just a few ingredients. Adjust the consistency of the dressing to preference by adjusting the amount of tahini and water. Add more ginger if you like a lot of spice!
Frequently asked questions
Yes you can, but if you are here for the low histamine aspect of the recipes then I would suggest to cook and shred yourself.
Of course! Add more for extra spice.
Butter lettuce is a good choice, but other types of lettuce such as romaine are also good. They have s stronger flavour though.
More turkey and chicken recipes to enjoy:
Brown butter and sage skillet chicken
Chicken burger with a honey ginger glaze
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Recipe
Spicy turkey lettuce wraps
Ingredients
For the ginger tahini dressing
- 4 tablespoon tahini
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 5-6 tablespoon water (more if required)
For garnish
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon parsley
Instructions
- If required, slice the turkey breast fillets into smaller pieces for ease of cooking. Fry the turkey in a large pan, in a little olive oil, until cooked through (about 8-10 minutes depending upon the size of the fillets). They should have an internal temperature of 165F if using a meat thermometer and be white throughout, with no pink meat.
- Once cooked through remove from the pan and use two forks to shred the turkey.
- Fry the onion and garlic in the same pan, until softened, around 5-6 minutes. Add the turmeric and stir to combine. Add the bell pepper, zucchini and grated ginger to the pan and fry for a further 5 minutes or until the vegetables are softened. Return the shredded turkey to the pan, along with the apple juice. If the mixture seems overly dry add a touch more juice. Stir well to combine.
- Make the tahini dressing by combining all the ingredients and stirring (or whisking) until it forms a thin sauce. If required, add more water to preference.
- Place the lettuce leaves on a large plate and spoon the turkey mixture into the centre of the leaves. Drizzle with the tahini dressing, and sprinkle with sesame seeds and parsley.
Notes
- Slice the turkey breasts into smaller pieces for ease of cooking.
- You can either use forks to shred or a stand mixer.
- Add apple juice as required. Turkey is a touch on the dry side, so add liquid to taste preference.
- garlic, which scores 1.
- ginger, which scores 1.
- tahini and sesame, which scores 1. Please note that sesame is a potential allergen, and should only be consumed if you know you tolerate it well.
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