Asian Turkey Lettuce Cups | Pamela Salzman

Thank you to Foster Farms for sponsoring this post.  All opinions are 100% my own.

Few things make me more excited than when Mr. Picky loves something I cook.  I mean, the kid has challenged me in the kitchen for 13 years and still going!  These Asian Turkey Lettuce Cups were such a huge hit with my son (and the rest of my family), that I changed my next cooking class menu so that I could teach this recipe pronto!  We donโ€™t go out to eat too often, but lettuce cups are something my son loves to order.  I enjoy them as well because they are generally light and flavorful.   But it is pretty difficult to find a restaurant which uses mostly organic ingredients, so I enjoy lettuce cups much more when I can make them at home with the ingredients I prefer.

Foster Farms Organic Turkey

So, what else gets me excited?  Products that meet my picky (i.e. high) standards.  I am especially particular about animal products in that I only buy organic.  I donโ€™t always have great luck finding organic ground turkey though, and itโ€™s one of the animal proteins I like more than others.  But I was thrilled to be introduced to a new product, Foster Farms Organic Ground Turkey.  Not only is it organic, but itโ€™s antibiotic-free, free-range, fed an organic vegetarian diet, and is hormone- and steroid-free.  Check, check and check! That would be good enough for me.  But the bonus is that Foster Farms Organic Ground Turkey is also locally grown in Californiaโ€™s Central Valley!

Asian Turkey Lettuce Cups | Pamela Salzman

Turkey is a lean and nutritious protein and I much prefer the flavor over beef.  Turkey also works really well with Asian flavors and I had great success using Foster Farms organic turkey in this recipe.  Donโ€™t be put off by the long list of ingredients here.  Most of the items are pantry staples which you likely have on hand.  Although I do keep hoisin sauce in the fridge for this recipe.  Itโ€™s easy to find and adds a real umami punch to the turkey.  I usually find that Asian lettuce cups contain water chestnuts, which I donโ€™t keep on hand because theyโ€™re always canned.  So I subbed chopped cashews for a satisfying, more nutritious crunch.

Asian Turkey Lettuce Cups | Pamela Salzman

These Asian turkey lettuce cups are the perfect healthful dinner for me without anything else.  I am really into toppings so I will add in lots of fresh cilantro and julienned carrots (as shown in these images), or sliced avocado, shredded cabbage or a squirt of sriracha.  Basically, I treat these like TACOS!  If my kids are super hungry, I might make a quick vegetable fried rice with rice I have stashed in the freezer and whatever vegetables I have on hand.

Asian Turkey Lettuce Cups | Pamela Salzman

This turkey mixture would also make a great bowl meal with brown rice or cauli-rice, roasted veggies and avocado.  My husband prefers white meat turkey and I prefer brown, so weโ€™re a match made in heaven, of course.  You can use either in this recipe or even combine the two to make everyone happy.  And happy is what I am when I watch everyone devour these!

Asian Turkey Lettuce Cups | Pamela Salzman

5 from 3 votes

Asian Turkey Lettuce Cups

By Pamela

Ingredients 

  • 1 Tablespoon unrefined, cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound ground turkey, white meat, dark meat or a combination, I prefer Foster Farms Organic
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • ยผ cup hoisin sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons good quality shoyu or GF tamari, use coconut aminos for a soy-free option
  • 1 Tablespoon unseasoned rice wine vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
  • ยผ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup toasted and salted chopped cashews, optional
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 head butter lettuce
  • fresh cilantro leaves and/or julienned carrots for garnish, if desired
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions 

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add ground turkey and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to break up the turkey as it cooks; drain excess fat.
  • Stir in garlic, onion, celery, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ginger, and crushed red pepper until onions have become translucent, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in cashews and green onions and cook until onions are tender, about 1-2 minutes; season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • To serve, spoon several tablespoons of the turkey mixture into the center of a lettuce leaf, taco-style. Garnish with cilantro leaves and/or carrots if desired.
iconLike this recipe? Rate & comment below!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

โค๏ธ Our Recipe? Try These Next!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




14 Comments

  1. Robin says:

    Would this work with crumbling a brick of tofu instead of turkey?

    1. Pamela says:

      sure!!

  2. Denise says:

    Can you substitute dried ground ginger for fresh? If so how much would you use?

    1. Pamela says:

      I havenโ€™t tried this recipe with ground ginger, but you start with 1 teaspoon or even slightly less.

  3. Diane says:

    This was absolutely DELISH! Thanks for a recipe I plan on making many times!

    1. Pamela Salzman says:

      Delighted you enjoyed this recipe!

  4. Kelly Faries says:

    5 stars
    Made this for lunch today. Super yummy. Cant wait to make this for friends. Any suggestions for a non lettuce style wrap. I have a Mr. Picky as well. LOL.

    1. Pamela says:

      My son would eat anything in a corn tortilla. You can do these โ€œtaco-styleโ€ in tortillas or on rice for a turkey rice bowlโ€ฆ.

  5. Shaz says:

    The exact words from my 11 year old: โ€œYou hit a homerun, Mom!โ€ She adores lettuce wraps from restaurants and these were a fantastic healthier replica. Question: do you make your own hoisin? I did both times making these lettuce cups, but wondered what YOU doโ€ฆ

    1. Pamela says:

      So glad it was a hit! I do not make my own hoisin as I hardly ever use it. But thatโ€™s so cool that you do โ€” impressive!

  6. Caren says:

    5 stars
    Delicious!! We all loved this and I really liked the cashews in place of the water chestnuts. The flavor was great. Thank you.

    1. Pamela says:

      Thatโ€™s great!

  7. Dana says:

    5 stars
    Pamela- this recipe looks so good. I cant wait to try itโ€“ I love this in restaurants too. What brand of hoisin do you like? Dana

    1. Pamela says:

      I use the Whole Foods 365 brand which is organic (not perfect, but at least itโ€™s organic.)