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Zesty Southwest Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Discover a fresh, light lettuce wrap filled with seasoned lean turkey. Made with no salt added tomato paste and broth, crisp lettuce, and bright lime. A satisfying, lower sodium option that can fit a heart conscious eating pattern.
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine American, Southwest-Inspired, Tex-Mex Inspired
Keyword DASH diet turkey recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 6 (2 wraps per serving)
Calories 227kcal

Equipment

  • Wide Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot
  • Silicone spatula or wooden spoon
  • Chef's knife
  • Cutting board
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • instant-read thermometer

Ingredients

For the Filling:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil 15 mL
  • 1.81 lb 99% lean ground turkey 820 g
  • 1 small yellow onion finely diced (about 4 oz or 110 g)
  • 1/4 cup finely diced red bell pepper 30 g
  • 1 can no-salt-added tomato paste 6 oz or 170 g
  • 1 cup no-salt-added chicken broth 240 mL

For the Spice Blend:

  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 tsp ancho chili powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 1/2 tsp granulated garlic
  • 3/4 tsp dried Mexican oregano
  • Pinch cayenne pepper optional

For Serving:

  • 12 large crisp leaves from butter or iceberg lettuce
  • Fresh cilantro chopped
  • Lime wedges

Instructions

  • Prep and Combine: Wash and pat dry the lettuce leaves. In a small bowl, whisk together cumin, ancho chili powder, smoked paprika, granulated garlic, Mexican oregano, and optional cayenne.
  • Sauté the Base: Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper and cook 4 to 5 minutes until beginning to soften. Stir in tomato paste and the spice blend and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
  • Brown the Turkey: Add ground turkey. Cook, breaking into fine crumbles, 6 to 8 minutes until no longer pink.
  • Simmer the Sauce: Stir in no-salt-added chicken broth, scraping up browned bits. Bring to a simmer.
  • Reduce and Thicken: Lower heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thick enough to coat the turkey with no pooling liquid. Verify food safety with an instant read thermometer. The turkey mixture should reach 165°F (74°C).
  • Assemble and Serve: Spoon the warm turkey filling into lettuce leaves. Garnish with cilantro and serve with lime wedges for squeezing.

Notes

  • Use no salt added tomato paste and broth.
  • Adjust acidity with lime juice instead of salt.
  • Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours in a shallow container and use within 3 to 4 days.

Nutrition Information

Per serving (2 wraps)
  • Calories: 227 kcal
  • Protein: 31 g
  • Total Fat: 7 g
    • Saturated Fat: 1.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 9 g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3 g
    • Total Sugars: 7 g
    • Added Sugars: 0 g
  • Sodium: 113 mg