Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

So here I am sitting at the computer, ready to fill this blank page with what I hope you all see as witty and inspiring words to encourage all of you to get in your kitchens and cook.  Well…maybe not witty, but hopefully inspiring…

Yup!  My kids are occupied watching a movie-The Emperor’s New Groove, in case you were wondering-dinner is done and I have some uninterrupted time to post this blog.  But other than the few preceding lines, I have been staring at this blank page for quite awhile.  And for a really stupid reason too.  I can’t decide which recipe I want to blog about: Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps or Chocolate Pudding Cake.  Both are outrageously good but for different reasons.  Both have been made in my home countless times and make us all drool with anticipation.  Again, for different reasons.  It is this same kind of ridiculous indecision that plagues me when ordering food or picking out just one flavor of ice cream at a diner.  Too many choices!  So I did what anyone would do.  Eeny meeny miny mo.

As you may have deduced from the picture above, Lettuce Wraps it is!!  But don’t worry!  Totally indulgent chocolate dessert will be next. To be honest, lettuce wraps were a concept I had to get used to.  Why wrap your meal in lettuce when you could wrap it in carb loaded bread or tortillas?!  No contest!  But for reasons I am still unsure of, I saw this recipe years ago in Everyday Food and felt like giving it a go.  And lettuce wraps have been in my repertoire ever since!  This dish is super fast to throw together and so scrumptious you won’t believe it.  The fact that it is quite good for you is a major plus, but it is so tasty you won’t even care.  I have streamlined it a bit from the original recipe to make it less expensive and a little easier, but the fantastic flavor is still there.  So give these beauties a try.  It is an easy dinner decision to make.  As for dessert, you are on you own. Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

2 T soy sauce
2 tsp fish sauce (an Asian sauce found right next to the soy sauce on the shelf in the super market)
2 tsp sugar
Combine ingredients in a small bowl set aside, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves.

In a large sauté pan, drizzle a bit of canola or olive oil over medium heat.  Add:
1/4 onion, minced
1 T fresh, peeled ginger, minced fine
2 cloves of garlic, minced
pinch of red pepper flakes, to taste
Saute for several minutes until onions are soft, being careful not to let the garlic burn.
Add 1 package of ground turkey (93% lean) and brown.

When meat is fully cooked and broken up into small pieces, add the reserved sauce and stir.  Let the whole thing heat together and serve!

To build your lettuce wraps:
a small leaf of green leaf lettuce
spoonful of turkey
grated or julienned carrot
squeeze of lime

The squeeze of lime can be optional, but it makes a HUGE difference!  I highly recommend it!  Enjoy!