Turkey and Mushroom Lettuce Wraps – Recipe!

Turkey and Mushroom Lettuce Wraps are a quick and easy appetizer to serve for any gathering or a light dinner.

You only need a handful of ingredients to create these lettuce wraps — classic Asian food items that are at your local grocers.  What’s so incredible about them is the sweet and savory contrast of flavors followed by the incredible crunch.  The ground turkey tenderizes beautifully in a light bath of hoisin and soy sauces and to add some earthy notes — a splash of toasted sesame oil to finish.

Water chestnuts are finely diced and added at the end of cooking to preserve their crispy texture.  Spoon the mixture into baby gem lettuce or butter lettuce leaves and you have yourself one tasty appetizer.  You could also serve these as an alternative for turkey on Thanksgiving.

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Ingredients

1 small yellow onion, diced

1 cup shiitake or crimini mushrooms, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 pound ground turkey, dark meat preferably

1/3 cup Hoisin sauce

3 tablespoons soy sauce or Tamari 

1 1/2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

8 ounces water chestnuts, finely diced

1 head gem or baby lettuce, washed and separated into leaves

olive oil for cooking

(Serves 4)

To Prepare:

1. In a large non-stick skillet, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and place over medium heat.  Add onions and mushrooms, stir.  Cook for 3 minutes.
2. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.  Add turkey and break apart with spoon, while stirring.  Cook until brown and crumbly, about 7 minutes.
3. Make a well in center of skillet, add hoisin, soy sauce and sesame oil, stir to combine.
4. Add water chestnuts and stir.  Cook for 2 minutes.  Spoon turkey mixture into a large serving dish.
5. Place dish on a tray or larger dish and add lettuce leaves around edges to serve.  Enjoy!